[Closed] So fat bikes, actually properly usable or a bit of a gimmick?

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Lots of ways

anfbm - Member
How does everyone use/enjoy theirs?

On my local beach
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And in the dunes
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I've just gone fat about three weeks ago and my Yeti asr7, Ibis Tranny and Salsa Spearfish haven't been used since i got it. its simple , different and lots of fun.

I did an 6 hour xc race as a fat pair (vicar) in the summer and we would have been in the top third of normal bikes based on number of laps.

Would I ride the south Downs way on it? Not with the tyres it has now and at the end of the day is a 35lb so it's going to be an effort up hills. I've seen fat bikes at 25lb now though so weight doesn't have to be an issue.

If I was having one as an only bike I'd be looking more closely at weight and the tyres but I wouldn't not have one if you see what I mean.

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Lots of ways

This.

People that don't get them will tell you you can only ride them in snow, or on beaches, but the reality Is they're pretty much spotty dog anywhere..

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Love mine.

Rode mine for the first time on the lbs Thursday night ride, on the total opposite of what fatbikes are known for (dry, hardpack dirt with lots of roots and rocks). It was great, laugh out loud, fun. It's not going to replace any of my other bikes, just something a bit different. That said, I'm pretty sure I had more of a workout than everyone else over the course of the evening purely because of the drag from the tyres as the bike was broadly the same weight as all the other bikes.

I'm a fan. Any excuse to share my edit of Spain stokage. RAD!

I just imagine the tyres/wheels are just too heavy to be remotely efficient

Turns out that it is actually imaginary.

Gee of this parish does 80+ mile rides on the Surrey Hills in his, and raced it in the elite category at a National XC race.

We've all seen this, right?

My Fat Boy (large) is 27lbs

Very basic upgrades - tubeless, stem, bars, seatpost (OEM was very heavy), saddle, dropped front mech and extra chainring for single

Rolls faster than a mates 29er on 2,3 tyres

As of now, they are the ultimate clown bike though

I ride a pretty stock Charge Cooker Maxi and since I got it the full sus has hardly been out of the garage. I commute on mine over a mix of road, tow path, beach, dunes, and a bit in the woods. Whilst it not that fast, its not that much hard work either. It gets lots of attention, which can be good and bad. Lost count of the time you hear a "f***in hell look at that ..." when I'm out with the kids.

The hype is true, it really is that much fun to ride, and that alone is why you should get one! And you know you can ride them literally ANYWHERE.

I managed to beat a third of the field at Bontrager on mine, wearing a sumo suit, on one of the hottest days of the year, stopping every lap for cider. So did my mates.

So, yes, quite rideable.

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Can you use them like an actual xc/trail bike? IE clock up some miles quickly, a bit more capability that a usual hardtail/rigid on the jumps, a bit of jumping, a bit of amateur xc racing?

Having read enough of your posts about your idea of XC riding, I'm going to say no. I've never ridden one, I'm just basing it on how people I ride with ride when they're on a fat bike.

The big issues are the lack of damping in their effective suspensions and the effect on the steering caused by the large rotational inertia and large contact patch. So from what I've seen in real life and in clips, they're good at going fast, they're good at cornering, they're good at jumping but they're not good at doing all three at once because there is so much energy for the rider to control. The bigger and stronger and more balanced the rider, the less of an issue it will be.

If any of the fatbikers out there are the kind of shredding machines who'd be at the pointy end of 4X or DH then do please tell me if I'm wrong!

I don't think they're a gimmick and I do think they're properly usable! They're probably as versatile within the wider world of MTBing as an XC race bike and more versatile than a DH bike.

Bonesetter, how much heft do you reckon can be lost by changing the bar, stem and saddle for something made from somewhat more exotic materials?

Forget the weight thing and just ride the things!,
Here is prob the heaviest- a Mk 1 Pugsley with 36h Marge rims and tubes along side the lightest Carbon tubeless fatbike available!
No sand or snow in this film and still fun 🙂

Reckon this is the answer, whatever the question:

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Coastkid, that's the best video I've seen in ages.
First class footage, decent soundtrack & my kind of riding. Good old fashioned trail riding with a bit of looning around thrown in.
I want a fat bike now. 😕

Before I rode one I was convinced they were a bit of a gimmick, good for winter plodding maybe or messing about on fire roads and smoother single track or some trail centres.

Having ridden one as far as I'm concerned my initial impressions were right. I'm sure rider x,y or z will tell me that they can ride this or that on it, or that their friend wins dh races on theirs or whatever but I found it a chore to pedal up stuff compared to my 160mm fs with 2.4 tyres. I also took quite a beating riding rougher, faster trails. Yes I was able to ride it a bit faster than a ridgid with normal tyres but I doubt it'd be any quicker than a trail ht with 120mm forks. It goes without saying, much slower than my fs.

Any arguement for them as I see it just comes down to simplicity and back to basics fun. If it's performance (regardless of yourprefered discipline in mtb) then there are much better bikes out there.

jimjam - Member
Yes but I doubt it'd be any quicker than a trail ht with 120mm forks. It goes without saying, much slower than my fs.

Would you still say the same if you rode one of these?
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http://salsacycles.com/bikes/bucksaw
http://salsacycles.com/culture/2015_digging_deeper_into_bucksaw

Just a shame there isn't a Salsa distributor here in the UK anymore.

So
the US price of the Bucksaw 1 is $4999 = £3,130.83
the UK price of the Bucksaw 1 is £4999 = $7,981.90

I haven't shared all of the story because it's too stw cliche, but...

When I was in Moab, (good already isn't it? got your dobbers ready?) riding a Mukluk on Porcupine Rim, I was having a ball on the ups and downs, overtaking guys on full-sussers, stopped round a corner after a long descent and short hoik up and heard a guy say to his buddy - "See the guy on the fatbike? He was [i]haulin'![/i]". I had a grin a mile wide at this point, because I [i]had[/i] been haulin', and it was flippin' brilliant.

everyone got bingo? 😀

How can you not love a bike that can stands up on it's own. 😉

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9338380662_0f60f19833_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9338380662_0f60f19833_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/fecDe9 ]2013_0721sandyas****0066[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/18504429@N00/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr

JohnClimber

jimjam - Member
Yes but I doubt it'd be any quicker than a trail ht with 120mm forks. It goes without saying, much slower than my fs.

Would you still say the same if you rode one of these?

Well I'd need to ride one to be sure but my guess would be a similarly specced £4000 fs with 150mm travel or more would be considerably quicker. If anyone wants to lend me a Salsa Buckshaw I'll happily test that.

As a cheapish (not really) and cheerful play/fun bike for a change of pace then I can see the point, but as a 3,4,5 thousand pound full suss with all the maintenance, complexity and technology that comes with it, I think not.

How can you not love a bike that can stands up on it's own.

Is it balanced on it's gear dangling appendage 😛

I've never ridden a fatbike

But the arguments either don't matter

For most of us it's a hobby where we ride a bike round in a pointless circle. At the end of the day all that matters is that you enjoy it.

If people enjoy that on a fatbike you can't really argue

ampthill

If people enjoy that on a fatbike you can't really argue

But we are men. And since the very first man noticed that his willy was different to his friends willy, men have been comparing them.

So if someone comes along saying something is better it's natural to debate and compare.

@singlespeedstu is that kinver by any chance?I do 90% of my rides in and around there and I am considering a fat bike due to the beach like conditions in some areas

chris.
Yes it is Kinver.
Most of my local riding gets done on a fatbike.
More and more locals are converting too.

Thought it looked familiar my riding buddy is looking at the specialized fatty think I will take a punt on a on one fatty they look great fun for our trails

But we are men. And since the very first man noticed that his willy was different to his friends willy, men have been comparing them.

There's a name for men who look at the willies of other men.

Never ridden a fat bike but really would like to. I think for a lot of my local trails and for most of the year, they'd be ideal. If i get rid of my jump bike i'll have a bike spaced hole in my shed and as i generally ride alone and at obscure times locally, there'll be no one to make fun of me.

Coastkid, at approx 2.20 i spied a little jump and noticed you all rode around it. I'm killing three 3 baby robin's children's faces and it's all on you. Shame on you 😀

There's a name for men who look at the willies of other men.

Oh [b]YOU[/b] should definitely get one. 😆

Then I'll see if you can live with down Swayze Train on it.

We can debate it

But we should bear in mind that slower doesn't have to mean less good

we have to debate the fun I suppose.....

I am just back from a weeks riding in the Allgau region of Baveria
with 3 fattys and 6 mtbs
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we did over 20,000 feet of climbing on all types of terrain plus the descending on the same

I think we had just as much fun on the Fat bikes as the others on the skinny tyred mtb`s

Trout.
Is that a medium frame?

100mm or 120mm fork?

Yes Stu medium fatty with 100 mm Blutos
love it

just back from three days trail riding in livigno, not a beach or bit of snow or sand in sight... just high alps dusty trails and it was brilliant. So I guess we did ok.. Write up on here to follow ..

There are few around the Swanage area in Dorset never seen so many.

Bed maker - that's a great video.

There are few around the Swanage area in Dorset never seen so many

I'm absolutely ****ed from riding mine all day today

Perfect fun

To many beef cobs made it hard work getting home? 🙂

Yes yes yes in so many ways.

As a non-non fatbikist, it seems most anti complaints are about a lack of speed in comparison with other forms of mountain bike. The criteria for praise/devotion/obsession by devotees is fun, not speed.

I like speed. I have a fast bike.

I like fun too. Time to demo a fatbike.

I'm more in the gimmick camp, but I can understand why people are drawn into it as a fun way to try and keep their regular riding interesting, regular trails interesting or just want another different bike.
spotted this recently on facebook
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No bike is perfect all the time but I know I'm faster on any particular route on my cx due to faster climbing and flat out speed. Fatty is the only bike I think of taking out though, had it almost 2yrs and I can count on one hand the rides on other bikes in that time.

Still want to get one of these and go fatduroing. I've only ridden one really briefly, but I reckon kinlochleven or innerleithen enduro stuff will be basically a 2-day long near death experience, which seems ace.

singlespeedstu - Member
To many beef cobs made it hard work getting home?

That, and the gallon I drank on the way round 🙂

Something good about being a bit pissed pedaling - makes you ride harder, faster and looser

What's the cheapest way in to fatbikism? On One?

No t got a problem with them but cannot see the point of them in proper hilly terrain like the Lakes where your tyres take a hammering and a up is a proper up !
Perfect bike for the Midlands and all those special people down there 🙂

Interestingly Im no slower on my local trail centre Up at Glen Livet than I would be on my Full sus. bUT then im not a Strava Slave I go out have fun and enjoy just being outside after a hard day at the coal face.

There is still coal mining in Scotland?

THOSE BIG WHEELS WILL NEVER CATCH ON!

Big heavy draggy tyres, slower...

Oh, sorry just time warped to the 29er debate... yawn. Carry on

They're not better, or worse, just a different way to ride. I find it amazing how much they change the pace of a ride (i'm not a strava racer), and remove ego altogether.

I've had great fun on mine from being dressed as a Werewolf on the Moonlander at last years Rapha Supercross race, Racing the NZ mega on my Krampus (after using it as my bikepacking steed), taking my Fatty down Fleetwith/Warnscale, racing my Moonlander at this years Ard Rock Enduro (and finishing in the top half of class) to kicking hell out of my legs on my new SS pugsley. Would I of been quicker on a FS, absolutely, would I of had more fun? doubtful!

If you enjoy riding, then you will enjoy a fatbike, you're welcome to try one of mine if your passing York.

They remove ego, and replace it with fun, they are not the answer to a quiver killer, and Lucy has banned me from taking the Bucksaw to Verbier next year, but I'm working on it..... 😀 !!

Any one used a baby fatty for bmx type stuff then ?

Saw the vid an thought mmmm I like that

I took one of the Surly 29+ demo bikes for a lap at Tide To Tide yesterday and loved it.
The lack of front suspension didn't bother me and the fat tyre gave just enough to make sitting down while pedalling across bumpy grass reasonably comfortable.
As a general XC/two wheel rambling/commute/bikepacking bike, I reckon the Surley ECR would do everything I want.
The only thing I didn't like was that I thought calling it a Rohloff dropout was being a bit "creative", I'd rather have proper sliding dropouts.
Also, when I asked the price of a frameset, I was told £650, which is OKish for a steel frame and fork as it uses standard 100mm/135mm hubs and a 73mm BB so I could source cheap second hand parts to build it up, but when I got home and checked the prices of the unique parts I would need to buy new, the rims are £135 and the tyres are £75 each, which bumps it up to over £1000.
That's a fair bit more than I was planning on spending, but a half hour test ride has got me thinking I might anyway.

I'm still undecided, but I'm really enjoying making my mind up!Went out yesterday and rode Blue trail near Fair Oak Hampshire, a mix of woodland trails, a bit of fire road and a nice little jump park. It was great fun hitting some ten foot or so doubles, big berms and a few drops. My brother in law had a go and couldn't believe the grip or how much fun they are.

I can really see the appeal of a Bluto on the front, but for the winter I will be staying rigid.

I might be about to become a fatboy because I'm special 😉

Descending Holme Moss yesterday at 70km/hr on my On One Fatty overtaking roadies - slow? Definately fun

Northwind - Member
Still want to get one of these and go fatduroing. I've only ridden one really briefly, but I reckon kinlochleven or innerleithen enduro stuff will be basically a 2-day long near death experience, which seems ace.

Now that sounds ace!

MidlandTrailquestsGraham...a few rigid forks will take a Surly Knard, running a 29+ up front might be a cheaper option. Knard is £63 at all-terrain-cycles, & Dually rim is only 5mm narrower than a Rabbit Hole at £104.

I tried a Krampus at Cannock & loved it, as did the lads I was riding with.
I thought the Krampus frame was a bit of a lump though, & £650 is a lot of cash for a plain cro-moly frameset.

Be good when there are a few more options available.

I'm going to run 29+ front (compatible swift fork) with a dually & biggest tyre I can find on a blunt on the back of my ancient Swift

29+ is my favourite fatbike tyre size for riding away from the coast.
This old Puglsey frame was Scotland`s first fatbike and now 6 years old and over 10,000 miles clocked up on it, last 2 years it has been a KramPug, thats a offset Krampus 29+ wheelset that bolts straight into the Pugsley, and is my PUG/ECR alternative (with 4" fatbike wheel option if required. With a 1" higher BB to a regular wheeled Pugsley it is great for local xc trails, maybe it needs a Jones wide loop bar for riding off steep stuff, i will see..., but i love this bike and its old and so deft not a fad... 🙂
No one has mentioned cycling harvested stubble fields yet!, 29+ is the easist fun option for this 🙂

I tried a Charge Cooker Maxi when on hols in Canada.
It was nice but there was definitely a weight there.
I'd still like one though, they are the n+whatever bike.

Love riding my Puffin though the tech bits on Mendip, it could never replace anything, it's just a unique different bike to ride.
Great fun!

I got my old asr7 out of the cupboard this wkd and couldn't believe how skinny and frail and odd the wheels looked.I think I'm a bit of a chubby chaser 😉

As a non-non fatbikist, it seems most anti complaints are about a lack of speed in comparison with other forms of mountain bike. The criteria for praise/devotion/obsession by devotees is fun, not speed.

I like speed. I have a fast bike.

I like fun too. Time to demo a fatbike.

They aren't that much slower and I got a pair of the slowest tyres (apparently, Nates) I reckon about a MPH at the moment but I think I've worked harder to achieve that.

I'm not about to stop riding my fast MTB since getting it though. Maybe if I could afford to build a 25lb one I might stop riding other MBTs.
I think I'd like a pair of Sus forks though. I suspect that would make it acerer.

Just looked at the price of the Surly Ice Cream Truck. Bledy hell, that on-one Fatty definitely is a great deal by comparison. I know, I know the rims aren't as wide but they both have similar trail style geometry

Value for money?

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/felt-mtb-double-double-70-233220/wg_id-10092

My 2p's, for what it's worth.

I've had a bit of a falling out with MTBing over the past few years, meaning I only push the hardtail up the woods in the winter when it's too bleak to ride the road bike. Outside the fact that its pretty impossible not to enjoy riding my bke, I have to say that I never love taking it out and it's generally for fitness rather than fun. However, this year I've got my first CX bike, and my god it's so much fun hammering it around the woods compared to the hardtail. I just 'feel' more enthused by riding it, in a way that I don't really understand. On Sunday, despite the perfect road riding weather, I took the CX bike up the woods. I even had an ice cream. Perfect.

So my point is thus; It's all about the bike, and how you feel about it.

I am very close to buying a fatbike, for no reason other than I look at them and think "that looks so pointless and so cool". For me, it almost doesn't matter that it's essentially not the right tool for the job, but it might just be the best tool for the job.

Im selling this if anyone here fancys a fatty. Turns out its not for me, or at least my knees, after all.

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/15184914818_9cbf7e5758.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/15184914818_9cbf7e5758.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/p8QE9b ]20140720_110106[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/24483199@N06/ ]steverog5[/url], on Flickr

witty.name, where are you based? that looks lovely.

Cannock, Staffs. 19 inch frame. email in profile if you need any details. Dont want to hijack the thread any more than i already have 🙂

I rode my Surly Krampus in the OktoberFest 8hr Solo category yesterday at Ashton Court. I'm absolutely broken today but had a great time on the fat tyres railing the loose corners, hitting the jumps and bouncing over the rock gardens. Yeah I would almost certainly have done more laps on my carbon full-susser but not that many more I suspect.

As others have said, if always going as fast as you can up and down is your thing then you probably shouldn't get a fat bike. But if you want a bike you can ride almost anywhere, anytime if year, with low maintenance thrown in, then give it a go. You'll stop worrying about your Strava times and just enjoy the ride.