Jseis 

Ouch. Just like the bridge expansion joints I'd hit on the turn with my Stang. That GT would damn near swap ends if it was slick and I wasn't paying attention.

Bike Lover

I just picked up an SE F@r with the 2x10 driveline, which I am digging, and 4.7 Vee Rubber Bulldozer tires and 93mm wide rims. Since summer is coming up, does it make sense to swap the tires out for something a bit smaller since I won't need much float? If so what would be recommended? It would be mainly for single track, generally fairly well groomed trails, with the standard roots and rocks, few rock gardens and the like.

Since I'm new to fat bikes and it's been a long time since I've researched tires and such, I'd appreciate the input.

Hypno Toad

I'm riding 3.8" Nates that came with my Pugsley - the Nates are fine, but too heavy and too much tread for the trails around here. I plan to replace them this year and based on my research I'll be getting Knards or Fat "B" Nibble.

intransit1217

How many swapped to drops on their fattie? How do you like them so far?

Bike Lover

Thanks for the input. That's what I was looking for. It looks like from the surely website I need to stick with over 3inch tires for my wheel width. I did like panaracers a few years ago when I raced I might check those out.

Hypno Toad

I've put over 100 miles on the drop-bar Pug, so far.... I LOVE IT! I'm still waiting to really test this set-up the technical single-track at Theo, they just opened for spring but it's been raining all week . I have done some less technical trail riding and have really enjoyed the set-up.

Changes I made after the original set-up:
I replaced the stock 110mm stem to 70mm stem to shorten the reach.
Moved the angles of the drops - I like a little over 20 degrees on the drops.

PedalingWalrus

seems that the narrow footprint of the drops contributed to the crash as it jerked out of your grasp. Wider bars (better leverage) would be better. Just speculating here.

intransit1217

That Gevenalle system is the hot ticket. But....I already went to a hydro set up on my minnie. sonova.

stevemtbr

So far this bike is a total hoot to ride! Good possibility I'll be selling the hard tail next year.

Aushiker

My work in progress ...


Salsa Mukluk 2015 by Andrew Priest, on Flickr

SHOFINE

I've been licking my chops since the 2016 Farleys came out. I thought I might find a good deal on a Farley 7 but got a better one on this 9.6. I never was too fond of the 27.5 wheels and was planning on getting a 26" wheelset. The 4.5" Barbegazies just came out and so far I'm pleased!

stevemtbr

The trail to the left is Devil's Down and the trail to the right is Angel's Wings.

Jseis 

Ok, now I'm going full-on beach truckin'

Hypno Toad

This set-up also ready for some gravel-grinding ... at least that's what I did with my drop-bar fattie



Photo credit: TMB Images
Race: Almanzo 100

Jseis 

Right on Toad. I'm mapping a gravel/logging road route from Olympia to the coast and by linking Capitol Forest with the old Oakville Highway/Willapa Hills Trail, South Bend-Palix road and a few others I think I can put together a 120-150? mile route with a few asphalt links. I'm going to have upgrade tires to a super tough knobby as our logging roads are nasty. Wicked sharp big crushed rock (3" minus) interspersed with mud. Got tires suggestions? Not unusual for logging roads to have 15%+ grades for 200-300 feet.

Hypno Toad

I just bought the Panaracer Fat B Nimble (26x4"), they were great on the Almanzo course. The road surfaces are mostly limestone gravel (like the picture), but we have some very loose sections with deep gravel, some minimum maintenance roads, and one creek crossing. I was very happy with the grip and the rolling effort. For the hills, the course has a number of 10+% descents/climbs (and one climb that gets up to nearly 20%). As somebody that hates descending, I was over 35 mph on very soft/deep gravel without any issues (for reference, I max out road bikes on blacktop around 38 mph). Over the weekend I rode the Pugsley to Theo (tight, technical single track trails). On the way home, I ended up on riding an active railroad on the track ballast - no problems. I think the one area that would cause you issue is muddy. These are not mudders. They'll be OK for short sections.

Depending on the mix of conditions, if most of it is dirt and gravel, you'll save weight and rolling effort with the Fat B Nimble. But if you don't mind the extra effort, and want the max grip, the Surly Nates have grip ALL DAY! The Nates were stock on my Pug and I've used them on some very low maintenance trails. And the Nates offer great grip on snow.

I look forward to seeing pictures and posts about this ride, it sounds fun!

Jseis 

Thanks! I'll check the Nimbles out.

SHOFINE

The Barbs are winning me over!

Aushiker

Nice

alexaschwanden

Update: i bought a Momentum (made by Giant) Rocker 3 fat bike for 449$ at my lbs plus 10% off, it is 3 weeks old and has over 1027 miles on it. it has had 3 flats, loose front rotor, modified the handlebars by cutting 4 inches off them, added a rear rack and ortilieb panniers, three water bottles and handlebar bag. it weights over 50lbs and is pretty stock still.

Jseis 

STP ride
3.5 Vee Speedsters
22-38/11-32 gears

dhunley1

I'll be joining the club tomorrow! I put a deposit down on a 2016 Specialized Fatboy, this morning. This is the first time in years that I'm actually looking forward to seeing snow on the ground. Sandy beaches and trail riding will have to do for now.

dhunley1

Zefrost

Trying to buy myself my first fatbike for this upcoming winter (I will only ever be using it for winter). I need my fatbike to be under $1000, be delivered to Canada in a small community area, has to be purchased online since I don't drive and the only bike store anywhere even close to me is source for sports (which is useless and the guys that work there are more salesmen than bike builders anyway) and it needs to be able to pull a trailer (custom made). The fat bike also needs to be able to handle a BBSHD since I'll be getting one of those, most likely.

I think I've narrowed it down to these choices (let me know if there are any other possible choices, I may have missed something):

https://www.amazon.ca/Diamondback-Bi...words=fat+bike
https://www.amazon.ca/Diamondback-Bi...V11MAP5TQ70M3Y
https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Minnes...5YZ&th=1&psc=1

They are diamondback gordo/acero steel frames which I can buy from amazon.CA and not spend a fortune (yay) (Are they 4031 chromoly? No where on the entire internet states this) I've always only ever used steel frames and since I've never had a problem with them, I have never opted for anything else. My riding is recreational so I like me a strong bike. I've done my research as best as I can (I don't know much about bikes or components) and for my price range and the fact that I live where I do in Canada, these seems like my best options. My only other option would be https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Minnes...5YZ&th=1&psc=1 in medium but I have to buy that from the states which will probably cost me close to my budget of $1000.

The only reason I consider the framed minnesota 1.0 aluminum frame an option at all (for me) is that it won't rust and should need little maintenance.

Which of those 3 should I get?

If I went with the cheapest option, the diamondback el oso gordo, what upgrades would I have to make? I don't know much about tires, but from first glance, I would be worried about how well the tires would handle snow. Would I have to buy better tires? If I buy the el oso acero, I won't need the triple crank since I'd be replacing it because of a BBSHD, so I'm not sure how much money is being wasted on a triple crank I won't be using.

A little side note: black and yellow is my favourite colour scheme. Would be nice if I could get a quality fatbike under $1000 that has a colour scheme like this: https://www.amazon.com/Updated-Lithi...words=fat+bike

Another side note: A BBSHD is pretty much a must for me for a winter fatbike because I live in an area where almost every street has some hill or another. Hill after hill after hill. Every end of town has a massive slope, many 20 degrees or more. I don't even enjoy normal biking under these circumstances anymore... it gets old manually pedaling these hills after a while - especially with a trailer. Keeps me in damn good shape, but sometimes I just want groceries, not a hardcore cardio workout...

Hypno Toad

riiiiight.... that's what I said too, until I had a fatbike to ride all year round.

I haven't used any of the bikes you're looking at (I have a Pugsley); however, based on what people ride in Minneapolis*, the Framed bike is the more popular choice. Also, I know Framed's parent company (The House) and people that work there, and I'd trust them to produce a quality bikes.

*Minneapolis is the birthplace of the mass-produced fatbike and fatbikes are very popular in Minneapolis