Maybe try hot / boiling water from a jug as opposed to heat gun.

Did it once on a garish car sticker and it worked a treat, also had some good success removing stick residue with neat Mr Sheen, babywipes and unleaded petrol was a suggestion I never tried.

Hope that helps and good luck!

James

Ok just to be different I am going the traditional STW way and saying what I already have (Fat bike obviously) but …

This is my reality after careful consideration of what I really ride, a leap of faith that snow/sand/mud are similar behaviours under fat tyres and that I ride XC (ish), local (ish) and rarely bomb a Welsh mountain and avoid roads like plague.

I’ve done FS lots, hardtails lots and loved them all at the time but nothing puts a smile on my face like the lunatic Fat bike (OK and maybe a coffee at the end of a ride too).

James

I’m with the previous suggestion on FBR and FBF as the normal STW recommend what you use approach.

I run Vee Bulldozers (came with bike) summer (those few days / week or two) and the FBF / FBR the rest.

I found i ran out of legs way before I ran out of grip last winter and I tend to ride slop fest 90% of the year.

James

I bought some 2000 lumen jobs from Torchy the battery boy on ebay, good guy, responsive to questions and then you have a UK face to talk to should anything go wrong.

Seriously impressive service for minimal cash, think I spent £39 ish last year and its going strong.

James

Sorry away from your original question but when I had the same dilemma I ended up getting a custom build PC from an online UK based company.

I’m not around at home as I’m on holidays but have a quick Google and compare perhaps?

Best,

James

Not sure on the fork, not 100% tech head here, but would the Kona Honzo CR range, carbon frame run 29er wheels and 120mm?

James

Having been around a similar loop twice recently so much of this comes down to your own choice and circumstances.

I went towards a 3 1/2 year old Ford Focus (£7,000) with 40,000 on the clock, good low end grunt, good trim level and boring white (as opposed to any gross colours) as it was easy to get serviced, get parts and when all else fails it’s a Ford.

Have previously had many Skoda cars, all good but instant parts availability not so good.

Best wishes,

James

Hi Andy,

Firstly I have to say I wish you the best of luck with this as I’ve worked around bodies, public sector and commercial cross over enough times to know it’s tough.

You also have the joys of Hampshire Council, who took four months to respond to my last cycling related query, promised a resolution and a year on still haven’t and this is top level discrimination against cycling so no small thing. Hence my wish for your success.

If I can help or you think I can I’m time poor but will always try my best to chip in or use my experience and expertise where I can so feel free to shout.

James

Like you I was late to the party but not so hardcore so went with 10 gears and still grinning like a lunatic every ride.

Yep the scenery you get to see and the more I ride the faster it goes passed when I want to – other times a bimble to a coffee – heaven.

Enjoy the niche.

James

@Rocketman I used to think that before I junked the thin tyres and went Fat only with the MAxxis FBF and FBR they seem to work well in my mud most of the time :/ we’re all different.

That’s a really useful picture, thanks @tillydog

James

Done.

Great work you all do there I think.

James

@JoeG thanks for the link to the Sun Ringle tape but it’s been out of stock forever and even a quick look on fleabay finds the same tape at mad prices, obviously a great choice if you can get it but not cost effective right now.

@normalman you did make me laugh, I know exactly what you mean. I change mine once for summer and once for winter. The best trick I got told was standing on the side of the tyre to make the bead brake, works a treat!

Thanks @lustyd I will check out that tape.

Thanks for the link @johnnyboy666 – I’d seen that make for really interesting reading, picking up on @northwinds points. The lightest is not always the best, see Kenda fatbike tyres for details it appears.

Thanks for all the kind replies, sounds like JJ might be the way to go.

James

@dufusdlp Thanks for the kind suggestions, the JJ seems a popular choice, I’d recommend the FBF if you want an aggressive front tyre but it’s way to much in summer or hard packed soil (for the two months of that I get!).

Thanks for the suggestion on tape @tillydog, will check it out. Tried the Orange tape but it wasn’t wide enough to cover over the little holes in the rim edges :/

Will look at the HuDu thanks.

James

Thanks for the ideas all, much appreciated.

I can so relate to you run what you have and hence the collective check before splashing hard to earn cash on new tires.

James

I can help you out on the mudguard front, check out the BBB front and rear, seriously the best mudguards I’ve ever had!

They pop on and off easily should you wish to get to and from ride in car and not use roof rack sail power, plus they are a semi rigid plastic so excessive winter grunge doesn’t stick to badly.

Tried a few and ended up with BBB front and rear and a muckynutz fork mounted fat bike one to (watch out when you order for FS versus rigid fork options – I didn’t).

James

OK I am pretty new to this fat bike thing but #itsmyonlybike.

I went out to buy a 2×10 and front suspension and success.

After a few months of riding on SDW, local trails and I am by no means a fit / racer type (unless its the coffee queue).

I didn’t need 2×10, have the 1×10 (I know how untrendy am I!) and it works absolutely fine – never going to win any races but never going to do any either.

The tyres, man the tyres, a revelation, go up anything and with a bit of piddling around to get tyre pressure to suit you a scream – I do wonder if I need front suspension at all now, not sure it adds anything and come winter I will be going rigid.

Not sure it helps you but just my two pence.

James

Vote for fbf / fbf here. Found then cheap on nextdaytire on line but watch for this versions. Told you want the 120 this which is what I have. My legs give in way before the grip in South Downs velcro mud ;)

James

OK my 2 pence, fat bike rider (doh obviously) and so far, in the last three months of mud fest not noticed any huge disadvantageous slide to my death or similar. Yes do get the odd slide when I am riding up a muddy Eiger like face but heh it’s a bike not a chair lift.

Sorry to be boringly common sense like but isn’t this a weight distribution, right tyre, type or mud and tyre pressure thread all over again?

From what I can see / read it just appears that the tyre manufacturers haven’t (yet?) caught up with the demands of +/650b/27.5+ or whatever you call mid fat tyres these days.

I noticed a start shift in grip going lower pressures on the fatbike and changing to the FBF/FBF has given me some serious mud grip at 6 / 5 psi.

Perhaps I just ride slow …. or I’m heavy (it’s the bike .. honest) or both :)

;)

James

Worth checking if you can run 26″ as well. That way is 650s don’t work for you can sell on and buy 26″ = costly but problem solved. You might be surprised.

James

Doh duplicated.

James

I’m almost in the same place as you but my answer was lights.

Ride at night when the darlings sleep and now oldest is 12 wants to night ride with his dad = way cool.

Stick with it. Kids grow up.

James

I have a non Trek Fatbike and it’s a relatively new experience for me as we’ve only been together for a few months but I live very close to South Downs Way so me, bike and mud spend a lot of time together.

As others have said tyre pressures are absolutely key, some tyres can feel pants and then a 2psi difference transforms them. I ride the Maxxis FBF and FBF and I am stunned at the muddy climbs I can just peddle up, tmy legs will give way before the traction not quite so good on the more multi purpose tyres it came with but have kept those for summer based fun.

Does it still slide in mud hell yes, does it slide as much as a “normal bike” in my experience not as much but caveat depends on mud types etc Most of the time I’m heading towards the muddiest, steepest trails I can find :) Mostly giggling as I do at daft bike (and only bike) as I peddle upwards.

Can’t recommend a fat bike enough, but you do need to adjust your head to it a little with tyre pressures, everyone asking you about it everywhere you go, your mates taking the piss initially and then asking if they can have a go etc.

James

Really sorry to read of your loss and will keep eyes open from down south on ebay when I wander in periodically. Can you post a pic?

James

Have used Webex (CISCO) and GoToMeeting (Citrix) both good and would do but watch costs for how many attendees – both similar.

IMO GTM looks a little easier and hence more professional whereas Webex looks a bit dated but both share much functionality.

Would avoid Business (alleged) Skype or Lync always found them less than good and also watch dial in options if many of the participants are overseas.

Final gotcha to watch out is calls that involve China participants 9am on Monday mornings GMT as I have often had them drop out of meeetings.

Hope that helps?

James

I’d have to echo what a couple of others have said about shoes, I am by no means a runner but I tried in trainers but then went to a sweat / runners need / knows what they’re doing type running shop (avoid JJB, Trainers r us types) to get running gait filmed on a running machine and shown to me (was a horrifying experience – how do I still perambulate like that!) but then got some great advice on what shoes to buy.

If you pick a chain store or independent that does price match you can always check prices online in store and show them to make sure you still get the right cost but equally the professional asdvice was free but I personally perceived that as a valuable advice to me as a numpty runner.

James

I think I read something about the new Garmin Fenix 5 coming in a smaller size, but don’t think it is out until a few months time?

James

Lovely scoot on SDW from Winchester to QE park, until I broke rear drive (freehub?) on the way back up Butser hill. still a nice ride, walk, scoot, push …

James

It might be worth thinking about how long your adventure might be and if you may want to swap front to back at some stage perhaps? James

Tend to burn blagged wood 95% of the time but do make sure you get the flue / chimney / fire things regularly cleaned out in case you burn too much sticky icky shite up the chimney / flue lining – chimney fires are not cool (for you) although impressive to watch on YouTube :/

James

Saw Cadburys Eggs in my local petrol station January 2nd, be Christmas soon … :/

James

I think there can be issues around low pressure or high pressure heating systems with some as well so do check out that but I’m no plumbist.

James

I am on Maxxis FBF and FBR running 6.5 and 8 at present, all good.

Just have a play and trust the low pressures to start with although it does screw with your mind when you think of the pressures in skinny tires ;)

Best wishes,

James

Simply try another core body layer before any other option as it might be your just generally cold :/

Failing that more coffee stops work for me

Unsurprisingly I find my farely new to me Rocky Mountain Blizzard a right laugh and as my only bike have no regrets. Yes it’s heavier, yes you can’t get all the bits you want instantly in LBS but I can’t help but grin every ride and it has amazed me the people constantly want to ask about the bike everywhere I go.

The Nutrails are a great option but many ships that advertised good deals on 2016 modems simply didn’t have them, OO and Canyon are always good value for money. As others have said watch for wheel spec as upgrades aren’t cheap but also look at tire clearance if that suit if thing worries you.

Whatever you get you’ll have a right laugh.

James

I may have purchased a new “to me” having had two previous rides Rocky Mountain Blizzard 50 .. fab bit of kit but have already broken rear hub :( but excellent (shock horror) service from RM disty in UK.

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James

The Christmas ninja has recovered presents from loft, car boot and garage, silent stuffed them into stockings, crumbled mince pie crust, bitten carrot, drunk milk (kids don’t want Santa to overdose) and then collapsed with well earned coffee :)

Love some of the comments here, mine are 12 and 6 and still going strong, reckon my 6 will rumble before 12 yo does ;)

James