[Closed] Half Fat Build

SS for snow? am i missing something???

Needs a fatter tyre on the front. Presume your running two different sizes of sprocket?

Why not SS for snow?? SS is all i ride so never considered gears... not that popular but certainly not a first 🙂

Yeah i wanted to do an Endo or Larry on the front but then i couldn't easily swap the wheels..

Maybe stick one on for shorter rides

only times i ever rode SS i end up stood up for 80% of the time...

only times i have ever ridden snow, standing up and cranking makes you fall on your face...

would have thought you want a nice spinny gear to keep calm and seated for snow...

I've taken on board Organisers recomendation for ratio of 32/20 .. then i've optimistically stuck an 18t on the other wheel just in case.

I don't spend alot of time out the saddle when i ride.. perfected turning the pedals at 10rpm though 🙂

h'ok. at least you will have less stuff to get all frozed up!

This is true... more worried about feet and hands at this moment in time 😯

why didn't you put snow tires on it?

What you mean by snow tyres?? Spikes?? Spikes not needed on snow... Could have done an 3.7 Endo on the front but went to trouble of getting a 135mm spaced front fork from Sandmanbikes.com so wanted to keep the ability to swap front and rear wheels..

I like the bag - can you get a lot in there without it rubbing your legs?

It has to be carefully packed... i use a few dry bags to gather my stuff into smaller parcels then arrange then to minimise rub... When i have salopettes etc on though i will rub on it but its no issue

Looks good ! Tracknicko you just need to grow some quads and hams

only need to stand up on the steepest stuff....and on snow - gears or not youll be pushing on steep stuff

yes, i meant spiked tyres. sticking them on my bike tonight. i've already came a cropper and it was too painful to repeat 🙁

On ice yeah spikes all the way... just ordered a set for a customer at my work who is bored of falling off on the cycleways...

On snow its all about flotation... Surly's Endo tyre isn't a very aggressive tread at all but is stupid wide and combined with extra wide rims is king on snow.. but you need a wide as hell frame:)

yup and at 70 quid a pop for tires a flint cut makes you cry:(

what's the deal with the bag - have you adapted it yourself?

been thinking about making a frame bag - so interested to see what other people are doing. 🙂

hmm, would love to know more about the bag...
and what event has this been built up for?
looks interesting anyway!

That looks smart!

With a pair of 1.5" tyres on it you could get a decent ride in at SITS if it's muddy too 😉

The bag was made for me by Alpkit using old Gourdon bags... very environmentally friendly...

The bike was built for Arrowhead 135 in February and if all goes well i will use same set up for Simpson Desert Challenge in September/November..

Twinklydave, the bike will never have to know the horrors of riding around a grassy field.. its been built for greater things:) I leave SITS all to you 🙂

I recommend that you give yourself the chance to rethink your ratio when you ride the fully-laden bike in snow. It looks like you'll be carrying less than I did at Iditarod, but I ran 22:18.

You'll be going well if you can make 8mph, probably more like 6mph if the conditions are good. Arrowhead is supposed to be damn cold, so hopefully you'll get rideable trail.

I suppose it's easy to take them off if they annoy you, but toe straps could be tricky. In marginal conditions you can be on and off the bike frequently. I think the majority use plain flats, but a significant number use SPDs.

you could be right terry. post injury i have a leg like a twig on the right.

Aidan, did we speak at SSUK09?? Ratio is based on what previous SS racers at Arrowhead have used but i hear what you are saying.. luckily i'm taking bike to France in January to ride properly in the snow so will see wat happens there.

Arrowhead is colder than Idita hence the reason i'm doing it and hopefully going will not be soft.

Spd's may get used yet but i have got the option to use some -40 winter boots so i'm probably gonna go with them

any more advice appreciated

2.5" Contis? I thought they were one of the smallest volume for stated size about

A 2.5" Kenda (eg Nevegal), 2.4 or 2.6" Maxxis (eg Ardent) I think will be much bigger.

(A 2.5" maxxis should be only slightly bigger)

That looks really great. Have fun! 😀

Hi there,

i like the look of the rack you have, what's it called?

I think we probably did talk at SSUK, I certainly remember someone there who was going to do Arrowhead.

For shoes, in Alaska NEOS overshoes are the most common solution. They like gigantic boots that you wear over your trainers and they're pretty warm. They're also waterproof so that if you step in any overflow, you should be OK. I used NEOS and flat pedals. Some notable people (Curiak and others) use Lake winter boots in a large size with loads of socks. A friend of mine who has lots of winter experience uses Crank Bros cleats glued onto the bottom of his NEOS. It seems like the pedals don't jam up with snow in cold places the same way as they would in wet British snow, but I still prefer to keep it simple.

I suppose you'll just have to try your ratio and see. For me, I did use the same ratio when I carried all the gear for myself and my girlfriend for a few days in Wales so maybe it is all about the weight. For 150 miles, you probably won't need quite so much stuff.

Oh, and the people I know who ride with 2.5" tyres in snow (including Lou Kobin, winner at La Routa) use WTB Weirwolfs. WTB also make some good big volume tubes without going into DH thickness.

The rack is a Bonty one but may com off in favour of a more traditional rack.

I have seen those Neos overshoes... i've gone for Canadian military winter boots... look very similar to a baffin boot.. comfort rated to -40 and reasonably priced.. was gonna go with a few pairs of wool socks underneath these boots...

I am hoping i can go very light at Arrowhead but will be taking a few extra cogs to try days before race.

I have a deal with Conti as i ride for Genesis so WTB is out for me... should have taken a pic of rear stays with tyre in.. its pretty close but as you say snow there doesn't pack like the British slushy stuff so i can run with very little clearance