[Closed] Fatbike aesthetic advice sought - New Bike content

If I can get the wheels to stay up tubeless should be able to get another pound off..

ChunkyMTB - Member
Best looking Fattie I've seen so far.

Well played sir.

Mine? If so, many thanks

Sorry, I meant the OP's.....

[img] [/img]

Best looking fattie?

Is this a dating site?

The snake skins, are they not what came on it?

Mine certainly came with the 4.0" Liteskin version of the JJs (now replaced with 4.4" Snakeskin). Yours may be different though, although it might explain why you are having trouble getting them to stay up tubeless 🙂 I see they now refer to snakeskin as tubeless easy, although I think the liteskin versions do seal eventually too.

I've never really been in to gram counting, but I can see how it could get addictive. Pouring over datasheets looking at shaving a few grams off here, a few more off there. I think I'll try to avoid going down that road though and just ride it whatever it weighs. It looks as though it's a couple of Kg lighter than the ICT but that doesn't mean it will feel any better when I'm riding it.

Thanks ChunkyMTB and letmetalktomark. I know it's all subjective, but it's nice to know that somebody thinks it looks OK.

Is this a dating site?

If it is, I want a "swipe-left" option 😀

Roverpig,
Is that a 11-42 on the back?
Can't make my mind up if a 11-46 would be better, if the jump from the 37t wasn't so big I wouldn't think twice..

rOcKeTdOg - Member
Is this a dating site?

But no more than 2 tassels on the sporran, or folk will think you're boasting...

🙂

[IMG] [/IMG]

My rim strips aren't exactly the same blue but close enough that it works. Current weight with pedals is about 29lb.

John

(Loving the fatbike content!)

Is that a 11-42 on the back?

Yes, the base model comes with an 11-42 SLX cassette and a 28T chainring. Coming from the ICT with its 22x36 bottom gear I expected this to be too high and was already pricing up a 26T chainring before riding it. However, based on the first ride I think I'll wait a bit. It might have just been new bike exuberance but it seems to climb really well. A nice steep seat angle and an almost total lack of any flex around the bottom bracket really allow you to attack those hills. I'll need to try it on a long steep climb though. I may still be looking for a smaller gear when the going gets tough, but for now it seems pretty good.

I'd also be worried by that 37-46 jump. I reckon you could end up with a 2nd gear that isn't low enough but a 1st gear that is so low that you have to spin like crazy to stop falling over. But I've never ridden it, so could be wrong. You could try an 11-42 cassette then add a range expander (e.g. one-up), or a smaller chainring, if you find you need lower gears.

I know everyone has their own preference etc so I'm just being nosey really. But what psi dk you run RP? Also tubes or tubeless?

With rigid forks I tended to run 8psi in the rear and 6 psi in the front. With the Bluto I'm tending to run them both at 8psi. That's tubeless. Haven't run tubes in any mountain bikes for a few years now.

Following this with interest @roverpig as I also ride an ict and looking at other options.Did you notice the steeper head angle of the dude when descending.
St4n

Following this with interest @roverpig as I also ride an ict and looking at other options.Did you notice the steeper head angle of the dude when descending.

That's a tricky one. Partly as I've only had one 2.5 hour ride so far and new bikes always feel great, so it's often safest just to ignore your first impressions anyway.

If I've understood the geometry charts the difference in head angle is only half a degree, but then the top tube and wheelbase are a bit longer, the chainstays a bit shorter, the seat angle a bit steeper etc. Plus it's made of plastic of course. So quite a few small changes that all add up to a different feel.

Better or worse? Well, if you've read any of my previous bike related ramblings, you'll know that I struggle with applying those concepts to bikes. All bikes are brilliant. Fat, skinny, rigid, bouncy, heck you can even strap an engine and battery to it if you like. As long as you're not being a dick it's all good in my book.

Comparing the Dude to the ICT I think the main thing that I noticed was that the Dude seemed a bit more eager on the climbs. Coming back down I'd say that the longer top tube and wheelbase largely cancelled out any effect from the steeper head angle. It was perhaps a bit easier to chuck about (being over 10% lighter) but maybe it didn't quite feel as unstoppable. I suspect that's as much down to the extra weight and more flexible frame on the ICT as the head angle, but either way, the Dude doesn't feel quite as much of a monster truck.

So far, overall, I'd say they are both fun but in slightly different ways, but it's still early days. The Dude is certainly easier to carry though.

Thanks roverpig, yes see that now, the dude does seem to have a long front end to it.Bike looks great hope it proves to be good choice.
Agree that the ict does have that unstoppable feeling.Yes will keep following your ramblings as they make a good read.

Sizing on the Dude is a bit unusual, with quite a jump from Medium to Large. I was on a large ICT (with 50mm stem) and decided to stick with the large Dude, but with a 35mm stem (forward geometry for fatbikes 🙂 ). So far, so good, but it's early days.

I think I'd go Grey rimtape with a segment of orange in there too- maybe over the valve area.

I'd also get matching fork decals in grey and orange, plus a black saddle with orange highlights. Possibly some orange stem spacers and orange lock on collar grips too.

@roverpig.

Another ICT driver here.
Certainly interested in seeing how it compares to the Dude.

Did you change the wheels from the Clown shoe to the BRxxx rims ?
If so how much of a difference was that ?

I am on the original clown shoes but tubeless.

Did you change the wheels from the Clown shoe to the BRxxx rims ?
If so how much of a difference was that ?

Kind of. I got the ICT following a demo ride on the stock bike, with clownshoe rims, Bud/Lou tyres and tubes. I had great fun on the demo and loved the geometry of the ICT but couldn't help thinking it would be better with lighter wheels. So, when I built my own from a frameset I went with the BR710 rims (on Hope Hubs), Jumbo Jim 4.8" tyres and set them up tubeless. I'd have to say that I much preferred that setup as it made the bike much more lively, but I'm not sure how much of that was down to the rims. I switched to a Bud/Lou (tubeless) setup over the winter and found that a lot slower, although the grip in the slop was amazing.

I'd also be worried by that 37-46 jump. I reckon you could end up with a 2nd gear that isn't low enough but a 1st gear that is so low that you have to spin like crazy to stop falling over.

I've gone for the 11-42 for that exact reason, just seems pointless . Pretty much like going from the 32 middle chainring to the granny ring!
Also ordered some of those Chester pedals.
I'll add a pic of my dude when's it's all on, as there's not enough dude pics on this thread.. 😀

Excellent. You can never have too many Dude pictures 🙂 I'll be interested to hear what you think of it when you hit the trails too.

I've been out on it a few times, went out with a local bunch who were all on full suspension.

I had no problems keeping up especially down hill..
It's great round loose twisty downhill trails, it drifts but never let go (so far).
I don't think it's any hardy than riding my 5.
Thinking a pair of 27.5+ wheels and 3.0 tyres will be fun to..

General local riding, mix of road, bridal path and woods I'm definitely quicker on the dude than my 5.
Somewhat so that I'm starting to dislike my 5 and can't help think it's a tank.
Maybe time to get rid of the frame, pretty sure tftuned can change the length of the CCDB Air shock if needs be.

Funnily enough, now I've sold the Smuggler, my only other off-road bike is also a Five! I doubt it will get much use this summer, now I've got the Dude, but I do still like it. After riding the fatbike it just feels comically small and bouncy and it can be fun to chuck it round the woods for a few hours. I also find that (now it's shod with a Magic Mary) it works better in the winter slop than the fatbike. Until it snows of course.

It's all personal preference of course, but I'd be wary of getting rid of the bouncy bike too soon as you might find that you fancy one again someday. I'm assuming it's an older (26") version like mine though and not worth much. If it's newer then probably best to get rid of it while it's still worth a few quid, which is basically what I did with the Smuggler.

My 5 is a 2014 27.5, built from scratch. XT 1x11, saint brakes, pike RCT3, CCDB Air CS, flows on Hope pro 2 EVO SP.
I do have another bouncy bike a 26er Anthem, so not all would be lost.

My 5 is a 2014 27.5, built from scratch. XT 1x11, saint brakes, pike RCT3, CCDB Air CS, flows on Hope pro 2 EVO SP.

Get it out the door while it's still worth something then 🙂

Managed to get out for an evening ride last night on more familiar trails. So, I'm starting to get a better feel for the differences between the Dude and the ICT. So far all the little changes seem to be working out as I'd hoped. Whether that's true or just confirmation bias remains to be seen (and it's still early days), but I'll take it for now. Of course PRs are tumbling all over the place, but that happens with every new bike I've ever bought, so we can't read too much into that.

The lower weight combined with the big rounded box section downtube certainly makes it easier to carry, which was one of the main motivators for the change.

The extra stiffness of the carbon frame (more than the reduced weight I suspect) makes it a bit more efficient on the climbs.

The head angle is a bit steeper, but the front centre and wheelbase are longer. Combined with a short (35mm) stem and wide (780mm) bars it seems to give just as much confidence on the descents while being a bit easier to hustle through twisty sections.

You do lose some of that tank quality of the ICT though. The slacker head angle (larger trail), more flexible frame and extra weight of the ICT means that once you get it up to speed there is very little that will stop it. There is also something pleasing and "honest" about the steel frame of the ICT. You never feel like you need to be careful with it. Chuck it in the car, chuck it down the trails and chuck it in the shed, it will just keep on truckin'.

Overall I'm happy (so far) with the switch, but would have been just as happy keeping the ICT I suspect. But new bikes are always fun and after selling the Smuggler (due to lack of use) I had to spend the money on something didn't I 😀

[img] [/img]

Missed the recent updates on this, but orange rim strips, morning win \o/

Do love that "fatrol" colour scheme though, if I could turn back time, I would happily buy a rigid fork Dude instead of the Wazoo and all the extras I've bought for it (although I do like the versatility of a relative cheap 135/170mm FatNotFat 29er wheelset).

I think that's a common theme amongst fatbikerists: you buy something cheap because you are not sure if you'll like it, then spend so much upgrading it that you could have just bought something more fancy in the first place. On the other hand, there are plenty of folk who buy a nice fatbike, barely ride it, then have to sell it on at a big loss. So, you can't win 🙂

If my maths is correct I've managed to shave off 645grams, all weighed on my kitchen digital scales.

Swapped:
Stock bars 300g - Easton carbon 200g. -100g
wellgo B25 pedals 473g - RF Chester's 357g. -116g
Xt 10spd R derailleur 263g - XT 11 spd 273g. +10g
HG81 10spd cassette 360g - XT 11spd 11-42 436g. +76g
SLX 10spd R shifter 140g - XT 11 spd 112g. -28g
KMC 10spd chain 255g - XT 11spd 264g with no links removed, assuming the same weight when split.

Removed:
Oneloc remote/cable 74g
Front XT derailleur/hanger 163g
Front XT shifter/cable 170g

Still waiting for the single E-thirteen chain ring (60g) to arrive to get rid of the spider 22/36 rings approx 140g. Assuming 80g here.

I'm not a weight weenie, was just curious how much weight was saved and how light a carbon Fatbike could be.

Should he able to save another 5-600g going tubeless with the fatty strippers

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

Very nice. It would look better with a bit of mud on it though.

I see you went for the black rim strips, so you obviously have more class than me 🙂

Thanks to NormalMan of this parish, I've now added a black and orange saddle to mine and I've got an orange 26T chainring on the way. I think I may have gone too far with the orange now 🙂

[img] [/img]

There the stock rims strips, I'm still wondering if I need to change them when these fattystrippers turn up with the postman... That sounds kinda wrong! 😀

What's your chainline like? I notice with the 11sp cassette the chain makes a bit of noise when it's on the 11th sprocket, it looks like it rubs on the 13th sprocket next to it.

Chainline seems to be fine on mine, but I don't spend much time down in the little sprockets (hence the 26T on order). I had a go at measuring it and got something like 77mm. Mine uses a Raceface Aeffect crank with (I think) the shorter spindle and a Direct Mount ring, but flipped so that it sits a bit further out than it would if it were the right way round.