Pinkbike Poll: Fatbike Racing is Inevitable
When the guy who invented the bicycle encountered the man who was riding the second bicycle ever made, at that moment, the first World Championship cycling competition was staged. Cycling is racing. Every solo ride is a time trial. Two riders always becomes a match race. Three or more is at least a regional championship. Look no further than Strava for proof - for what is the value of a personal best if only to soothe the sting of being a sorry loser who can't post a KOM? Pretend it's not true if it makes you feel better. Hug your trees, profess your yogic, universal at-one-ness, and hump unicorns all you want, but if you ride bikes, you race bikes. No amount of convincing can refute that fact. Which begs the question: How, when and where will professional fatbike competition be staged?
World Rally competition takes place during all four seasons - something that fatbike racing can bring to the sport of mountain biking. More practically, venues can be held in spring and fall months when traditional mountain bike racing venues are rarely staged due to the probability of foul weather.
Sickening thought? Perhaps, but before you reach for a barf bag, you may consider reaching for your credit card instead, Face it, there are only about two hundred paying jobs for professional mountain bike racers worldwide and all of them have been taken. Historically, the only time additional slots appear for pro cycle racers is when a new venue is born. If you are an aspiring racer seeking professional employment and have been passed over, it probably happened for a reason. If you are an experienced pro who has "overstayed your welcome" you are not going to get any faster sitting on the bench. A new racing venue can be a meteoric career booster for young losers and fast geezers who jump in early and start racking up victories before more talented pros who can't break into the top-ten spots of traditional mountain bike venues smell the money and move in for the kill. The last such opportunity for mountain bikers was the Enduro World Series. One needs to look no further to witness how the equation plays out. Before fatbike racing picks up steam, I suggest that all you hopefuls (you know who you are) buy a fatbike, start training in earnest and make some important phone calls. Specialized has a carbon fatbike, so Trek can't be too far behind.
Unlike traditional mountain bike races, fatbike courses do not necessarily require a trail - or even a traditional race course - something that the promoters are actually counting upon. Mike Levy puts the RockShox Bluto fatbike fork through its paces.
Already in the Planning Stages
Molding an appropriate racing venue around the fatbike is already well into the planning stages, and while I am sworn to secrecy as to who is involved and where the series will be scheduled to take place, I can write about it in general terms:
Multi-stage race courses: Fatbike races will be staged like enduro events over one to two days, and accumulated times will determine the winners. Each stage will be kept secret until race day and there will be no practice allowed. Competitors will be furnished with sealed GPS units that, in addition to providing assistance to guide competitors to each checkpoint, will record their movements and ensure that each stage is completed under sporting regulations. GPS monitoring was originally instigated as a means to prevent racers from seeking short cuts through sensitive wilderness areas that are deemed to be out of bounds.
Could fatbike racing be the venue that finally showcases the advantages of sealed gearbox transmissions? Nicolai already has one ready to rock.
Two-person teams: Male/female, two-person teams were originally proposed, but the UCI has been historically "less than supportive" of females in professional competition - beyond podium appearances in very short, green, yellow, and red polka-dot dresses. It was ultimately decided that men and women will race separately in two-person teams. The team format was chosen because it has been a hugely successful formula for simulated-survival television reality shows, and also because most fatbike competitions will take place in terrain where trails are either unmarked or nonexistent, and having another brain on board should greatly assist the navigation and decision making process.
Primitive venues: Taking a lead from the short film, "Where the Trail Ends," the promoters unanimously decided that fatbike venues will be staged in pristine, primitive landscapes with limited trail networks and few, if any roadways. Venues are likewise slated to take place in both summer and winter conditions. Taking advantage of the fatbike's wide, floatation tires and all-terrain capabilities, the routes between stages will not be marked nor indicated in any manner. Racers will employ GPS and other navigation skills to race to each consecutive check point. Ingenuity is encouraged, as competitors are expected to deviate from existing trails and set out across virgin territory, crafting the fastest, most direct route to each destination. Visual assistance to competitors in the form of twenty-meter illuminated flags marking each checkpoint is expected to inspire all-out, to-the-wire efforts from teams as they converge on each goal.
 | Fatbike racing isn't about rogue mountain bikers popping toads and skidding up endangered habitat. These are modern-day Lewis and Clarks, navigating through untracked landscapes on bicycles that tread lightly, pitting themselves against nature and man in a contest that is a true adventure race. - Quote from promoter's presentation |
Wade Simmons drops in on a Rocky Mountain Blizzard. Contrary to popular belief, fatbikes don't pedal all that well on snow, unless it is a prepared surface, or has a supportive crust. That said, fatbikes perform better than any other mountain bike on the stuff, so races could be staged in Alpine snow and descend to finish in more rideable terrain.
Made-for-media event: Fatbike teams will be required to wear POV cameras and a POV camera will be mounted behind the number plate of each bicycle. The timing system's telemetry will automatically switch the recording devices on and off as teams start and finish each stage. Downloads will be used to enhance video coverage of the event. In addition, telemetry will be used to broadcast real-time footage of riders at speed on course, and to capture the emotional and personal moments that will inevitably occur as teams battle against nature and the clock. One of the three promoters said during the meeting: "For the first time, television viewers will get to experience the raw essence of mountain biking - man versus nature - as the saga unfolds in the context of head-to-head competition. Can mountain bike racing be better than that?"
Pinkbike will keep you informed as the series moves forward. Until then, all we can add is that the first professional fatbike race in the history of mountain biking will most probably take place in Iceland, and while the promoters have made some big claims about the venue, if it goes off even half as well as we are led to believe, fatbike competition could become a very popular event. We shall see, but in the meantime, we'd like to know how you feel about fatbikes and fatbike racing in general.
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...And no spell check....Or grammar...
Well I dont think you have seen the full potential of a fat bike then. At the European Marathon MTB champs here all the top pros pushed up the steepest part of the course which is well above 20% and very loose. It can be ridden but it is very tough and takes a lot of energy. The only person to ride up it out of 300+ riders over the two days was a non elite Irish rider on a fat bike and he continued on his way immediately without too much trouble. They are unbelievable to travel and roll way better than people give them credit for. In a boggy/muddy race I dont think you would see one again once the race started.
In cairns this year I dont think that it is beyond the bounds of possibility that a fat bike with a front suspension (and a world class rider) could have set a reasonably competitive time considering the times were 1 minute slower in the mud that they were in dry practice.
You must feel sorry for us though. Its very difficult to learn a foreign language when no matter how hard you try, the condescending native will hear one's awfull accent and reply in fluent English anyway. I once spent a good minute or two formulating a very garbled french version of "hey family! your children should not be allowed to walk up that steep track with pictures of cycles on it because it is very dangerous due to very rapid cycles coming the other way!" They very politely waited for me to finish manhandling their language before replying. "cheers mate!" bloody timewasters
I love racing. I don't understand why you would make specific races for just fat bikes. Does that mean they wouldn't be allows in other races? Can I enter my trail bike in a fat bike race? How can you possibly allow people to go straight from point a to point b on anything but private land? Why require people to wear cameras, just supplying the option seems sufficient? If only fat bikes are allowed is there a minimum tire width? Can you make a full susp fat bike? I think it's fine to race a fat bike in normal races, I don't understand why they would have their own unique series
Considering a fat bike isnt really any slower than a normal hardtail I definitely think a fat bike would easily be capable of that so I really dont think its a case of "No way in hell". It would be a lot closer than you seem to think. A good suspension probably needs to be developed for one though.
Also, I think you could enter on any type of bike you want, but if you win, that would be an indication that the course wasn't appropriate for the intended type of race. There certainly are conditions and surfaces on which fatbikes out-perform any other type of bike, so it's certainly feasible. Same as if a WC downhill event was won on a hardtail, or a CX race was won on a road racing bike. As far as my limited knowledge goes, only CX (and single speed races, obviously) places some specific restrictions on what type of hardware is permitted but it's still fairly broad (correct me if I'm wrong). For the most part, disciplines allow the rider to select the tool that gives them the best chance of finishing at the top, and a well-designed course is the one that has the ideal type of bike in the name of the event.
ive never tried one myself but personally i like them. and fatbike races sound awesome. just get a map, mark start and finish points with as varied terrain as possible between the two, then shout go! if any of the terrain i mentioned above is present i wouldnt mind betting a fat bike would win that race.
MTB racing disciplines shouldn't be defined by what bikes must be used. You can use a unicycle if you want on DH races, but the track makes you use a downhill bike if you want to go anywhere.
Now if we make bikes the criteria for the discipline, that would put them under regulation, especially on WC level, and would make new inventions, geometries, wheel sizes, etc. very much more difficult to adapt to. In short, it would stagnate development of the bikes.
If you can make a track where fat bikes have obvious advantage over all other bikes, than that's the way to go. But until then no way.
P.S. I already have 2 bikes to maintain/upgrade/replace, I am absolutely not interested in spending 2k$+ to acquire a third moneysink I'll probably only use a few days a year.
Stopped reading after "If you ride bikes, you race bikes"- mostly because I ride, but I certainly don't race.
Seeing how snowskates are having a hard time getting accepted in a lot of resorts, I don't really see the old geyser owners giving in to biking though. A lot skiers are retired old people and change is scary.
this would not be a huge hurdle to visualize for said, ahem, geysers/ geezers, since they already allow bikes in the summer, and one thing these geezers are scared of is poverty. and losing money every season would make even the staunchiest old coot consider other methods of getting people on the lift.
snowskates are ghey.
Not a snowskater but seeing them hit 50' table tops and hitting over 80km/h on the slopes, I think they're on the way of becoming a legitimate sport but that's another debate.
It may well be 'inevitable' in the US/Canada where terrain permits this sort of thing but over here in the UK I think I have only ever seen 1 fatbike out on the trails.
There are quite a few guys locally who have them.
The GPS thing isn't that unrealistic. If you're not too far from civilization you could just have all the racers download a smartphone app to track their movements. I've been to local tracks that keep track of course records on Strava already so it's not that wild of an idea. And tons of people have gopros now anyway. When you look at the amt of money people spend on race bikes already, asking them to buy a camera won't stop anyone who's interested in this type of racing (imo). Plus I think the camera thing is just for the pros, you could easily put on an amateur race with just the GPS units.... nobody would want to see most of that footage anyway.
Snow slalom/4X at a resort in winter, sure! Hundreds of amateurs rambling over the countryside on fat bikes, and all chasing a fat bike 'pro' class for glory and a medal? BS
I'd never have guessed I have only seen one fat bike because I live where it's quite flat.
I had no idea " we Brits" bragged about mud.
If we had meters of snow, I'd love to have a go at riding a fat bike across it.
They say every day's a school day...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXeqmBVRlIw
After 25 years of riding and racing mountain bikes. I've had pretty much every kind of bike from rigid single speed to 9er full suspension. They are bikes that ride off road I don't understand why you guys are so upset about other mountain bikers having fun in the mud outside?
It's not like anyone riding a fat bike,29er,650b,1x10/11 or single speed is pushing their values on a 26" 3 ring 27 speed rider. When I ride it I get lots of fun conversation with other riders and non riders also which when riding my most standard mountain bike would never get so it's a win in my eyes.
When they have a Bluto and are around 1200-1500 I'm a serious buyer. Looking at the new bikes direct bikes with a Bluto currently. It would be fun, but I would only ride it about 25% of the time I ride.
Look at a surly krampus. The tire size is called 29plus. You should go buy one now you've found the bike of your dreams!
I never consider a fatbike being any rival to a typical mountain bike in such. Fat tire means a lot or rolling resistance, even too much traction and no damping on bumps, just because there is only air to spring. There are no tires that would provide me eight inches of travel, and adjustable damping. So fat bike for snow riding, or sand riding, maybe swamp riding, but since there was no snow last winter where I live, I don't need to buy it.
Racing a fatbike? I never race at all. Racing is for other people, who need to know who is better.
yes, the photo of them riding in the snow would be fun... but no more fun than a dh/fr rig
gearjunkie.com/four-wheel-pedal-bike
I don't really get fatbikes, I suppose they would be handy in super muddy conditions but we have specific mud tires for that, only thing I can see fatbikes been useful for is snow? I don't know, but I'm not going to try and pretend to be an expert on fatbikes I just don't understand the interest in them.