[Closed] My new Fat bike

What is the point of stu's handlebars...? I get the "sweep" of them, actually I like that. But use is the "top" bar fo the handlebar?

still s8tannorm - Member
I wanted a fatbike so I WOULD feel superior and be able to sneer at trail monkeys ... i'm a touch upset now after reading the post, to know that this might not happen

The problem is that a fatbike will take you so far away from the trail monkeys (they won't be able to follow) that you'll get no benefit from any feelings of superiority or 'look at me'.

The point is a fatbike does something no other bike can do. It's not like, say, fixies and geared bikes in the city. You can ride either quite effectively there - maybe a tad more skill for the fixie, but that doesn't take long.

But the fatbike is the ONLY tool for the job it is used for. If you like that sort of riding, there's no choice, no fashionable alternative. Just the fatbike.

juan - Member
What is the point of stu's handlebars...? I get the "sweep" of them, actually I like that. But use is the "top" bar fo the handlebar?

All you need to know is here form there inventor

http://www.jonesbikes.com/h-bar.html

epicyclo - Member

But the fatbike is the ONLY tool for the job it is used for. If you like that sort of riding, there's no choice, no fashionable alternative. Just the fatbike.

They also do stuff other bikes can't do, today mine was amazing at climbing up techy stuff much better riders than me on hardtails and full sussers coudn't get up.... And I'm shite. It's all about the bike..

But use is the "top" bar fo the handlebar?

If you're asking what use the front part of the bar has it's great for extra hand positions, hanging a light off/hanging a GoPro off/hanging a drybag harness off.

oh and it also doubles up a a Frenchconfuseicater. 😉

JohnClimber - Member
...today mine was amazing at climbing up techy stuff much better riders than me on hardtails and full sussers coudn't get up.... And I'm shite. It's all about the bike..

Also shite here, and yet the fatbike gets me through tech stuff I'd normally hoof it through. It's also better (for me) on fast loose descents. A real skills compensator. 🙂

Hi Epicyclo. I see you are in one piece after the paintballing! Alex was telling us about you stalking someone at the paintballing a few years ago while someone had you in their sights.. followed by a hard blow to your neck! You learned then,so this time round you must have taken care and read up about it!

Someone mentioned the fat bikes were a bit iffy when at speed on rough descents. When i read this last night i didnt think anything of it but today i was thinking about it after a descent and i thought that there might be a bit of uncontrollable rebound in the tyres that is going to be a bit of a tricky one to get around.We obviously have to deal with the effect of a normal sized tyre returning to its shape but we will barely,if at all notice it.. but a fat tyre returning to its shape could be noticeable,to the point of it becoming a problem at certain speeds over rough rocky ground.Something that you obviously cannot slow right down while still keeping a decent pressure,like the rebound of a fork or shock. Thats something that even super tacky compounds wont alter because air in a large volume tyre is.. air in a large volume tyre! Or am i thinking/talking puirpishh? Maybe i`m worrying about something that never going to be a problem in fatbike land.

Martinxyz - Rigid Fat bikes are not built for fast down hilling over big rocks or big jumps. You will get hurt I should know 3 nights in hospital and 3

broken ribs to prove it

 

Dh on a fat bike is ok with me. Two races this year both went well until got a massive puncture. The big footprint gives awesome cornering traction. It will never be as good as a dedicated dh bike but it's pretty damned fine.

I also raced mine at Ssuk and killed the short techie climbs. Someone asked afterwards how come you fly up the short techy climbs and then push on the gradual fireroad climbs. It's happy on tech but sluggish on long climbs and I was knackered.

Hi Martin, not really that much bounce with low pressures. My limitation on descents has always been a reluctance to ride faster than the grip of my tyres, and the fatbike grips much better. However my idea of faster on a downhill probably doesn't approach your idea of slow...

I think if you want to jump a fatbike, you have to consider that you have 2 huge flywheels with much more mass than anything you're used to, so precession forces etc will be greater.

As for paintball, black eye, cut on top of head, plenty blood, extensive bruising. Caused by heroic dive over a fallen tree and an attempt to move a stump out of the way with my least used body part. Consolation, in Scrotes v Humans, Humans won. 🙂

I think if you want to jump a fatbike, you have to [s]consider that you have 2 huge flywheels with much more mass than anything you're used to, so precession forces etc will be greater.[/s][b]just get on with it, without over thinking everything the same as jumping any bike[/b]

Rigid Fat bikes are not built for fast down hilling over big rocks or big jumps. You will get hurt I should know 3 nights in hospital and 3 broken ribs to prove it

That wasn't the bikes fault tho was it?. and how do you manage to even get admitted to a ward, never mind an overnight stay for broken ribs?

You're right it was all my fault for
1) Riding with flats after years of spd's
2) Looking too far ahead and been complacent on a jump I've done a hundred times before
& The 3 night in hospital were for observation because I was unconscious after the crash for about 40 minutes, split my helmet and in agony down my left hand side, do you want to see the scars? 😉

Has anybody spent much time on the big fat Larry? How does it compare the Larry tire?

Also I presume the Nate is for mud\dirt and not snow\sand?

I don't know what the Nate will be like in the snow but it is the bollox in mud rocks and general trails

I took my Nate/fat front tyre off today and put on a normal 29er front wheel - boy was I blown away by the acceleration and cornering response!

It's nice to have the choice - Nate was peerless yesterday on South Downs slippery slick chalk 😀

Yet to try the Big Fat Larry.

anyone tried pedalling with a nate front and rear yet ?

nate was great on the front this weekend, dug in really well in wet muddy corners and wet leaves

did get some spin from a larry mounted backwards on the rear, have a nate on order for the back so will see how it goes

I think it will be a good snow tyre for snow in the Uk , which it usually not too deep, slushy and wet with mud underneath

cozz. i ran with the same combo on Sat and found the rear facing larry comically twitchy in the corners and slipping when pedalling through goop. but the nate is unbelievably planted . i have another nate sat waiting to go on the back but have held off until now

<Laughing at the "moving of a stump with my least used body part"

I heard about "soupgate" too!

Now that you mentioned the pressure of the tyres, it all comes flooding back just how soft they are run having "thumbed" your tyres. Rebound compared to a normal tyre was nothing. I need to get a wee spin on it some time. Maybe i`ll end up buying one before building the spearfish!

I have a BFL front & Nate rear, but going nate/nate by end of the week 😈

I really rate the BFL, but for this time of year, it does not have enough side grip in corners or when trying to crawl out of landrover tracks etc.

Different tyres for different jobs, BFL & larry are my choice for beach riding, but don't really work as an all round tyre in the UK IMO.

I will be riding Nate/Nate through the winter for mix trail riding on 80mm rims & I will be building a 2nd set of wheels with 100mm rims to fit the larry/BFl onto for beach riding.

Are people using the 27tpi or 120tpi Nate and is there a real world difference?

Anyone considering the Hüsker Dü?

Anyone considering the Hüsker Dü?

at £105 each, no flipping way or words to that effect

if i could find one cheaper, id give it a go

IMO the 120tpi tyres are worth the extra money because the ride is better with the more supple tyre. Both my nate's & BFL are 120's.

I'm also looking at a set of husker Du's for next year, looks like they could make a good summer trail tyre?

im on the 27tpi tyre and think it runs really well, but cant compare it to the 120, but compared to a larry because the tyre feels thicker and sturdier you can run it at stupidly low pressure

Cozz, where did you get those rims from?

they are V!Z rims from tarty bikes

Im afraid I couldnt really recommended the rims, they are not a cheapo rim, but my wheelbuilder said they were horrible to build as they were not round and even flared out

I will prob keep the front one but get the rear re-built using a marge lite

but my wheelbuilder said they were horrible to build as they were not round and even flared out

Ok thanks for the info.

Had to get my fatbike vid on here. ****ing great fun.

well that didn't ****ing work did it.
Try again

The "Big Floaty Heid cam" shot... 😆
Don`t get too comfy riding that bike 😉 😀

Like it and am jealous of the routes you get to cycle

Are the Marge Light rims available yet?

nice vid YD ! cheers !

In case you haven't seen this

45North Hüsker Dü Fat Bike Tire
[url] http://milltowncycles.blogspot.com/2011/11/45north-husker-du-fat-bike-tire.html [/url]

David of 45North was kind enough to lend us a prototype Hüsker Dü tire to check out. I've actually had the pleasure of riding this tire in the sandy MN river bottoms. I loved it. It rolls noticeably faster than a Larry, and corners quite well. Oddly enough from a company who's job is designing winter specific parts, I think this will likely be the best fat bike tire for general mtb use in summer.

Goldenwonder those are issues with thos rims indeed...

...neither of which affect them in use whatsoever...

Square profile like an endomorph - this rings alarm bells! The Endo was a horrible front tyre.

futon river crossing - Member

Square profile like an endomorph - this rings alarm bells! The Endo was a horrible front tyre.

Seconded, can't wait for my BFL & Nates to arrive for the Mukluk so the Jones can get a Larry or a Nate

Tyre profile does not affect contact patch.

I'm still bartering my Fat tyre/Nate Xmas pressie early from Mrs Stuey. But here is my STW classified effort to date ( Thanks Cozz, Richard Charlie, and all the other folk who help me gather parts)

[img] [/img]

Weighs as much as a Falcon Sherpa - but having fun 'ridding over old ladies and not feeling the tins of cat food' - now please can I have my 4" tyre?

dp

Cynic Al - have you tried an Endo and Larry on the front,back to back? The Endo had a strange wandery feel, that was described as self steer and it didn't corner well either. The Larry transformed my bikes handling - I don't think this is down to the change in tread pattern.

is that my old frame Stuey ?

I have ftr, albeit briefly, and it's easy and tempting to think it's all down to tyre profile - but the contact patch can't change due to profile.

Maybe the curve of the carcass on the shoulder has an effect, along with the tread pattern.

LOL at the Falcon Sherpa and old lady references 😀

I don't believe that the change in tread pattern alone could account for the change in handling.

Why did Surly change the profile then, if it make no difference? Cheaper and easier to add some knobs to the existing Endo case...... just a thought.

add knobs to the casing?

ha ha ha...

no doubt Al will be on his way to the local stationers to buy erasers and PVA glue as we speak.

frc - your homework asignment for this week is go and find out the actual process involved in manufacturing bicylcle tyres

Yes Cozz - bargain -sorry 😉

I've just seen the MTBR thread with the guy running a BFL in a Mav fork - and a Nate out back -now I'm wondering if that's the best all round UK set up - for mixed use?

<more questions> Will I still need ear defenders for a Nate on Tarmac ?- These Nokias are far from 'stealth mode'.

Will I still need ear defenders for a Nate on Tarmac ?- These Nokias are far from 'stealth mode'.

[img][url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6318074149_b8a9a281c4_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6318074149_b8a9a281c4_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/6318074149/ ]DOUBLE NATE COMBO[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]

i rode with double nates today , they are pretty noisy on tarmac, but sounded ace to me 😉

 

Double nate's here too....

At the top of a Scottish mountain...

[IMG] [/IMG]

Soft in places.....

[IMG] [/IMG]

At the top of a Scottish mountain.

motor man your drive train looks incredibley clean, what lube do you use on it ?

Funny you should say that, it was all degreased a few days ago 😆
I had the cassette in pieces to swap cogs & fit spacers to sort out the chain rub with the Nate.

I use Purple Extreme...excellent chain lube IMO, but pricy, but worth it for the conditions I take the bike in 🙂

[img] [/img]

This was the return section of today's route...looks like a nice landy track on the map, Hmmmm?

I found my Mukluk cranks are a bit wobbly while washing the bike down after todays ride.
Not bad I suppose after 11 months of abuse and 1500 miles with about a 3rd of that on beaches.

What short should I upgrade to?

the best IMO is phil wood bb and middleburn RS8

Fatty's use 100mm BB shells don't they? best 100mm BB shell crankset IMO would be a profile racing BMX 3-pc, kinda overkill for fatbikes but not actually all that heavy if you use the ti axle option. BB bearing sealing isn't wonderful TBH but they're easy to get hold of cheaply and change yourself.

Maybe not to everyone's taste but crank arms stripped and left to rust would look ace on a beach bike too.

John why not just get new bearings?

Jeez GW why not try actually reading my posts?