JayP

The niche of snow biking is really on the growth and maybe no longer a niche. The reality of it is spreading largely abroad and not just for those crazy folks going to Alaska to ride on the Iditarod Trail for the Ultra Sport, where this idea and type of bike was born. 

People might think riding in Alaska is the choice spot to ride these bikes and I will admit the Ultra Sport is one of the coolest, most remote rides to do on a snow bike (which is only doable a few weeks a year around the Iditarod race) but there are so many other places to enjoy these bikes. Whether it is a commute to work, an hour at lunch, to walk the dog, a day stoke on the weekend or a few nights in snow caves touring, it is cycling and so friggin fun!

Fortunatly where we live, IMHO, we have some of the best snow riding available, anywhere. Idaho and Wyoming have some great state run snow machine programs which produces well over a thousand groomed miles, just in our immediate Teton area. Add in the local private/county grooming and if you like to explore check out some of the non-groomed snowmachine trails after they been set up and the choices become endless. 
I can only imagine what is available in places like the North-east and Mid-west portions of the country where you have some ideal weather with big temperature swings producing white pavement.
Then you have the folks that like to ride these fat tired rigs on dirt, which has always had me scrathing my head, but there seems to be this following that love to run a fat front end on dirt and with some bikes/forks being specifically designed for this.

Take a look at this post from the Junkie, on some of the fat that is available. A lot of these bikes are being shipped to the lower 48. Selling out and availability of all related fat products seems to be the trend for this season as well.

Snow bike events and education are on the rise too.  It's not just The Ultra Sport anymore, Arrowhead 135, Togwotee Classic (no entry fee and local), and  the White Mountain 100, are a few more events. I know there are some winter triathlons where the fat wheeled bike will shine over the skinny wheels and have also heard of some other towns doing some winter riding series, such as Leadville.
There is Arctic Cycles in Alaska offering all sorts of fat wheeled rentals and our very own local Fitzgeralds Bicycles now renting the big bikes.
It also fascinates me that people are taking the time and investing in the knowledge of taking the winter camps offered in AK, something that needs to be offered here...  

Anyway, whats the point of all this? It's "The Year of The Snow Bike", it's finally spreading and if your not in the know already I suggest getting with the times...

Have fun and ride all year long regardless the weather!
A great way to enjoy friends!