Originally Posted by
Camilo
Oh, I am long past resenting or feeling bad when people pass me on heavier, knobby tired bikes. It happens enough, you get used to it. Related, I like to ride with anyone who is about my own speed regardless of what sort of equipment handicap on their part it requires.... as long as they are fun to ride with and not gloating!
For what it's worth, I'm thinking of adding a fat bike to my collection, especially it seems you're seeing quite a few of them on Craigslist nowadays. I was told by a local bike shop owner that they aren't that great on ice and studded tires are >$200 apiece! Can anyone verify? (performance on ice?)
I have studs on my 32mm cross bike tires (about $80 apiece and after 3 years spring and fall, I'm now thinking I have my money's worth at about $5 per ride) They really work well on solid hard pack and glare ice, but don't have flotation.
Studs, yes, you'll need studs for ice. Here's me "racing" the
Frozen Forty. We'd had a thaw, then morning of the race it was -7F - the course was full of icy sections like this (I didn't have studded tires):
Most of my bruises have healed in the last 8 months.
I've always had another bike for icy riding, something with more affordable options for studded tires.
When shopping studded fatbike tires - remember to look at size (4" vs 5") and thread count. The 4" with lower thread count are more affordable. But they will not be cheap!