Thank you. I wonder if all the high tech suspension systems are really better than springs on a saddle. I haven't made the comparison, as I don't need either.

I vote for the Schwalbe Big Apples in 2.35. They really are great. As well, a Brooks Flyer as has been mentioned, it too is great.

Here is some interesting propaganda. But then again I have an old aluminum MTB with a rigid fork on 2.5" Hookworms and it does smooth things out quite a bit especially on bad roads so I am a fan of big tires.

Balloonbikes - advantages

+1 Also, Schwalbe has come out with the Big Bens now, with better flat protection than the Big Apples. I just ordered a set and am hoping that the lower pressure and wider tire is going to help with the awful roads here.

I
LIKE
BIG
RUBBER AND I CAN'T DENY
SOME OTHER BROTHER'S SKINNY TIRES
...
I ran out of steam there, somebody else finish it off for me.

I've been told a spring saddle is only helpful in certain riding positions where you are more upright, which is not all the time. It's still something I may try some day.

I have a hybrid and just purchased the mongoose dolomite. The Dolo is a workout to ride. Will make some upgrades and it will be better. The hybrid is a hardtail with a suspension seat. Front shocks could be on a softer setting. Get wider tires as suggested. Adjustable stem to put you in your most comfortable position. Get a decent used hardtail and modify it to your own ends. You will have a comfortable and easy to ride bike. All at your price point

This is my full time commuter with a fat front tire that rolls smooth and does not have much tread. It can be a bear to get going but once I do it's fine, I ride this fixed gear all through the city and round trip to work (27 miles), it can be hard but my mountain biking specifically racing has paid off, my race bike is so much lighter and feels like a toy compared to this tank.

So it's not all bad. Tires are expensive tubes are the same price, you do not need to buy fat bike tubes just buy a large 26x2.7 tubes, they're lighter then the Surly offering anyways.

The Framed Minnesota 1.0 and 2.0 are popular choices, they used to not sure about now come with a second wheelset that came with either 29er commuter tires or 29er off road tires. I would get the bike for the wheelset sell the tires and get two 29x2.35 big apples if you do not like the fat bike wheels either, sell them also and keep the bike as a 29er commuter on big apples.

+1
Or Schwalbe Big Bens. I have a pair - very nice - really evens out potholes and rough roads.
Do you have a steel frame or can you afford a steel frame bike (even a vintage, used one)? My steel bikes are definitely more forgiving than my aluminum ones. If you're on a limited budget, an older but restored bike with some choice parts might be more affordable.

Wouldn't call it propaganda... there are some definite advantages!

And yes, I have a fat bike and I do use it to commute to work, especially in the winter, but then I'm going a few kilometres so quite a different scenario from you likely.

I generally ride my Pugs on my commute because of the pot-holey streets I need to navigate. I love it. Plus, it makes for good training!

I have a Marin Muirwoods 29er.

As other posters have noted, a true fat bike will be heavy and s-l-o-w and won't make an efficient commuter.

A 29er is a happy compromise and is sufficiently fast enough to have fun, too.

wally world has a cheap one .. coaster brake 1 speed,
as typical, they got a cheapest cost on a too big a tooth count size crankset,
Id change that if I were you

And its still very heavy.

A good commuting bike should be around 35 lbs tops and should have disc brakes to provided added stopping power under load.

[h=2]Thudbuster LT & ST sizes[/h] 25.4 / 26.8 / 27.0 / 27.2 / 30.9 / 31.6 / 33.9

If your bicycle frame requires a size other than one of those listed above, we can adapt either a 25.4 or a 27.2 Thudbuster to your bicycle using a machined aluminum shim. Check the drop down menu below to see a list of our standard shim sizes. If you still do not find your size, contact us and we will find a solution for your bike!

Standard Shim Sizes: 25.4mm - 26.0mm

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Instead of the Thudbuster with elastomers, I would recommend Tamer Pivot Plus that entirely relies on spring mechanism and so requires no replacements down the line.

To second opinions advising against fat bikes, I just came from a trip where I rode on top of city walls in Xian, China, with restorations dating few hundred years. These obviously had quite uneven surface. To compensate the rental MTBs were equipped with wide tires held at low pressures. These were quite sufficient to absorb the roughness of the surface (over 1.5h ride) and I doubt that what you encounter can be particularly worse.

I rode my fatbike a couple of times last winter, and I really liked it. Unfortunately, I have been spoiled by dyno lights on every other bike I own and lighting was an issue

[QUOTE=thiocyclist;16566677]Took my seatpost out to size it for a Thudbuster and it looks like they don't sell any in the size it was stamped: 26.0. :-/ Bummer.

They make a 25.4mm, that plus the 25.4-26.0mm shim and your all set.

Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com



I might give this one a try. Price seems right.

One size, heavy and expensive. I'd get a BD fat bike which is a better value than the Wally World Dolomite.

An older pic of my commuter; Now a single-speed and used regularly for a 16-mile commute. It rolls down the road just fine even if it does take a little effort to leave a stop.

UK made USE suspension seatposts , were made in 25.0, and 27.2 and used seat post sizing shims for the frames between the 2 & larger.

they also were available with alternate rate springs and elastomer densities to suit the rider's weigh on the saddle.

Low end 25.4 seatposts are under $25 these days and there are machined shims in 1" ID to use them in various frame ID.
26-25.4= 0.6, the shim is 0.3 thick.

Dual suspension, is more about keeping the wheels in contact with the ground , flying over rough trails..

Or, In the case of Sir Alex Moulton's design Make a stiff, strong small wheel in a stiff ,strong triangulated truss frame ..

ride super..

but for comfort suspending the butt of the rider is quite nice .

Bikes direct has multiple models under $500, as low as $399. Not sure how they compare to the Mongoose.

Save Up To 60% Off Fat Bikes and Fat Mountain Bicycles from bikesdirect.com FREE Ship 48 States

The most important thing is not to bend. A beach cruiser style handlebar might work for you. If you want to go a little faster, lean forward. If it starts to hurt, sit up. If you feel you really need suspension, I think you should stop riding.

I've been riding 28km to work once or twice a week on my cheapo single-speed fatty (Canadian Tire version of the Mongoose Beast, the Schwinn Biggity). There are a couple of minor hills but nothing big or I'd have to walk up. It's slow & it's heavy but it's fun to ride & was cheap & has convinced me to eventually spend more on a better, geared fatty with brakes.

Not sure I'd recommend it for a commute though I do enjoy commuting on it.

Cheers