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Hi all,
Finally I work where a cycle to work scheme is in existence and so I have a bunch of money to burn on a new toy. My work place just buy the bike for you without using one of the silly in da middle companies that skim the shops 10% so that's nice too.
I blame Coast Kid for my curiosity in Fat Bikes - went to drool over a Pugs yesterday and I like the idea, but I don't have that much to blow sadly, so I'm interested in a 1/2-3/4 fattie - probably getting larger over time. I know this will lead to me buying a pugs later in life, I know this will entail pain and anguish as well as more cost in the long run but sometimes it's just the way it has to be!
My cunning and devious plan (could I pin a tail on it and call it a weasel?) is to buy a shiny new bike, possibly a 29er, that has the best clearance for lardy tyres at the back and would manage life not too bad with a 100mm Pugsley fork fitted up front. Happy to consider a SS as I'm interested in a bike with IGH to cut down on winter crud build up. As I will commute with this baby I will need fenders and a rack fitted and I don't like seatpost racks as I shop for the weeks lunch on the way in on a monday and eat a lot!
So I'm calling people who have experience of this fat phenomenon to see what would fit the bill as a base bike, I like the Surly Karate Monkey and it'll do most of what I'd want to do, but boy is it pricey (not that fatting up any bike is going to be cheap!). Also keen to hear of chainstay/seatstay clearances that would cope with 2.7-3" tyres and still give a bit of mud room.
A couple of bikes that have been suggested in addition to the Surly KM are the Marin Muirwoods and the Haro Mary but not sure of clearances or fixing points for rack and fenders on these two. I pretty much have to buy a complete bike to satisfy the annoying rules of C2W scheme so I don't think I can get away with buying a KM frame and reusing my existing stem, bars, seat, etc. to keep costs down.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Craig.
Craig, have a look at the MTBR Fat Bikes forum, there are plenty of ideas on there for 'half-fat' bikes as well as the proper fat tyred kind.
Firsstarter runs 3" Gazzas in his KM. I've built up a 3/4 fat bike and now going full fat. My comments:
I don't think singlespeed is a great idea, the bike is slower and harder work, maybe if your riding is flat it would work. This is an opinion, I had mine ss for a quick beach spin only.
[s]3" Gazzas are HARD WORK off road or on (prob worse than Larry/Endo). They are also rare, though I gone one by posting a "wanted" here.[/s] Remembered you are going 29er - I think 2.4RR is the biggest tyre avaiable - check out www.mtbtires.com.
Worth costing up - rim, tyre, tube and fork at retail prices is £270 odd - I know where you might get a cheap fork though.
Otherwise I think your approach is pretty sound, as you say look for a 29er with big clearance at the back and rack mounts.
sad I know, but the other day I did some measurements of some 29er tyres on some of my rims since I was moving stuff around:
RR 2.4 on 19.5mm bead width rim = 60mm
Ignitor 2.1 on 19.5mm = 52mm
RR 2.4 on 30mm (Gordo) = 61mm
WTB 2.55 Werewolf on 30mm = 60mm
Turns out I cant run RR2.4 in the back of my Ti29er and get clearance at the same time as getting the rotor to sit between the caliper pots.
Cynic-al, SS would be just a method of getting a source machine, I'd need a Nexus or something in there straight away as I'm just too weedy to go SS! 😀 Obviously if I go IGH then I'd need two of the blighters, one for the fat 26'er and one for a 29er to run into work and back. Whisper some sweet nothings about this cheap fork source!
Maybe I could commute on fatties - best workout in town! (I can never seem to get DLW to understand that a bike saves a Gym membership so therefore I should spend around 600-100 quid each year on STUFF!) Okay, I know that's probably a non-starter really.
If I run the 'normal' gears, I guess tyres width is going to get in the way of chain at some point near to 3"ers - still learning all this lardy bike stuff.
Adam, already there reading as much as I can get away with while at work 😀
Stoner, thanks for the measurements - nothing sad about it in my book.
Cheers guys
Not sure I'd have 2 rear wheels - 2.4" sitting at 60mm vs Gazz sitting at 75mm odd on a 65mm rim, not a huge difference, you'll get better rolling on the latter (due to size and stiffness of Gazz) and much less weight.
Also your fat front would make the bike a bit chopper like with a 26" Gaz on the rear - a 29er would match it well.
Bury yourself on the mtbr forum, lotsa info on there.
Re. fork - I bought a frame of a guy who should now have a spare Pugsley fork, email me if you want details.
hi,can I hijack slightly,where do you get 3" gazas,I've got a mate who's looking for some.
Cheers for that Cynic-Al, I had considered running a fairly slick tyre in rear for commuting purposes, but maybe keeping it large is the way to go. I think I like the sound of it being a bit chopper like, with a full fat front it'll have that Judge Dredd look!!
I'm getting the bike (whatever I get) at the end of March so I need to read up fast and decide what to plump for - will probably contact you about that fork though.
thejesmonddingo, hijack away - I'll need that info too!
Seems a Surly 1x1 can take a good fatten up too, should I stay in the 26er camp?? Opinions people?
I've also toyed with the idea of fitting an electric hub motor kit up front for laughs, solve any issues with rolling resistance!
And here's the scientific proof that Fat and Big is good!
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bicycle-tires-puncturing-the-myths-29245
any north shore on your way to work ?
work well on that they do !
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I've played around with half fat on a number of bikes and come to the conclusion that using a 29er is the best option. The fat front tyre is approx the same diameter as a 29er so you don't muck up your steering geometry or BB position.
On a 26er you end up with the front end jacked up in the air which may affect the steering in ways you won't like (depending on its original geometry).
My favourite half fat was my Scandal.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4928949859_452ee59212_z.jp g" target="_blank">
As far as the Gazz tyre, you can get something similar [u][b][url= http://www.unicycle.uk.com/duro-wildlife-leopard-26-x-3-tyre-2.html/ ]Duro Wildlife Leopard 26" x 3" Tyre[/url][/b][/u]
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I bought one of these to use on my 1x1. It's too wide to fit into much else, but it is big enough to not upset the geometry much when using the fat front.
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5315689921_03d43c8efd_z.jp g" target="_blank">
And once you start mucking about with this, you'll realise you have been wasting your money, and then buy a fatbike.
Why not go straight to that destination.
You're not wrong Terry. 8)
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5086902256_63ace80094_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/5086902256/ ]Fat Front on The Woodwork[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5086559671_3e34fb8d38_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/5086559671/ ]Stu Log[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
Seriously. Just save a bit more cash and get a fullfat bike.
It's what you'll end up doing anyway. 😉
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spent about 2 weeks riding that - was better than my 2.1 shod race bike but still felt heavy - gave me cold feet over my full fat
but the full fat was a gazillion times better - angles all right and the rear tire didnt weigh the same as your average continent !
Seriously. Just save a bit more cash and get a fullfat bike.
It's what you'll end up doing anyway
If only, sadly I'm married with kids - need I say more! 😆
I know it'll never be as good, and all the other stuff, but it'll still be better than a 1.9" commuter! That's why I need the chainstay spacings on a few 29er's to see what would be the best bike to get on the scheme. At least at the end of it all, I'll have slapped a fatty about a bit and still have a nicer 29er to go back to.
Maybe when the kids go find a bank other than dad's bank I can get a full fat velo.
The Surly Karate Monkey has about as much clearance on the rear as your going to get.
As a bonus it also works very well with the Salsa Enabler fork.
My first experiment with fatness.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4887932952_8980dc3625_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/4887932952/ ]2010_0813fatfront0012[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
My km with gazzas
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Hard work in The mudwith no gears. I want to go fat front but it will have to wait as I'm going on a whisky tour to Islay next month. I think a 29er rear and fat front is the way forward
I want mine like this one 😉
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FS Enjoy the Whisky tour! 
Boy does that Monkey look attractive (ooeerr missuss!)
Reckon it's going to have to be a Monkey, shame really as the Haro Mary is super cheap at the moment and would leave £££ to pay for fatness. My upper spendo is £1k so the KM will pretty much swallow that whole. I know The Bike Chain here does Surly, anyone else? Anyway to save on the £999 list for a SS KM?
Ta muchly!
Just looked (again!) at that KM pic - what bars is it wearing? they look cool!
The Monkey (frame) in my pic might be for sale.
It'd be expensive though with it being an ex SSUK winner. 😉
Normally would be interested but I have to buy a new bike on the cycle scheme - ho hum!
As it sounds like I might be going Monkey, any recommendations on frame size? I'm fairly average (no monkey arms or lanky legs!) 5' 10", 31.5" inside leg.
Cheers,
Craig.
Mines a medium and i'm 6' with a 32 inside leg.
CHeers will do 😉 bars are Jones h bars. Charlie the bike Monger does surly but not sure on prices or bike to work. I'm 5'10" And mines A 16" small. With inline post and 90mm stem
That does look sweet stu 😉
Epicyclo I see you've tried a few options did you find the big chunky 26er tyre on the back with a fat front work better or the a big 29er tyre on the back with fat front. ta
Hmmm, quick update in case anyone cares 🙂
I decided that the KM was going to be just a little bit too dear for my needs and I've pulled the trigger on a 2009 Haro Mary XC. Very attracted to the bargain SS, but I think I'm in need of the odd gear and I can always flog the bouncy fork if I get hooked on the lardy bike stuff. Sadly Winstanleys was unable to supply at their very attractive price, but all about the bike have it in (according to their site, fingers crossed!)
Epicyclo, which was the best in your opinion for the rear, chunky 29'er or extra chunky 26er?
Maybe I need to get some custom stickers for her when she's all fattened up, Lardy Croft, Fridge Raider.
Darn it - All About The Bike are also listing a non existent bike! 😡
Back at the drawing board.
My take on the KM chubby bike theme
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I've yet to ride it due to a rib/bars issue but looking forward to trying it this weekend
firestarter - Member
Epicyclo I see you've tried a few options did you find the big chunky 26er tyre on the back with a fat front work better or the a big 29er tyre on the back with fat front. ta
29er on the rear was best by far.