Fat bikes, anyone try them?

[TomP]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to mix it up for something different. The fat bike appeals to me. I'm going to demo one, but does anyone here have any experience?

Thanks.

[Mikej]

Next "big" thing here in Wisconsin - there is a winter race series and the WORS xc series has a fat bike class. Lbs has about 6 different brands and the shop at the trail head rents them. I have a feeling I will end up with one from a bad case of cabin fever....

[xjoex]

I bought one last year, it is awesome.

Why is it awesome? Because you are riding, but not really. You fall, you walk, you laugh. You wear ski clothes and sorels not SPDs and spandex. So you are warm! I love it.

You need some good snow and don't try to break trail if there is more than 8" of fresh powder if you want to have fun.

I'm not a fan of riding them in the summer, I like to ride my regular bikes.

A few shots from yesterday:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kyB9NHJ-iS4/UpEW7Lo5xZI/AAAAAAAAOyg/drpSxImxD94/s640/PB230124.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qU1b4Kjtqsw/UpEW7o-sSvI/AAAAAAAAOys/rioR4USDjNE/s640/PB230127.jpg

Buy one.

-Joe

[David Kirk]

I have one and really enjoy it.

They are slow and heavy and fun. Because you are working harder and going slower you tend to stay warm in conditions where a road ride would be way too cold to be fun. And you can ride them on snow covered trails where a mountain bike would just sink and stall.

I ride mine on snow almost exclusively and as long as it's packed down some (by snowshoers, skiers, hikers....etc) the fatbike will go over it pretty well. Yesterday I rode with a friend up the Bridger Bowl ski area and got just past mid-mountain when the conditions got too soft to continue - but man was that fun.

The funny thing to me is that if you ride one on pavement it feels slow but when you ride from pavement onto snow it gives the feeling of going faster.

One thing to think about is tire width - Surly offers tires in the 3.8' and 4.7" ranges. I have the 4.7's and they weigh a good bit more I think but they offer a HUGE footprint that will float on softer snow better. If you would be riding on firmly packed snow most of the time then the 3.8's might be better............if you will be venturing off into less traveled and softer stuff then the 4.7's might be better.

Anyway you cut it they are really fun and I smile every time I get on the thing. Last winter was my first on the bike and I came into spring fitter than I had in years and got on my road bike feeling good right out of the box.

Enjoy the test ride and see if you can get it on snow so that it will show it's real value.

dave

[JAGI410]

I've had one for a little over 3 years now, first my Surly Pugsley, and now a steel Fatback. There will always be one in my stable. I love mine!

I originally bought it for winter commuting, but now it's also my main mountain bike too. The rigid frame, squishy tires, and heaps of traction make it a fun and viable option for singletrack. Now that these things are getting down to ~22lbs, you'll begin to see them more and more in races too.

In the winter, not all types of snow are passable, but it sure is fun to try! Go find one to demo, but warn your wallet, because you'll want one.

[woolly]

I'm still loving the NeckRomancer Pug I picked up this year, and haven't even had a chance yet to sample it in the snow (not that we get real snow in Texas anyway). It sometimes feels like its as much "driving a tractor" than "cycling", but it's ALWAYS 100% FUN.

Anyone know when (or where) their Black Floyd tires will be available again? I'd love to get a set & use this bike for things like casual family paved rides where "slow" is the order of the day anyway.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[DRZRM]

Ever since reading this after following the link with the story on Peter (OP) on the Moots blog, I've been thinking about a do it all ti 29er. The rigid Moots 5" snow bike (the FrosTi of course) can swap out a front fork and regular set of 29ers (well, regular except for the rear hub) and double duty as your summer 29er as well. Suddenly $4K doesn't seem like so much to pay...though I imagine the wheels/tires are pricy.

Certainly if I lived someplace with more snow, I'd be seriously considering it.

http://moots.com/afternoon-ti/frosti-5-and-29er/

And here's a video link of Nate from Moots talking about the bike and riding it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLiiZL1Ygn0

[Bruce K]

Zach

They are showing up more and more up here on the North Shore

Guys ride them as MTBs and off season on the beaches as well

Every guy I see on one has a big grin on

BK

[weisan]

This (http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/22861844?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3&adid=22222222227017235183&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=33048560796&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=50592946956&veh=sem) will do.

Goal: produce a big grin on your face

[dogdriver]

Embrace the chub. You'll be squealing like a schoolgirl.

[teleguy57]

Darn this forum and this thread! A friend is selling his Necromancer, and I've ridden it and it's a great fit for me. And my wife actually has given the ok on it.

But I figured even though in WI I'd like so spend my outdoor time on Nordic skiing and save the money for something else. I had just about committed to passing it by and now this thread....

[djg21]

I'll be the cynic. Unless you live in a climate where there is a lot of snow (or dunes maybe?), I don't get it. I've always ridden my regular MTB in the winter. Fatter tires and studs are helpful, but even here in upstate NY, we rarely see really deep snow, and when we do, the MTB trails get packed pretty quickly. Fat bikes would seem an interesting option if you regularly ride in Iditarod-like conditions, but when there isn't deep snow, I'd bet most here would prefer their faster cross or MTB bikes. My guess is that if I owned one, it would hang in my bike room most of the time. But that's just me.

[David Kirk]

In honor of this thread I dragged a little camera along on my fatbike ride today up into the Bridgers. It's about a 1:45 round trip ride and all up and the way home is all down with 1000' of vertical.

The cool thing on this trail for the past week has been the rime ice on all the trees next to the creek the single track parallels. Simple stunning.

It's not yet ski season, not enough snow to skinny ski or snowshoe, yet a normal MTB would grind to a halt in short order.......so..........it's fatbike season.

Dave


http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/11039160535_6e15106a7e_b.jpg

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http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/11039347273_3180861000_b.jpg

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[eddief]

http://www.bustedspoke.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51792&p=434996

http://fat-bike.com/2012/11/new-carver-trans-fat-dual-suspension-fatty/

[spiderman]

Introductory year pugsley set up with a white industries double double

Third season into the moonlander pictured here...

Great on sand and perfect on snowmobile snowpack!
(After about 500 miles training my new to me
Dobeboy on the trail...the first time he played like
I was another Doberman was our first ride
Down the beach racing on the moonlander)

[tiretrax]

They're great in the sand, too. I've seen them for many years here (well, Pt. Aransas). So, not just for winter.

In July, I road a gravel grinder next to a guy who had a Surly. He said that was the only condition he found that he didn't like it because there was too much rebound from the tires.

[JAGI410]

I'm doing a gravel metric on mine next month, I like it a lot on the gravel we have up here. I can ride wherever, not needing a groove or line to follow. Washboard sections aren't quite as brutal, so I can enjoy the scenery without white knuckles. Slap on some black Floyd's and it'll feel like a brand new machine!

[YoKev]

They're a ton of fun! Go for a chill ride with your fattie and just have a good time. Serious grins :)