One of the most fun things about winter is ice skating. There’s something so freeing and magical about cutting across the open ice. But if you’re like me and have poor coordination or struggle to ice skate, Titletown in Green Bay has added another option that makes gliding down the ice a whole lot easier. Ice bikes are a unique invention of a group from Buffalo, NY and Titletown has added a few of these unique gliding machines to make ice skating more accessible for their visitors.
If you've not been to the Titletown District up in Green Bay, there's a wide array of things to do in winter, including an awesome sledding hill and a large skating ribbon. As you can see, there's wide open ice just waiting for you to explore it.
This gorgeous ice skating path winds in and around at Titletown. It's the perfect spot to feel the wind on your cheeks as you cut through the ice with your blades.
But ice skating isn't an easy option for everyone. That's why a group in Buffalo that specialized in water bikes came up with this option for those of us who aren't the steadiest when we've got two thin blades strapped to the bottom of our shoes.
The bikes provide stability and when you're on one, you move and pedal and feel just like you're on a standard bicycle, but you're in for the smoothest bike ride of your life.
Ice bikes work just like regular bicycles, so anyone who can pedal will feel comfortable using them. They're stable and not wobbly and provide a smooth way to cut across the ice.
The bikes are best used when the rink isn't too full of other skaters, so Titletown does restrict them to non-peak hours. But rental is just $10 for 30 minutes of use. It's truly a unique experience and allows those who might not otherwise get a chance to skate to get out on the ice and feel what it's like to glide effortlessly and feel the wind in your hair.
The bikes aren't cheap - they're about $1800 each to purchase, so it's unlikely you'll see them at your local rink or pond any time soon. But they're a perfect option for a place like Titletown. In Buffalo, folks ride them on the frozen canal; this ribbon skating rink in Green Bay is just one other spot you can test them out.
Ice bikes are definitely a fun novelty right now, but they're also a pretty amazing way to make this fun winter activity a little more accessible and they're a totally unique way to get out on the ice. You won't regret the $10 you spend trying them out.