DaytonaDuke

Hi,

I used to have a GT Aggressor I rode everywhere, especially the beach. I've since bought a few other bikes but haven't ridden them much. I see these new 29er bikes. I would like to build a beach bike, similar to my GT Aggressor since I loved that bike so much. Would a 29er be better on the beach?

I'm not talking casual riding but riding as fast as I can on the hard-packed sand.

What type of frame should I look at? I'm 5ft9. I liked the triple triangle style my GT had.
What are the best tires? I'm thinking knobby on the sides and smooth in the middle? Is that suitable for beach?
I've had some bikes where even in the hardest gear that it still wasn't challenging enough for my legs. I have strong/big legs due to riding/running/triathlon when I was younger. How do I get a bike that is hard to pedal in the toughest gear?

What else should I have to make the ultimate fast beach bike?

Duke

Elvo

Depends on your sand. If it's hard packed, a CX bike would be the fastest. If not, a fat bike would probably be the best.

Garfield Cat

You might want to post that question in the other forum: Recreational cyclocross and gravel biking.

fietsbob

Fat bikes with 4 inch wide tires are Ok, On the beach* anything thinner, the wheel will sink in a lot even right where the sand , wet, is the densest surface.

There you pick up sand And salt water , so wash the bike thoroughly clean, after Every Ride.

*LBS here has sold a few to Clammers , to ride w their gear on the beach to dig Clams.. Razor clam season is Now.



Cyclocross race course designers include Sand sections to make each time you go through it per lap, really hard..

TenSpeedV2

Having just recently taken a trip to the beach with my bike, I can offer a little on this topic. Get a fat bike. I have one, and to be honest, even with the tire pressure low, traction and stability is still an issue. Sand on the beach is quite a bit like snow, the consistency is rarely the same. Down by the water, it is much more hard packed, but also is more like mud in a sense with the moisture of the water in it. Further away from the water, the sand can be like like mud, where you simply do not get any traction. A skinny tire in either of those conditions will have you constantly battling for traction and stability. If you stop, good luck getting started again. Even on a fat bike with the pressure dropped, starting in the sand is quite a task. Go with as an aggressive tire as you can. I have some garbage Vee Missions on my fat bike, and they are great on the road. In the snow and in the sand, they really lack. My buddy who came with me has Surly Nate's on his fat bike, and his traction was considerably better than mine.