calamarichris

My GF and I are mostly roadies. We're old & slow when it comes to dirt, but we like to suffer and she can average 18+ mph holding my wheel on 60-80 mile rides, and we're not looking for the high-speed single-track, but we love exploring new junk together. I have a F&R suspended 29er, but wish I'd gotten a hardtail instead. We're looking more for a hiking boot than a marathon racing shoe.

I've never ridden a fatbike, but they make me think of those fat crayons they gave us in preschool--user-friendly. We live in Southern Cal, and are
We're looking forward to exploring the world beyond asphalt, so what's your recommendation?

Think fireroads. Pretty much roads without asphalt.

bikemig 

Those are fine looking roads. Why not a gravel bike if you're thinking fire roads? I've been thinking of getting a fatbike as well but more to deal with riding in snow than riding on gravel roads.

calamarichris

Thanks. They're not all like that. That was on Catalina, which is where I hope to take her in 2016.
But we'll need a dedicated MTB, because there are other dirt trails not as nice, especially after this El Nino winter I imagine.

I <3 Robots

Riding a fatbike feels like you're using more energy than you should've you're not riding in snow or sand. Maybe look into a carbon hardtail? How much do you want to spend?

My GF rides an aluminum Niner HT and I ride a carbon HT. Most of the trails we ride are fairly smooth singletrack and fire roads. We're in So Cal too...but farther up north and ride mostly in the Santa Monicas. Going downhill isn't much of a problem since she is a pretty careful descender.

calamarichris

Thanks for the guidance. She's leaning toward the hardtail 29er, but I suspect she's just trying to save me money.
I have no interest in carbon fiber frames. Nothing personal; it's a personal choice, not a social agenda.
Since we're not expecting le gourmet lobsteur, performance-wise, I was hoping to keep it at or below $2500. Figured we could either get a front-suspended fatbike or a fully-suspended 29er.

We both tend to form unfortunate bonds with our beloved road bikes, which is one reason I chose a (bleargh) Specialized FSR with (blech) Sram--something I could beat on, then put away dirty, without any remorse. It's kinda liberating, and I'm hoping to be afforded that same freedom with her bike too.




My loathing of Specialized is also a personal experience, and not based on common, popular sentiment.

I <3 Robots

For 2500 you can get a nicely spec'd aluminum HT...or for about 2300 a carbon Trek Superfly 9.6. I know you said that you're not interested in carbon...but that's one heck of a deal. For 2300 you can also get an aluminum Niner Air 9 with SRAM GX.

Jenson has a Yeti SB 95 FS for 2200. Only if she rides a small.

calamarichris

Alas, she's an Amazon lass. 5'10" thereabouts.
Hoping to eschew Specialized, Trek, and the usual Livestrong/Walmart brands.
Surly, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Salsa... I'd forgotten about Yeti, thanks.

Canker

Fat bikes are something you buy because you already have a hard tail and/or a full squish and just want something different.

Hard tail is what she would probably be happy with though for fire road personally I'd ride my rigid 29er. Oh and if you aren't going for carbon go STEEL. Screw aluminum if you have $2500 to spend find a highend steel hardtail.

Pompiere

Have you looked at the Salsa Fargo? If she is used to a road bike, it has drop bars and brifters, so that would be familiar. The geometry put the bars up high, so you ride in the drops, but they are wide for good control.

bikemig 

The Fargo is sweet. I'd keep an eye out on craigslist for a fatbike. They tend to pop up a lot. I think people buy them thinking they're cool and then can't quite figure out what to do with them. It sounds like you have a use for them though.

calamarichris

Thanks for the tips fellows. We got her a Salsa Beargrease X5. All aluminum, including fork. They had a Beargrease with the carbon fork, but we're going to be riding this bike a lot longer than the 3 year warranty hopefully.

They had a trusty ol' suspended 29er for about the same price, but she got a big ol goofy smile test riding the Beargrease and that's all she wrote. It's a large, so I'm looking forward to farting around on it too.

Thanks for the perspective & guidance, but I've had decent enough luck with my alum 29er.

Have a Merry Christmas you kids, and ride safe out there.

Pompiere

Congratulations on the new bike. I got to test ride a Beargrease last month when the local dealer had a demo day and I completely understand the goofy grin. If I was in the market for a bike, it would be on the short list.

calamarichris

Thanks. Had a fun, easy ride yesterday at Lake Hodges. Just a few rinky-dink little hilly spots and a few easy-peasy rock gardens to give her a taste. It couldn't've gone better: she got nice-n-sweaty, despite it being in the low 60's, and she had 4 close calls without crashing.
We switched bikes for an hour on the trail and it was a hoot, but could do with boingers on the front IMO. Happily, Salsa's website mentions the X5 Beargrease is indeed front-suspension compatible.

Turns out the Beargrease X5 has cable-activated disk brakes: crazy-weak.
So now we're shopping for a full-hydraulic brakeset, and probably also a suspended front fork.