[Closed] HALF FAT ADVICE

wheels with Velocity p35 rims.

Ask on here http://s436462119.websitehome.co.uk/index.php

Half fat is great fun but isn't any good on the sand or deep snow.

I've got half fat and full fat.

If by "half fat" you mean something like putting a 2.5 inches rear tyres together with a fork upgrade to fit a fat front wheel, I think that's a bad idea.

I was considering it some time ago but I think you just combine the worst sides of fat and non-fat bikes at the same time by doing this:

- average to bad traction on mud and snow (where normally a "true" fat does great job)
- heavy front being a pain in the ass to move uphill
- poor handling
- bad weight distribution

Jeff Jones sells half fat bikes @ $3500:

http://www.jonesbikes.com/Bicycles/Steel-Spaceframe-bicycle/vmj_funky.tpl.html

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I tried it, nothing like full fat IMO, YMMV.

half fat rocks!

you will need some 135mm front spaced fat forks and hub. Salsa enabler is lovely or surly stuff. A rim 45mm-80mm don't need any wider on a half fat ( Rear trials rims are good cheap, light option). Don't bother with surly toob they weigh half a ton. Get a decent downhill tube, lighter and no worries with punctures/snake bites even at looow pressures in big rocks as speed.
Nice fat tyre- NATE is the only way to go....or a husker Du, but mainly a Nate!.

all in cost wise with some careful shopping you are probably looking at about £300-400 unless you can pick up second hand bits. WELL worth it though.

just to answer the statements:

average to bad traction on mud and snow (where normally a "true" fat does great job)

no, the front sticks like poo to a blanket in fast corners, if the back gets a bit slidey it can be controlled and is ace fun

- heavy front being a pain in the ass to move uphill.

No heaver than a shock fork and medocre wheel. Should also be noted that even nates roll well.

- poor handling
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you really haven't thought this through have you?

- bad weight distribution again see point about suspension forks.

Interesting post tazzymtb. These where my bets, but if you tried it you're the expert! 🙂

Good to know concerning the handling although I have some difficulties to imagine how you can be precise with such a difference between the two wheels, might be a very weird feeling, at least at the beginning right?

Would you recommend a dedicated frame for this type of build then or an upgrade on any bike would also jsut be fine?

precise with such a difference between the two wheels, might be a very weird feeling, at least at the beginning right?

half fats use 29er frame and wheels. The 26" front wheel with a fat tyre is pretty much the same as 29er so the geometry and handling doesn't get screwed! If you use a very wide rim the front can be a bit slow to turn, but if you keep it under 80mm you get a lovely compromise between grip, boing and cornering.

they are very pressure sensitive on the set up. 1-2 psi to high and it's like running down hill through rocks with a psychotic space hopper. Get the pressure spot on and stuff just get absorbed like a hungry amoeba 😀

If you use a very wide rim the front can be a bit slow to turn, but if you keep it under 80mm you get a lovely compromise between grip, boing and cornering

Very good news, I might reconsider my plans for snow biking then. So did you actually try this type of setting on "random" 29er compatible frame or an OEM half fat?

Reading your comments they seem to be really fun bikes to try out in the end!

tried on a normal 29er first and then went down the jones route with a diamond frame and then a space frame. Loads of fat front 29ers around now, in fact the 2012 SSUK's (unofficial midland splitters variant) was won by a rider on a half fat singular swift.

If you do the face book thing have look at one cog cycling. All singlerspeederists but loads of nice half fats....and folks post up bits for sale.....and they are A LOT more chilled out and accepting than norrowmindedtrack world

if you are proper "snow biking" then full fat is the truth. although you can build a good 3/4 fat using a surly karate monkey frame and a 2.7 -3" 26 inch duro tyre in the back with a fatty up front.

anybody got a surley monkey built up with fats?

Nice, thanks for the informations. I'll keep that in mind if building a half fat.

I love to ride in the snow, I normally manage to do a lot (including climbing!) with 2.10 inches tyres on 26 wheels.

Ideally, I would like to try a winter conversion of my bike, so based on your advices I was thinking of something like that :
FRONT: a truss fork (if you can buy them separately...) + say less than 80 mm wide front rim + Husker Du
REAR: 29er wheel with 2.5 tyre

Am I right?

be careful with a truss fork as it's got a long offset and low height to work on jeffs frames. You can make them play with other frames, but it's a bit of risk as you could end with a right dog!

I'd go salsa enabler fork and hub, rim and tyre yep although if you can find an ultralight nate with the folding bead I'd go for that as they have more grip than a husker and are cheaper pretty much the same weight as well.

rim wise a surly marge light is great at 65mm. tim at sideways or charlie the bike monger are the chaps to speak to for bits.

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jones with a very budget fat front (just to try it out with that bike set up). DMR rear ss hub with rotor shims to fit a Jones fork, 80mm rim from classic cycle.de (cheap but heavym hence lots if drilled holes)

Again thanks a lot tazzymtb for your advices, I will try to build something nice based on what you said.

Is there a lower limit in terms of width for the rear tyre on a half-fat bike? I guess you would stick to 2.5, just wondering what is possible...

cheap but heavym hence lots if drilled holes

wow! I would be scared to weaken the rim by doing this! How much weight to you save like this?

rear is down to frame clearance really. Surly bikes have the FFF (faties fit Fine) back end so you can get a big 29er in there. have a look at unicycle.com for the Kris Holm 47mm 29er rim or wait for the Surly Rabbit hole rim (50mm 29er) with a 2.55 29er on them you will get a really nice tyre profile.

I used a 42mm dominator 29er rim with a 2.5 WTB dissent at 8 PSI for a bit and it was ace (heavy.....but ace)

double skinned rim, got over 300g out of the bugger on first drilling, then took another 150 out from the inner skin.

wait for the Surly Rabbit hole rim (50mm 29er) with a 2.55 29er on them you will get a really nice tyre profile

double skinned rim, got over 300g out of the bugger on first drilling, then took another 150 out from the inner skin.

If by "half fat" you mean something like putting a 2.5 inches rear tyres together with a fork upgrade to fit a fat front wheel, I think that's a bad idea.

I was considering it some time ago but I think you just combine the worst sides of fat and non-fat bikes at the same time by doing this:

- average to bad traction on mud and snow (where normally a "true" fat does great job)
- heavy front being a pain in the ass to move uphill
- poor handling
- bad weight distribution

Clueless :/