NSMB - 2024 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

I must confess, sir, that your fat bike kind of gives me a chubby.

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

I must confess, sir, that your fat bike kind of gives me a chubby.

Thanks (I think), haha! 

Hope temporarily ended the production of "bronze" until they can get it more brown (booo), which means my Maverick is decked out in a limited edition color.

Posted by: snowsnake

Posted by: MWVFU

Who’s out there making updates for winter riding?

Stump lean from today.

Sure, I'll bite. Technically my Wyatt Maverick is a double hardtail, especially since it's designed for a suspension fork, but just has a dropper post. Winter is long and full-on here in Alaska, so it's the daily driver for the next 5-6 months. In comparison to other fat bikes I've ridden, it has a much longer reach and lower standover, but since I downsized to a Medium, it's plenty nimble for tight forest singletrack. I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures while riding in the cold, but this is from when it was first built up. I'll try to get one on the trail in the next few days.

Nice. Think one day will have a fat bike. 

This also just remined me to look up an MTBr thread on riding on Kodiak Island.

Posted by: snowsnake

Posted by: MWVFU

Who’s out there making updates for winter riding?

Stump lean from today.

Sure, I'll bite. Technically my Wyatt Maverick is a double hardtail, especially since it's designed for a suspension fork, but just has a dropper post. Winter is long and full-on here in Alaska, so it's the daily driver for the next 5-6 months. In comparison to other fat bikes I've ridden, it has a much longer reach and lower standover, but since I downsized to a Medium, it's plenty nimble for tight forest singletrack. I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures while riding in the cold, but this is from when it was first built up. I'll try to get one on the trail in the next few days.

Nice! I just got my first fat bike. I bought a Blizzard, which I upgraded here and there with better parts I already had at home.

I also upgraded with studded Dillinger 5 F/R...but I wonder if I should have went with your setup Wrathchild (f) and Dill5 (r) instead. How do you like that setup?

Posted by: Endurimil

Nice. Think one day will have a fat bike. 

This also just remined me to look up an MTBr thread on riding on Kodiak Island.

I hadn't seen that one before! I'm more scared of moose than I am bears, but better have the bear spray with you if you're gonna ride on Kodiak...

Posted by: FlipSide

Nice! I just got my first fat bike. I bought a Blizzard, which I upgraded here and there with better parts I already had at home.

I also upgraded with studded Dillinger 5 F/R...but I wonder if I should have went with your setup Wrathchild (f) and Dill5 (r) instead. How do you like that setup?

That looks like a sorted bike! Never seen one in person, but RM bikes are pretty rare here. 

I rode D5 front and rear my first winter fatbiking! It's a really good combo of float, traction, and rolling speed, but I found that the front tended to step out before the back, which definitely caused some wipeouts. If you like to corner like you're on a mountain bike, the small rolling resistance penalty for the Wrathchild is well worth it, IMO. Tons more confidence if you want to lean over, and the D5 out back releases a bit earlier, so you can control the slide much better.

If you’re looking for a more aggressive front tire, the Bontrager Gnarwhal is studdable and cheaper than a Wrathchild. I’ve had both and while I loved the Wrathchild, the Gnarwhal is similar for $60 less when you factor in the studs. Lots of people use them here in Whitehorse, Yukon.

I feel like we may need to create a fat bike forum thread here in 2025. There’s a whole new generation of aggressive fat bikes and riders doing impressive stuff on said machines.

I'll second the Bontager tires. I've used a combo of a Gnarwahl front and Barbagazi rear for 6 years now. I studded both myself using Grip studs. Note:  the Barbagazi does not have stud pockets. I used a small drill bit to create some.

Older pic, but I'm a fan of the (white) Vee Snowshoe 2XLs for winter ultras. I studded them with Grip Studs. They're overkill for most conditions, but if you hit soft snow, you'll keep happily spinning along while everyone else is struggling. I took 15th in the Arrowhead 135 as a rookie on them, I think largely because conditions were 30 miles of fast, packed snow and then 105 miles of mashed potatoes.

Posted by: gdharries

I feel like we may need to create a fat bike forum thread here in 2025. There’s a whole new generation of aggressive fat bikes and riders doing impressive stuff on said machines.

In certain places like Alaska fatbikes are more used year round. Interestingly locally seen a few older meaning 65 and up riders using fat bikes.

Got out for a rigid/SS ride yesterday evening. Not too many of these left before the snow flies.

I'm surprised how manageable riding rigid is, even for big moves. It's very predictable, the front wheel goes exactly where you want it to. The worst part is braking bumps, since you can't prepare and preload your arms like you can for a bigger visible hit.

Tristan - what size G-Ones are they?  How do you find them on the road / off road?

Posted by: fartymarty

Tristan - what size G-Ones are they?  How do you find them on the road / off road?

29x2.25 G-One Allrounds. On-road/gravel, they're great, they roll fast and quiet. Off road, depends on the surface; anything dry is fine, but sand, mud and leaves all get sketchy very quickly. They're better than I expected on dirt given the minimal tread pattern.

Cool, I may get some once my Riddlers die.