First ride on my Specialized Fat Boy Comp; picked it up last night, and rode for an hour from the door on bridleways and tracks, which needless to say were very muddy and cut up.
Bit weird on the tarmac initially as steering felt sluggish (i have hardly been off road this year, mainly on the dark side) but once into the mud and we were off! sliced through the deep dark puddles (mini lakes) shot down a sketchy track the horses and rain have cut up, struggled on the short grass section, very greasy and traction not good, probably got too much pressure in tyres. Dealt with the 100m of "technical" section (rocks, ankle deep mud, stream) like it didnt exsist, just ploughed through everything. Then screamed down the last section of bridleway.
Firts impressions; im in love!! As everyone on here has said fat bikes are grin inducing and just make you want to ride.
Plan is to get some bivvying on Dartmoor and take it over the open moor, i think it will excel.
And yes YOU do need a fat bike.
You're me, aren't you? I feel just the same. I've ridden my Carbon Jekyll twice since buying a secondhand Fatty 7 weeks ago.
worst kept secret in cycling, Fat is the future 8)
Just give us a bloody picture if you are going to start posts like this.
I need a fatty to lose my fatty belly, way too much food and drink over the Christmas period 😳
I haven't ridden any of my other bikes since buying my Pug 6 weeks ago.
I really, really enjoy riding it.
i found mine has affected my mileage, 620 miles down on last year, but then 10 miles on a fatty is probably worth 15 on a normal mtb effort wise
Dartmoor is perfect fat bike territory. We live in Okehampton and got the fat bikes last year. It's made the local riding a lot more fun!!
Photos please
I'm nearly there also
Felt DD30
On One Fatty Trail
or Spesh Fatboy Pro
All with Bluto, and 1x11
But the Felt does'nt have the Dropper post. My finances tell me Fatty Trail, but something is shouting Fatboy!
Did'nt fancy the Jumbo's on mud (Felt)
Need to understand how the Floaters will do on mud
and the Spesh Control tyres, at 4.6 inch, i hear are pretty good
Like everyone, we got loads of mud up North!
Another request for photo's right here!
Need to understand how the Floaters will do on mud
They're pretty good in the mud, however in wet sludgy mud you still need to be ready for loss of traction, flat pedals reommended 🙂
The Floaters are miles better than jumbo Jims in sticky mud....bit of drag but hey in mud clag and off road I still swear it's easier going than a standard HT MTB......haven't ridden any other bikes since having the fatty.
The price for the On One is a grand less than the price of the Spesh. I've been trying to get some idea of how the floaters perform, so above comments appreciated Suggsey
Looks like a trip over to Sheffield on Saturday.......
I did a 22 mile mud slog the other day, could have done another 8 or so before needing to refuel on them.....my mate was on ground control 4.6 on his Fatboy and had no more grip than me and it was proper over the rims clay based deep stuff...... I only had one technical dismount 😆
They're heavier of course but then I've put a gallon of slime in the tubes too for thorn punctures........run at 8psi for grip, 20psi to seal the thorn punctures 😆
I really didn't need to click on this thread :(.
Also live on Dartmoor and have been thinking lately how well suited a fat bike would be to local conditions.
Problem is lack funds and time to ride the 2 bikes I own already...
Have been eyeing up a fat front set up for my karate monkey, but wondering whether I should just weigh in and flog one of the bikes to go full fat
Careful - you'll end up selling them both (like me).
That's an option I'm considering!
Floater fine on the rear but Bud on the front makes a big difference. Front end grip now appears to be infinite.
Yeah, I've gone for the nuclear option of 2 Buds, I expect to be able to ride on the ceiling. Way I see it with tyres is there's not often much point in trying to cut corners, a less good tyre handicaps the entire bike so you get less out of your £1000 for the sake of saving £50. Or less out of your ride.
Also I am a tyre fetishist so that comes into it a bit. MMMMM tyres
There was some 120tpi v tyre hillbillies on ebay, they're supposed to be alright.
Surely Lou on the rear, can't imagine Bud being great up a muddy hill on the rear.
Folks who've tried the Bud on the rear say it works well
Floaters are half price at the moment, £20 and I think there is a tyre code out there which will give you another few pounds off that too!
Re floaters
Use the code PR12DWHEETYRES and get them for £17.59 (today only!!!!).
I now have one more fat bike than I expected to have and now a total of six tyres. This is madness. But at that price, keep them as spares/possible sledge! I have a 120TPI v tyre Hillbilly on the back and a 3.8 Nate on the front. Seem to be working fine. Jumbo Jims sealed in a box marked 'DO NOT OPEN UNTIL SUMMER'
I really don't need a bluto. £375 tho....
I would REALLY like to try a fat bike. Just to convince me that I don't need one. Possibly.
Dear MCTD .
You really don't need one.
Like I didn't.
Hope that helps.
😉
Where are the bloody pictures?
Ive got an OO Fatty thats a year old, I didn't think I needed another one, but I was wrong!
I am now building a Fatty Trail for racing/fast road rides because the frame was half price :/
I would love to have a spin on one.
Anyone in the Cambridge/Ely/Cambs area fancy a spin out one day?
I would REALLY like to try a fat bike. Just to convince me that I don't need one. Possibly.
I would love to have a spin on one.
Depends what you're used to.
Take the wheels away and you have an efficient and sharp-steering but sometimes brutal 26" rigid.
But the wheels + tyres make a difference. The rolling diameter is huge so trail chatter just disappears. The tyres are so wide there's no need for clever tread patterns or super tacky/vertstar compounds that drag everywhere. The fat tyres grip because there's so much rubber in contact with the ground - and yet they don't drag. A true game-changer (at least it was for me). Thin tyres are just all wrong for MTBing 😕
So you have all the advantages of a stiff + efficient rigid bike but without the harshness. It only works up to a point of course when conditions overwhelm the fat tyres and you're abruptly reminded that you are in fact riding a bike without any suspension. The moment when this happens is entirely up to you and where/how you ride but don't let that put you off - the rest of the time it's an addictive experience.
Loving Surly Wednesday! Nate tyres are great in the current sludge!
rocketman - MemberSo you have all the advantages of a stiff + efficient rigid
I've had stiff and efficient rigid bikes. My fatbike has absolutely none of the advantages of that. It's slow, it's heavy, it's draggy, it's anything but efficient. Well... Unless you redefine advantage. The only real "advantage" of my scandal was that it was brilliantly shite offroad, the only thing good about it was its badness. It made easy trails harder and hard trails ridiculous, and all trails different from riding them on a good bike.
And the fatty is similar. It's a much less good bike at practically everything I do (and the few things it does better are things I don't really care about), and as a result it's great fun. It's like the difference between a great gig by your favourite band, and getting drunk and doing Danger Zone at karaoke even though the only words you know are Danger Zone.
My fatbike has absolutely none of the advantages of that. It's slow, it's heavy, it's draggy, it's anything but efficient
Unlucky 🙂
It's just how they are, there's not enough koolaid in the world to change that... Though by all means though show me your 18lb fatbike with the rolling resistance of a rapid rob 😆
Er, I think I agree with Rocketman rather than Northwind. Its definitely closer to a rigid singlespeed in riding terms, but with the benefits of the big tyres for grip and (small) bump absorption. And you can ride them ANYWHERE 😀
Anyway, have some Fatboys on me. Mines the one on the right.
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Just added some extra mud protection as billys had a sale on. Can't test it out just yet but it fits well and looks like it'll provide decent cover. Fat gut on front and fat Face on rear tyre
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I'm with Rocketman on this, it's not as fast to accelerate, but rolling resistance isn't increased much over a normal bike with similar tires, it's certainly better than riding a normal bike with supertackies.
The exceptions are deep mud where you're constantly trying to climb onto it, so it's like riding uphill, through treacle. The upside is, all the normal bikes are off an walking a long way behind you so you've got time to kill. And headwinds.
I would have added photos but i have been to busy riding my fatty through all this mud and dampness while whooping and shouting for joy as it ploughs through everything.
Also the comments people make; "is it electric" as i grinded up a wet muddy bank, "like your tyres" "nice bike mister", in fact most people stare and grin as you go past.
Going to try it at Haldon tonight, first time on a trail centre so will be interesting, see if i can punish some of my old strava times!!
I've pegged some top 3 strava times on mine - downhill rather than uphill! but quite surprised given that most of the time I'm on a geared hardtail, and the fattie is SS 32/19 and spun out.
Chuckled at this:
The only real "advantage" of my scandal was that it was brilliantly shite offroad, the only thing good about it was its badness. It made easy trails harder and hard trails ridiculous, and all trails different from riding them on a good bike.
I let a mate have a go on my Puffin for a couple of miles of downhill singletrack and I rode his 20 year old Zaskar: arse up, head down, 1.8" tyres, close to solid Judys, v-brakes that wouldn't even start to slow you down until you'd wrapped all 4 fingers round the levers in a death grip.
Hilarious. I think I was laughing harder than he was! 😀
I am now building a Fatty Trail for racing/fast road rides
fast road rides?
yer ok
sounds rubbish ned, singlespeed and fat...what the bloody hell were you thinking man? jeeeezuz you'll have crap mudguards and more frame bags than a arrowhead racer next 🙂
fat bikes a great as they make stuff silly, but like singlespeeding, riding a 6" super slack enduro sled or anything else it's a chosen handicap, just make sure you are happy to live with the downsides and crack on.
i do love the "fatbikes are faster than XXXXX full suspension" etc.. crowd though. Under a decent rider a full boingy will always be quicker than a fatbike (although their smile may not be as big) If you can ride over something faster on a fatbike than you did on a previous full boing bike it would suggest that perhaps you were overbiked for your skill set previously and the massive tyres and feeling of stability have compensated for lack of riding skillz 😆
i do love the "fatbikes are faster than XXXXX full suspension" etc.. crowd though. Under a decent rider a full boingy will always be quicker than a fatbike (although their smile may not be as big) If you can ride over something faster on a fatbike than you did on a previous full boing bike it would suggest that perhaps you were overbiked for your skill set previously and the massive tyres and feeling of stability have compensated for lack of riding skillz
I dunnooo........
There's a few sections (Kevlar, 15 when it's smooth) at Swinley I'm faster on the Fatty than either the Pitch or the XC bikes. I think it's the fact it's just as fast through the corners, there's no rocks to speek of to make the suspension an advantage and it accelerates marginally better.
Tempted to build up a jump/4x style bike to see how that copes.
i do love the "fatbikes are faster than XXXXX full suspension" etc.. crowd though. Under a decent rider a full boingy will always be quicker than a fatbike (although their smile may not be as big) If you can ride over something faster on a fatbike than you did on a previous full boing bike it would suggest that perhaps you were overbiked for your skill set previously and the massive tyres and feeling of stability have compensated for lack of riding skillz
There is a short steep rocky and twisty bit of bridleway near my house i do regularly. On the 'enduro' bike its a good fun run where you need to pick your line as its not easy to switch due to rain gullies, on the DH bike much of its challenge is negated but the gullies still have an effect as does avoiding the trees, on the fatbike* (*with sus fork, with rigid its awful) much of it is as easy, and lines of grip open up over cambered roots or rocks that were not normally viable... of course against the DH bike the 100mm bluto loses you just as many lines
Im not skilled but it can go faster than I expected when i bought it, and it does allow the unskilled rider (me) choices they would not normally have. Riding with faster mates there are places it will allow me to keep up where i cannot normally... however these are small benefit in comparison to how much time you lose elsewhere compared to riding the same bike as them 😆
Its just another type of bike in the end, faster some places, slower others.
massive tyres and feeling of stability have compensated for lack of riding skillz
you've just summed up my riding in one sentence
Details set for Forth Fat Fatbike Gathering in April 22nd-24th if any of you are interested in a weekend with prob 50+ fatbikes coming and going over 3 days of riding, socialising (Free bar if Surly boys come over
) and coastal cycling that can be as easy as you want from flat beach, to sandy singletrack, or super techie rock riding to suit all abilites and fitness 🙂
[url=
page link[/url]
Or blog link to details;
http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/forth-fat-2016-22nd-24th-april.html
massive tyres and feeling of stability have compensated for lack of riding skillz
Yup +1
Dunno about whether it's a lack of skills, but confidence in my fat tyres to give me grip means I'll try to ride lines I wouldn't attempt on a regular MTB e.g. steep, off-camber, rocky, rooty stuff where an off would be painful. For me, it simply opens up a whole different type of riding - I'm off to the Arctic next month and did loads of stuff last year that I wouldn't have considered previously like beach rides, or 24 hour endurance rides. Still get a funny reaction from some MTB riders and the occasional knob-head response, particularly when you're trying to overtake in a race. Gave someone the heebies in one event where most were trying to avoid the stone-chute I took at full-belt and sounded like a ton of rocks falling down the hill!
New to fat biking and would like to do a ride on Dartmoor. Are there any groups that go out around there? I don't really know the place that well. Thanks in advance.
Be prepared for lots of chats with walkers. Had one old boy who used to off road in a land rover absolutely light up with joy when he saw mine. He was asking about tyre pressures and how well they grip. Could see him weighing it from a design point of view. I told him it was called a fat bike so hopefully he will have found out more about them.
I must get 5 chats a ride.
Rode it to work last week and the bike rack is right outside my shop door. Older people might remember when a motorbike mag parked up a Katana back in the 80s and secretly took pictures of the public reaction to it. Well I must get a person and hour either take it's picture or squeeze it's tyres.
Be sure to check out Fat bike Cornwall Facebook group. You can plan rides/meet ups there. Would be great to ride with like minded people.
We have friends in Crantock , worth visiting with my Fatty?
I'm actually getting fed up with people stopping me to ask about the wheels & tyres, luckily my riding pal has one too to deflect the inquisitive
Built this at the weekend....
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That looks great Rick.
Looks great, I give it 5 mins ride time until you change the JJ's unless you ride somewhere with 0 mud
No mud here RD, loads of pisted snow and nice forest trails....
Not jealous at all...
Is that blood on those pedals?
my scandal was that it was brilliantly shite offroad, the only thing good about it was its badness. It made easy trails harder and hard trails ridiculous, and all trails different from riding them on a good bike.
It wasn't the bikes fault. Mine is brilliant with a good set of 100mm forks even with just the one gear. I've even ridden it to the beach, where we had a BBQ which is what you do on beaches.
Is that blood on those pedals?
Cool your jets, turbo.....