Anyone Ride Fat Bikes?

I run a rigid post and fork on my On-One and find I don't need a dropper or suspension.

ooh ooh you have a fatty!

ahem, i'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it (regarding anything other than snow riding)

I run a rigid post and fork on my On-One and find I don't need a dropper or suspension. Less sh!t to go wrong the better in the winter IMO … but to each their own.

It is t-shirt weather here bruh:cool:

But I you've made a valid point that I should consider. I often forget that some areas have an actual winter

For people wondering about suspension forks on fat bikes, check the MTBR fat bike forum.

Almost everyone that has been riding a while that tried suspension, went and bought one.

It is the same argument people used in the early days of suspension forks "you don't need them…"

From what I've read is that with a suspension fork is that you can run a little higher tire pressure so the tire doesn't wallow. 2 or 3" of undamped tire compression isn't equivalent to suspension.

BTW, if you are a big guy, get a frame that can take the ~5" tires.

Breaking through the crust at speed sucks.

For people wondering about suspension forks on fat bikes, check the MTBR fat bike forum.

Almost everyone that has been riding a while that tried suspension, went and bought one.

It is the same argument people used in the early days of suspension forks "you don't need them…"

From what I've read is that with a suspension fork is that you can run a little higher tire pressure so the tire doesn't wallow. 2 or 3" of undamped tire compression isn't equivalent to suspension.

Sure, suspension makes everything easier… that's why I choose to not use it in the winter. And to to be clear I ride my fat bike on singletrack as well as snow and its a blast either way. Maintenance is also significantly reduced when you are fully rigid. But the industry is pushing everyone to suspension… that's natural, but I won't go there… for now.

Sure, suspension makes everything easier… that's why I choose to not use it in the winter. And to to be clear I ride my fat bike on singletrack as well as snow and its a blast either way. Maintenance is also significantly reduced when you are fully rigid. But the industry is pushing everyone to suspension… that's natural, but I won't go there… for now.

I've only ridden rigid fatbikes in the snow, so have don't have a suspension fatbike experience to compare it to. If someone is buy a bike/frame now, it makes sense to make sure that you could install a fork in the future if you wanted.

BTW, if you are a big guy, get a frame that can take the ~5" tires.

This is what scares me about the Chromag offering. Looks like it's only good to ~4" tires.

This is what scares me about the Chromag offering. Looks like it's only good to ~4" tires.

That is true of most of the local bike makers, Norco, Kona, Rocky. They are still building frames with 170mm rear hubs.

i think a trusted voice will deliver his thoughts on this quandry shortly ;)

i've been humming and hawing something similar:

http://www.planet-x-usa.com/product-p/buoofat.htm

on one fatty rolling chasis - frame, fork, wheels and tires - for $880 (plus shipping). front end is trail-slack, and the fork is suspension correct for ~100mm of travel so you don't have to commit to rigid:

looks pretty shred-able :)

Did this last winter, built it up with lots of spares. Over a couple months, swapped on a carbon fork, a Hope/Surly new rear wheel, and drilled the front rim. Swapped in some way lighter q-tubes.

The stock fork is really, really, really heavy. The rear hub is really, really heavy and crap quality. The tires are pretty good though. The tubes are boat anchors.

IMO, the frame alone is worthwhile, but the rest of the parts are really meh. Get frame, build it up with other stuff.

It's had more dirt time than snow time. It's really fun, and I'd do it again!

When I want a hardtail ride, this bike gets picked over (gasp!) my Chromag.

Hell, if I didn't already have both, the idea of one of the Chromag fattys with a Bluto and two wheelsets…

first trail ride on a fatbike (well, briefly on 2 bikes) today :)

here are a few off-the-cuff observations, for what they're worth:

• grip and traction, especially noticeable during climbs and traverses but i'm sure they're there on descents to the same extent once you get comfortable with the bike, are ridiculous
• despite the distinct feel of the big tires, differences in frame material and geometry were very noticeable. i'd been harboring a scheme to buy and on-one fatty frame and fork, but from my brief experience i wouldn't (personally) buy an aluminum-framed fat bike
• the big tires were a lot easier to pedal than i'd imagined, but while i felt like i was rolling along quite well, i'm pretty sure i was working harder than usual (if that makes sense)
• the front end took some work and effort to keep in line in all types of terrain. i'm sure i'd get used to it pretty quickly, but the feeling was quite pronounced. we speculated that the weight of the wheel/tire and the amount of compression it experienced - constantly evolving trail numbers - played a role in this

all in all a fun and interesting time. it quelled my excitement somewhat - i didn't get the same "holy shit, do want!" feeling i had on my first ride with wagon wheels - but i'd still be interested on more fat-tired trail rides. and, needless to say, i'd love to try one in the snow

that's a good looking bike. does the carbon fork have a distinct feel, or is it more of a weight thing?

edit: figured out the nice dreams reference

^ riding them in snow is a pretty crazy experience, really hard learning curve trying to find what you can and can't get traction on. Super fun.

first trail ride on a fatbike (well, briefly on 2 bikes) today :)

here are a few off-the-cuff observations, for what they're worth:

• grip and traction, especially noticeable during climbs and traverses but i'm sure they're there on descents to the same extent once you get comfortable with the bike, are ridiculous
• despite the distinct feel of the big tires, differences in frame material and geometry were very noticeable. i'd been harboring a scheme to buy and on-one fatty frame and fork, but from my brief experience i wouldn't (personally) buy an aluminum-framed fat bike
• the big tires were a lot easier to pedal than i'd imagined, but while i felt like i was rolling along quite well, i'm pretty sure i was working harder than usual (if that makes sense)
• the front end took some work and effort to keep in line in all types of terrain. i'm sure i'd get used to it pretty quickly, but the feeling was quite pronounced. we speculated that the weight of the wheel/tire and the amount of compression it experienced - constantly evolving trail numbers - played a role in this

all in all a fun and interesting time. it quelled my excitement somewhat - i didn't get the same "holy shit, do want!" feeling i had on my first ride with wagon wheels - but i'd still be interested on more fat-tired trail rides. and, needless to say, i'd love to try one in the snow

If I get one of these (highly dependant on where I get moved to after the summer), I also won't get an aluminum frame. For me, steel is real. I will admit to being hesitant though about dropping a large amount of cash on one without being able to take a good ride first. Right now, based on "internet research" and my own prejudices, the Nice Dreams and Ice Cream Truck are at the top of the list, but the smaller tires on the Nice Dreams might eliminate it from contention.

If I get one of these (highly dependant on where I get moved to after the summer), I also won't get an aluminum frame. For me, steel is real. I will admit to being hesitant though about dropping a large amount of cash on one without being able to take a good ride first. Right now, based on "internet research" and my own prejudices, the Nice Dreams and Ice Cream Truck are at the top of the list, but the smaller tires on the Nice Dreams might eliminate it from contention.

Carbon.
If your thinking of dropping a large amount of money into your Fatbike, you'll probably get the most out of it being as light as possible.
Salsa makes a Mukluk Ti if your anti-plastic too.

Carbon.
If your thinking of dropping a large amount of money into your Fatbike, you'll probably get the most out of it being as light as possible.
Salsa makes a Mukluk Ti if your anti-plastic too.

small sample size admitedly, but the weight issue on fat bikes is overblown I think. i'm in pretty rough shape right now, and was half expecting the 1500g tires to kill me. but it wasn't nearly the chore to wind them up and keep them rolling that I was expectng. i imagine your talking from experience though garret. you getting some fat bike time on them thar icy plains?