[Closed] Would you ride a fatbike?

I can see the attraction of riding a fat bike.

I wouldn't ride any 38lb bike to the exclusion of all others though, I find lighter bikes are often more fun on a lot of the stuff I ride.

I'd be interested in riding one for curiosity's sake, but couldn't ever see myself owning one.
most of my riding is on fireroads and double track with a lot of climbing so a 38lb bike would be pointless really...and then there is the looks...

To answer the question in the title; yes, i would happily ride one, but can't really see me buying one for the reasons mentioned above.

I passed a chap on a fatty at sherwood pines making what looked like very hard work out of a pretty steady climb. I found myself thinking 'it's pretty dull riding around here without making it any worse!'. It may have been different had i seen him blasting away on the downs.

I only really have one bike at a time, and I don't think I could make it a fat bike

I would love to ride one. I never have, but they do look like a lot of fun.
Way down the list of priorities though.

Cost of consumables & constant "wow what big wheels you have" puts me off, but otherwise yes especially as winter approaches here in the chilterns

I'll go for a run in a pair of concrete sneakers before i throw a leg over one of those monstrosities.

They're amusing okay, but do we really need to be told that they're better for commuting than road bikes and faster downhill than a six-inch full suspension bike? I've ridden one and while it was entertaining, it was clearly neither of those things.

I'm more interested in whether it copes with those awkward snow conditions that stop normal bikes in their tracks, you know, the stuff where you simply can't generate enough momentum to keep moving? What are they like on sheet ice?

I've thought about it and even asked the Surly guys at SSUK2013 about a test ride, but never followed it up.
I'd like one, but I've got a few bikes already and can't see it being my first choice to take out often enough to make it worth while.

I'd love to try one round here, a real mixed bag of boggy peat, rocky descents, plenty of mud and we had plenty of snow last winter. Anyone in the Peaks got one and willing to let me have a go?

I live in Gloucestershire and ride it everywhere, FoD, Cranham, commute, now looking for more challenges. Its just surprising what it will cope with. Just yesterday took his fatness down some cool technical downhills in the Forest of Dean and was expecting to be overtaken.... in fact the opposite happened. Left the 160mm boys & co behind.

😆

:swoon:

I'd ride one if someone gave me it for free.

I'd try one but honestly, I'd feel embarrassed about riding one regularly. It's the sort of bike I'd ride with a large group of mates egging me on just so that any passers by are aware that I'm only riding one for a laugh and it's not in any way a serious choice.

I might get one when they filter down into the used market at reasonable prices, would be really handy in the winter, and I'd consider making a trailer to lug kit around. Live on a farm & would always rather pedal than walk.

Not sure I'd take one 'out out' though, not unless there was proper snow or monsoon conditions.....

I did ride one but I've just sold it!

Don't get me wrong, they're good for a laugh but I always seemed to find myself drawn towards either my regular FS bike or my singlespeed so the Fatty was often overlooked.
I think that something like the 29+ Krampus would be a good balance between the Fatty and a normal MTB.

I do ride one.
But I'd not ride a 38 lb one.

I'd feel embarrassed about riding one regularly.

*Shock news flash.*
Any bike you ride will make you look like a bit of a freak to most people so i wouldn't worry about it. 🙂

Yes if I had one with 100mm front and 135mm rear spacing so I could run it with my Rohloff and Schmidt hubs. I can't see the point of one for myself unless it's an all winter maintenance free off road commuter.

I wouldn't mind having a go on one and could even see myself owning one as an occasional bit of fun bike but unless most of your riding is on sand or snow then it's a pretty big compromise over a lightweight FS bike. I have fun riding a rigid SS 29er but there's a limited number of places I'd want to ride it and a lot of the fun comes from the challenge of riding something that's severely compromised and dealing with it (in the same way as riding a shopping bike down a DH course my be a laugh, once).

If it's too snowy for 2.4" tyres, I'll take the toboggan instead.

If it's icy, I'll put the spiked tyres on.

I'd still like to try a fatbike, just for a day or so to see what the fuss is about.

*Shock news flash.*
Any bike you ride will make you look like a bit of a freak to most people so i wouldn't worry about it.

What world do you live in?

Fatbikes are the new niche/29er/SS/hair shirt... discuss.

Unless you live in Alaska or somewhere similarly snowy you don't want/need a snow bike.

It is not the right/best/funnest tool for the vast majority of UK riding.

What world do you live in?

I live in a world where riding a bike doesn't make you look cool to most people...

Unless you live in [s]Alaska[/s]the Alps or somewhere similarly [s]snowy[/s] Alpine you don't want/need a [s]snow[/s] mountain bike.

WTF has need got to do with anything. 😀

I'm a Krampus rider, and I'm loving it! It's more like semi skimmed.

In regards to extra effort, maybe, but more grip on wet chalk means less walking up green chalk climbs. It is lots of fun, and I'm not going any slower....

Horses for courses, fat bikes for niche, who gives a fluffy fat rats farse! It's just fun, makes me smile and end of.

Yes, would certainly love a go, but 38lb is putting me off? Is that typical? If not, what is?

dirk_pumpa - Member
I'll go for a run in a pair of concrete sneakers before i throw a leg over one of those monstrosities.

Strange comment for a cyclist. There isn't a bike I 'wouldn't' ride. Dunno if I'd buy one, but I'd defo ride one.

I'd definitely ride one, if I had the money I'd already own one. But it'd not be an only bike. Riding bikes is fun, and they seem like fun bikes to ride. I'd like to see people's faces when I put it on an uplift 😆

They just spread a little bit of happiness everywhere they go don't they? Seeing them out at a trailcentre or on the beach always makes me smile. You don't get that with an Orange Five.

I've not ridden a fatbike so I can't comment on the ride but the looks don't put me off.
I do have a Krampus and at 28 lbs it's not the lightest (might put a carbon fork on it) it's not the fastest downhill ( but it is bloody quick) but it is the most FUN bike I have owned. It has so much grip it goes up ,over and down things most bikes (with me riding) struggle with.
Try one,they really do make you smile and you might just not go back to 'conventional bikes'
PS. I have ridden most types of mountain bike and in most conditions, not boasting just trying to validate my comments.

Picked up my Fatty at the weekend and rode back 40 miles along the bridleways to get home. Just about every passer by commented positively and kids love it. Tarmac and around town are obviously atrocious but otherwise it was great to ride. My mate has a Giant Yukon with 2.3 HRs on it and its pretty much the same weight. I need to get a few more miles on it but so far I've enjoyed it. Fingers crossed for Snowmageddon this winter!

Couldn't this forum just auto-generate this tedious thread and identical responses every week to save everyone the bother?

At the risk of repeating an old joke and offending all female forum contributors, I'm gonna go for it anyway:

Fat bikes are like fat girls - good fun until your mates see you on one............

I'd like one, but probably only to make slow group rides more entertaining, a bit like people who turn up on CX bikes (but the other way round, painfull uphill, brilliant* on the techier stuff)

*relative to the default rigid 29er SS

Would ride one if someone gave it to me but I don't think I would actually buy one.

Am used to being under/over/wrong biked

anyone wanting a test ride- I think ED's cycles of Dalby are taking the demo bikes to the Leeds cycle show this weekend 8)

I would love to live somewhere where my default weekend activity was an overnight bivy in a tiny log cabin surrounded by massive snow-drifts and hundreds of miles of ancient, silent forest. I would hunt caribou with a long-bow, grow a massive beard which would fill with icicles in the frigid air and ride for miles without seeing a soul. It would be great. I'd probably have a Surly Moonlander and some really boss reflective goggles. The bike fits pleasantly into that dream.

I have a more conventional mountain bike to fit into the reality of weekly bashes around the local trails and periodic excursions to Wales.

8)

I'd ride one if someone gave me it for free.

+1
straight to cash converters

I have one and it's probably my most used bike, it's certainly the most fun to ride. When the snow arrives it's even better.
I used it for Ten Under the Ben this year and was no more knackered using the Mukluk than I would've been on my hardtail, probably less so as the fattie is more forgiving.

I dont know about a full on fat bike but after hiring out a Krampus & taking it around Cannocks Monkey & Dog trails, plus a good bit of more natural singletrack & fire-road plugging; my opinion was that its far more capable than you would imagine. I expected it to feel slow & lethargic & it simply wasnt. It got up to speed quick, it was actually possible to stand & hit climbs hard etc, but its biggest fortay was how smooth it rode. Both my mates had a go & admitted that it surprised them. Its just a shame that Surly have built it so heavy. I dont think the tyres & rims add a massive amount. If you put regular wheels on I think it wopuld still be quite a hefty bike. A rigid full carbon Krampus...now that would be just ace.

Saw some up Cannock the other week and did think they looked a laugh but can't see myself ever getting one.

Saw some up Cannock the other week

bet they were ridden by beardy pierced tattooed attention whores.

Yup, I have one, and love it...

Great fun IMHO.

Yeah, not the most sensible bike I know, but great fun nontheless..

Anyone in the Peaks got one and willing to let me have a go?

I'm in Cheshire, so not a million miles away, - your'e more than welcome to try out my 9:zero:7

[IMG] [/IMG]

Anyone in the Peaks got one and willing to let me have a go?

we ride in macc forest area so you can have a play on mine and a jones space frame fat fronty at the same time

I'm saving up for one. If a 29er makes people look short....

Anyone in the Peaks got one and willing to let me have a go?

the lovle folks at [url= http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/ ]Keep Pedalling[/url] in That Manchester have a demo bike available

Fatty as a commuter? A mate is about to pull the trigger on a On One purchase via the bike to work scheme. It's going to be used as a commuter. Will he die?

Yup I'd ride one and a lot of my friends do already ride them. They seem fairly capable on most things and If you have a spare set of 3" wheels (Krampus) It makes sense to own one. Would I have one as my only mtb ? , No danger . I still think a hardtail with standard 2.25 inch tyres on normal mtb trails is going to be way more fun.
I do think a lot of folk on forums do seem overly protective about them though and seem to get the rage when ever anything negative is posted about them .
I'd actually consider one of the uber cheap heavy American mongoose ones just to be able to ride on the beach with a few mates that have them but without spending loads of money on a bike.

I'd love to try one, but it'd have to have gears.

I do ride one and love every mile , Yes its a little tougher up the tarmac climbs but on the rough stuff its a hoot .
700 ish miles on one this year including a week riding in the Pyrenees
I only rode it the first 2 days and my German mates rode it the other 3 days and had a blast
even pissing off a group of roadies going up the Peyresourde and going down the other side

They are more capable than they look and ride lighter than they look too

pissing off a group of roadies going up the Peyresourde and going down the other side

Drafting without doing your turn on the front, then all over the road on the way back down?

I've ridden one, and now want one! Just need to save up!

I'll still keep my rigid ss and 100mm hardtail, but for most of my riding it will be ace 🙂

Drafting without doing your turn on the front, then all over the road on the way back down?

Nope Armin passed them on the climb waited for us to catch up on the top by this time the roadies had started down and we all blitzed them going down

Saw some up Cannock the other week

bet they were ridden by beardy pierced tattooed attention whores.

Nah they're very mainstream now. 😉

Not got a beard,piercing or tattoos but do quite fancy the attention of whores mmmmmmmmmm.

Nah they're very mainstream now

I've noticed that too.

Every man and his dog has a beard, tatts and piercings these days.

Where's that "cut and paste" function?

Look, I'm an overweight 55 year-old mincer with no beard, tattoos or piercings but even I can overtake other riders going both down- and uphill at the like of Glentress on my 30 lb fatbike.

Totally stu, thats why I ive had laser treatment and have a shaved ring and a pussy. No man dog tattoo beardiness ring action here!!

There's a few snippets of me here on my Mukluk confusing the 6" full sus boys in Morocco 🙂

I had the choice of my fatbike or my Tallboy LTc for this holiday with ~2000M uplift each day and forty odd miles riding. Maybe says something about how capable a fatty is or how weird I am, not sure which.

*awaits the keyboard warriors telling me I probably held everyone else up and ruined their holiday*

I'd ride one. But only when my mates weren't looking.......

😉

When I say here, I mean [url=

I want one!

No snow, no beaches. I love my 9:Zero:7.

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

I would have to say that fatbikes look wrong with chains and derailleurs though.

[img] [/img]

Bedmaker..looks like an awesome trip.

Fatbike=Fun and way more capable than all the doubters think!

Don't knock it till you try it.

Fatty is designed for trails and works well...

[img] [/img]

Works for me...

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8684088448_f385ff9fdb_c.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8684088448_f385ff9fdb_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

This dude would not ride a fat bike

[url= http://www.nsmb.com/nsmb-does-dirt-demo/ ]Fat bike references at the start and at 41 seconds[/url]

I'd love one - living in a land of stubble, snow, beaches and rather sandy local trails it would be a blast. Sadly due to a shortage of pennies, it is not likely to happen.

My Fatty has more miles on it than my full suspension bike so far this year!

Stanfree - oversensitive fat bikers? Sur[/s]e[s]ly not. I tried one a beach once and it was clearly the best bike for the job but it didn't make me want to ride a bike on the beach. Househusband showed me a video (no not one of those) of a trip he took on a fatbike. It was an overnighter on lots of very rough land rover tracks and they seemed to make a lot of sense for that kind of riding. There are plenty of bikes I'd have before a fatbike but as long as you're having fun on a bike what does it matter. Singlespeed any one?

I'd like to see people's faces when I put it on an uplift...

"Sorry mate, I can't fit on there [that uplift trailer whose wheel slots aren't wide enough]"

And that was only a half-fat Jones! 😉

What's all this nonsense about bikes for riding in snow? Wrong tool for the job...

[img] [/img]

I would like a play on one ,but it's not on my want list.

Oh ,and I would like to see what Danny MacAskill or Chris Akrigg could do with one 🙂

Glad to see so many others going Fat, all the doubters are missing out. how many of you remember how good a rigid forks hard-tail feels, so direct and positive, then you wanted some suspension so lost the whole feel of the rigid bike, well low and behold the fatbike gives you both. I ride mine everywhere and certainly don't hang about.
Its the real ATB, "All Terrain Bike".
Our shop now specialise in Fatbikes and we now have 3 of us out regularly on Mukluks and its smiles all the way. just great fun guys. As for being embarrassed, far from it, i like nothing more than to kick the ass of a full sus, people just don't understand how fast they go, which is nice.

My Fatty last weekend

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Would I have one as my only mtb ? , No danger . I still think a hardtail with standard 2.25 inch tyres on normal mtb trails is going to be way more fun. I do think a lot of folk on forums do seem overly protective about them though and seem to get the rage when ever anything negative is posted about them . I'd actually consider one of the uber cheap heavy American mongoose ones just to be able to ride on the beach with a few mates that have them but without spending loads of money on a bike.

Yes. TBH, considering the amount of use that my FS gets now compared to my road and CX bikes, I'm seriously toying with the idea of chopping it in against a fatty. The only thing that puts me off is the possible weight penalty - 38lbs seems excessive, is that the norm?

38lbs is not the norm these days. My 907 is a smidgeon over 30lbs.

You can get fatties in the low 20lbs if you are willing to spend the money on something slinky and carbon like a borealis .Something alloy with nice components will still be sub 30 with no worries at all. Mate has a 907 fatty with carbon forks and some nice kit a smidge under 28lbs. My oo fatty with cheap, but better than oo tat is under 30

Yes i would and i have. Got a OO Fatty back in May but having been off the bike injured Feb-Oct only had my first ride last weekend.

Took it to Glentress which is not where i had planned to ride it when i bought it, unless snowy, but as it was only my second ride in 9 months and i was desperate to try it i decided on GT so i could bail out if necessary.

It is about 10lb heavier than my other bikes but i don't think it felt that much heavier when riding particularly uphill and even in my current unfit state it climbed better than i thought it would.

The grip is massive as you would expect from tyres that size and it coped pretty well with everything i came across at GT. I found it a huge amount of fun to ride more so than i expected, although having been off the bikes for a while there was possibly an element of just being back riding euphoria involved, second ride may be more telling.

Quite a lot of folk did comment/ask questions but nobody said anything negative, at least not to my face, and most appeared genuinely interested in how it rode.

I would certainly recommend folk try one, they may just suprise you.

Tazzymtb, I'm in the build process and expect my on one to come up at about 34lb (same as a mates) with a half decent build (x5 chainset, slx other stuff, ragley finishing kit) and a touch less as a single speed for the winter!

So, how to go sub 30lb?

ciderinsport.drill rims,choobless...