Rocky Mountain Releases the 2022 Blizzard Carbon

Aug 25, 2021
by Matt Beer  
Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon


Since 2015, the Rocky Mountain Blizzard sat cold and alone as the only fat bike in the lineup, but for 2022 a lightweight, carbon version has been introduced. The two carbon models roll on 27.5" wheels, with prices ranging from $2,699 to $3,299 USD.

The flashy colored sled runs on fat bike standards like 150 mm x 15 mm front and 197 mm x 12 mm rear hub spacing, plus a 100 mm wide threaded bottom bracket. If you've ever owned one of these bikes with balloon tires and low gearing, you may have experienced rear hub breakdowns due to the high torque that the drivetrain is subject to. Rocky Mountain has addressed this by specifying reliable rear hubs that can be easily serviced.

Shimano has the hydraulic braking and shifting duties covered on the Blizzard Carbon 30 and 50. Both bikes are fitted with 180 mm, resin pad-only rotors, but the top end Blizzard has four piston calipers. The twelve speed drivetrain on the Blizzard Carbon 50 is a mixed with an XT derailleur, shifter, and an SLX cassette, while the 30 model uses full Deore.

Tire performance can flounder when the temperature drops below zero, but the Terrene Cake Eater Fast Rolling tubeless tires are formulated for cold weather and are ready to be studded.


Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon


Blizzard Carbon Details

• Clearance for 27.5" x 4.5" and 26" x 5.0" tires
• Compatible with a 100 mm fork w/ 27.5", 120 mm fork w/ 26"
• Two bottle cage mounts on fork & two on front triangle
• Bento box mount on top tube
• Pannier rack compatible
• Sizing: S, M, L, XL
• SRAM UDH compatible
• $2,699 - $3,299 USD
• More info:www.bikes.com

Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon


Frame Details

The new Blizzard Carbon has all the accessory mounting points to cart along the necessary gear for your stormy ride. Just behind the stem lies a Bento box mount and each side of the fork has a bottle mount. Inside the front triangle, there are two more traditional bottle mounts with the addition of more bolts under the top tube to secure a bag or the like.

The rear triangle of the bike has some serious real estate to accommodate tires bulging up to 4.5" wide on 27.5" rims or 5.0" on 26". There is even the option to fit 29"+ tires and a pannier rack for those looking to convert their winter sled to a gravel road explorer.

Hidden from plain sight, tube in tube construction makes routing the brake, shifter, and dropper post housing clean and easy. Inside the carbon tubes, Rocky Mountain uses their Smoothwall carbon technology, which uses solid molds instead of air bladders to reduce the amount of resin and fibre needed.

Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon
Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon

Geometry

If you choose to run a suspension fork, the maximum recommended travel is 100 mm for a 27.5" tire and 120 mm for a 26" tire. The bike has a 66º head tube and 74º seat tube angle, contemporary angles that carry over from the previous alloy 2021 Blizzards.

There are four sizes to fit riders from 157.5 cm / 5’2” to 198 cm / 6’6” and the 455 mm chainstays remain the same length on each frame size. The reach numbers grow in 25 mm increments from 425 mm on the SM to 500 mm on the XL.

photo


Specifications

Components highlights on the Blizzard Carbon 50 are the Rocky Mountain Toonie dropper seat post and a high quality DT Swiss 350 rear hub with a 36T Star-Ratchet. However, the lighter weight SLX cassette will only save about 60 grams over the Deore found on the 30 model.

Another big talking point are the Shimano MT4120 four piston brakes found on the more expensive bike, while the 30 model receives the two piston version. Both bikes are equipped with 180 mm rotors that must use resin pads. Heat dissipation shouldn't be an issue during normal riding conditions for these bikes, but finding replacement pads could be limiting.

Blizzard Carbon 50
Specifications
Release Date 2022
Price $3299
Fork Rocky Mountain Carbon Fat
Headset FSA Orbit NO.57E
Cassette Shimano SLX 12 spd 10-51T
Crankarms Race Face Aeffect Cinch 30T, 24mm Spindle, 170mm Length
Bottom Bracket Race Face BSA 100 24mm
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT 12 spd
Chain Shimano M6100 12 spd
Shifter Pods Shimano XT 12 spd
Handlebar Rocky Mountain AM, 780mm Width, 25mm Rise, 35mm Clamp
Stem Rocky Mountain 35 AM, 5° Rise, All Sizes = 40m
Grips Ergon GE10 EVO Lock On
Brakes Shimano MT4120 4 Piston, Resin Pads
Hubs DT Swiss 350 12mm x 197mm, 36T Star-Ratchet rear, Rocky Mountain 15mm x 150mm front
Rim Sun Mulefüt 80, 32H
Tires Terrene Cake Eater Fast Rolling Tubeless Studdable 27.5 x 4.5
Seat Rocky Mountain 148 Cromo
Seatpost Rocky Mountain Toonie Drop
Compare to other All Mountain/Enduro/XC

Blizzard Carbon 30
Specifications
Release Date 2022
Price $2699
Fork Rocky Mountain Carbon Fat
Headset FSA Orbit NO.57E
Cassette Shimano Deore 12spd, 10-51T
Crankarms Race Face Ride 30T, 24mm Spindle, 170mm Length
Bottom Bracket Race Face BSA 100 24mm
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore 12spd
Chain Shimano M6100 12 spd
Shifter Pods Shimano Deore 12spd
Handlebar Rocky Mountain AM, 780mm Width, 25mm Rise, 35mm Clamp
Stem Rocky Mountain 35 AM, 5° Rise, All Sizes = 40m
Grips Ergon GE10 EVO Lock On
Brakes Shimano MT4100 2 Piston, Resin Pads
Hubs Sun Ringlé SRC 12mm x 197mm rear, Rocky Mountain Sealed 15mm x 150mm front
Rim Sun Mulefüt 80, 32H
Tires Terrene Cake Eater Fast Rolling Tubeless Studdable 27.5 x 4.5
Seat Rocky Mountain 148 Cromo
Seatpost Rocky Mountain 30.9mm
Compare to other All Mountain/Enduro/XC



For more information and the best availability on the new Blizzard Carbon, pop over to bikes.com or use their dealer locator tool to find the nearest Rocky Mountain retailer.

Rocky Mountain Blizzard Carbon


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Fat Bikes Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain Blizzard


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64 Comments
  • 49 2
 More fatbike content, not as a fad, but as a great way to ride and have fun. For those of you who haven’t had the joy of riding a fatbike under a blue sky on a ribbon of hard pack, you don’t know what you are missing.


My winter riding is just as much fun as the summer riding.
  • 21 1
 Absolutely true.

Somehow, snow makes my tame local trails feel like I’m far out in the wilds. Doubly so for night riding, which is at least half my fat biking.

And honestly, if your trail association has a snow dog for grooming, volunteer for that shit. It’s a blast to run, and just about as good a workout as biking.

Plus, whisky bottle stashes.
  • 9 48
flag tonkatruck (Aug 25, 2021 at 22:21) (Below Threshold)
 i think most people have better things to do than ride a fatbike in the winter....never knew they were still a thing
  • 3 0
 I bought a fat bike to do the Colorado Trail, bike packing on fat tires you barely have to look at the trail, plenty of time to enjoy the scenery loaded down and the traction is awesome, you can ride up or down anything. Then when it snows it makes the trails faster - yes you go faster in the snow.
  • 31 2
 How did they get a powder shot in the middle of summer on a brand new bike?
  • 7 0
 Go to Chile?
  • 7 0
 It's crazy how far in advance some photo shoots are done. Trek did a photoshoot local to me a while ago (last winter), still haven't seen the products launch that they were taking pics of.
  • 2 0
 @ratedgg13: tell us more.
  • 28 1
 @jacobxpaul: wavecell chamois
  • 2 0
 @jacobxpaul: honestly @Randy-Verified has it close. Mostly Bontrager branded clothing and parts stuff, and I think a new carbon Farley or similar fatbike. Nothing terribly interesting or ground breaking.
  • 1 2
 @ratedgg13: it’s not summer everywhere cos it’s summer in Canada bro , they just went to another country
  • 4 0
 Um, RMB is in Canada and we have snow here all year long. It makes for cold days at the beach but our igloos are kick ass.
  • 1 0
 Photoshoot happened in Vancouver area BC in February / March 2021
  • 19 3
 YES! I know they're waning in popularity and there isn't much progression, but more fat bike content please! Fat bikes are mountain bikes too! And look at that, you can get a DT 350 on a bike under 10 grand!
  • 1 0
 Just not on the more expensive Slayer
  • 9 0
 Looks sick. I love the fat bike as a complement to skiing - when the snow is crusty and the skiing sucks, the fat biking is mint. Plus, it's the loosest I ever ride (usually unintentionally, but still), and the crashes have soft(er) landings.
  • 8 0
 "Since 2015, the Rocky Mountain Blizzard sat cold and alone as the only fat bike in the lineup"

They made the Suzi Q as well. Looks like it's discontinued now though.
  • 8 1
 It should be illegal to spec rotors that require resin pads. Seriously, parts spec buyers - that’s a hokey-ass corner to cut , especially if someone is stuck riding their fat bike in non winter conditions.
  • 6 2
 It should be illegal to spec Shimano brakes for a winter bike. I’m not anti-Shimano in general but DOT fluid can take much lower temps than any mineral oil
  • 1 0
 @DizzyNinja: 100% agree. I’ll be switching mine out for G2 RSCs. I am only going with Rocky Mountain for the geo. I was originally going for a Norco as they spec Sram Level brakes and clearly states in their ad for the bike that DOT Fluid is the only option for winter so they chose components for that purpose. I’ve tried those exact Shimano MT420 4 Pistons in the winter and they are terrible.
  • 1 0
 @StumpHumper45: SRAM level brakes are the absolute worst. Very little stopping power and most of them leak in the winter. I had 2 sets leak on me, same for plenty of my friends.
  • 1 0
 @DanTae: I changed mine to G2 RSCs on my C50… I think I was more supporting the Dot fluid over the level brakes which I had no experience with. Good to know!
  • 6 0
 I've got a '16 Blizzard and thankfully never had any rear hub issues. They're more versatile than people give them credit for.
  • 8 0
 thiccc
  • 6 0
 I was hoping to see colors like Oreo, chocolate chip cookie dough or reeses peanut butter cup.
  • 2 0
 When they came out with the suzi q i asked the rep like in 2017 if they are making a carbon blizzard. He said no, i decided i wanted 27.5x4.5” tires and got a 2018 farley. Now in 2022 they came out with what they needed in 2018.
  • 1 0
 Amen Brother!
  • 1 0
 I miss my farley, it was an amazing bike. I had to switch to a suzi-q due to a knee issue.
  • 5 1
 Yo, octoberfest and pumpkin beers just came out, way too early as usual, so that means it's way way way too fucking early for fat bikes with snow shots.
  • 4 0
 That opening line hurt my Suzi Q’s feelings. She’s inconsolable, her fat tires floating in a puddle of her own tears.
  • 4 3
 I would love to see a company go full hardcore enduro capable Fat Bike with say 65 degree headtube and insanely short chainstays. There are folks out here that love to ride Fatties all dang year and push them to their limits. Just watch Blake Samson's latest video. He takes it full DH. So dang fun.
  • 8 0
 Your user name is SamsonBMX. Your endorsement of Balke Samson would seem more powerful if it didnt seem like you share a last name.
  • 1 0
 Insanely short chainstays are difficult for the size of tire they use. Or you'll need a smaller rear wheel of course. On One used to have the On One Baby Fat which was a fatbike (hardtail) with 24" wheels. Looked like a fun bike indeed. Sadly it was discontinued.

If you need more enduro kinda stuff, the only one I can think of now is the Alutech Fat Fanes. Alutech isn't afraid to try something different every now and then. Even though their chainstays usually are fairly short (unless they want it long of course like on that Armageddon) but I doubt you could have called it "insanely short" on that Fat Fanes.
  • 1 0
 My Kona Woo has adjustable 420mm chainstays with a 26x4.8 tire, a nice long reach, and is an absolute blast in the snow. The headtube is a little steep at 69 degrees, but with a 130mm 29er fork and a -2 degree headset should be a great trail bike in the summer, now if only I could get ahold of parts to lace up a wheelset for it. I honestly don't mind the relatively steep headtube in the winter as most of my riding is on mellow trails and commuting
  • 2 1
 I used to hate...but due to lack of gyms available and needing to get some pedal time not on an indoor trainer - I bought a fattie to ride the groomed snow trails in Bend Oregon last winter. It was a Giant Yukon and I bought a Mastadon for the front of it. Converted to tubelss (saved about 3 lbs). I had so much fun on that bike, I even kept riding it all spring. No one else could ride due to the conditions, but the fattie just kept rolling! I actually rode it more than my stumpy this summer. It is so damn fast and I just have a smile on my face the whole time. I ride it on more aggressive trails and even jump it etc. Its been a tank. Truly an all-terrain bike. All these fattie haters, I would bet $100 I would smoke you on your local trails with it (unless you're like a pro...or your local trails are Val di Sole).
  • 1 0
 Fatbikes get a lot of hate. Fat bikes are SUPER awesome. I live in an all year mtb climate now, but when I lived in alberta half of my season was on a fatbike. I had a relatively low end fatbike (trek farley 5) but it was an insanely valuable training tool, and could be a lot of fun on the downs. I think a fatbike with good angles, a suspension fork, mtb worthy components and a dropper would be TONS of fun on snowy trails.
  • 2 0
 Something in my brain breaks when I see a fatbike with such aggressive geometry and a 40mm stem. The action shot looks like a blast though
  • 1 0
 I had an on one fatty, it was a degree steeper in the headtube but similar otherwise with a 45mm stem, dropper, sram x01 11spd, guide rsc brakes, that thing was an absolute blast on certain trails (not rocks, that was horrid, snapped the rear hubs internal axle) and sand/snow, could get a drift on without it being too twitchy.
  • 3 0
 youtu.be/ZhAw2QueD4w

Look how much fun this bike is on the right trails! In AB, where it’s winter 4-6 months of the year, fat bikes are a must if you want to keep spinning year round.
  • 4 1
 I've ridden a fatbike on snow covered trails & it was a blast. Just need to make room for another bike in the shed...
  • 1 0
 They’re pretty fun, we need fat bikes in Edmonton, otherwise we would only ride for 3 months a year. With these bikes our trails are pretty much all rideable year round, even some flow trails and tech descents.
  • 2 0
 One of the only fat bikes that doesn't come with road bike geometry ready to flip you over the handlebars at the slightest incline.
  • 2 0
 Ok, I have to admit, I actually saw it in a carbon fiber factory in China two months ago
  • 5 5
 Legit question, not trying to troll. Who is buying new fat bikes? I kinda feel like if you wanted a fat bike you would've bought one by now.
  • 27 1
 why not apply the same logic to regular mtb?
  • 2 0
 I have a 2018 farley 9.6. Its getting kind of boring.. this geo looks fun but i live in the midwest and not a ton of downhills, specially in winter.
  • 4 4
 Who's buying carbon fatbikes?
  • 6 0
 @boozed: @rustiegrizwold Me and me. Own a Rocky Mountain Suzi Q which is a racier version of this with narrower Q-factor and 27.5x4.0 tires. It's an awesome bike. You'd be surprised when trudging through snow on packed or semi-packed trails how much the lighter weight setup makes a difference. Aggressive geometry on fatbikes is hard to come by so this blizzard is probably great. More and more places are getting packed in by snowshoers, snowmobiles or dedicated fat bike groomers so you can get some moderately rowdy fat biking during the winter so normal "trail bike" geometry is helpful. Go look through some of the average fat bike geometry and you'll find lots of 69-70* HTAs that are not fantastic. Along with the 425mm reach you'll find on many size L bikes.
  • 4 1
 At my local Rocky dealer, their 2022 Blizzard line is pre sold already. Lots of people are buying fat bikes.
  • 1 0
 Lot of people, lots of fun in the winter and a good backup bike in the summer if you are waiting on parts. I had 2015 Specialized Fatboy with 26x4.8. I wanted modern geo and 27.5" wheels, last year I bought a 2021 Blizzard. Awesome bike.
  • 4 0
 Obviously they allow you to expand the riding season into the winter but there’s so much more than just shredding the pow on offer. If you ride blown out trails, sandy or loose double track or super chunky slow speed rock gardens they just might be you jam. Plus with all that traction (and usually longish chain stays) they make tech climbing feel like cheating. Overgrown trails can be ridden in a more relaxed fashion as the big tires get pushed around less by hidden obstacles. Can’t wait to take my Ti Mayor bike packing.
  • 1 1
 @inonyme @brentg198 @yupstate @Euripides-Iripadem : In my mind, I was thinking a "regular" MTB is more way more accessible for beginners and is less targeted at specific regions on the earth. There is a market but I don't see how companies can sell enough carbon frames to justify the cost of a mold. Even if we talk about having one as an N+1, it's still a very niche bike.

Clearly, I'm wrong, and there is a market which is why I asked the question. Thanks for the responses.
  • 1 0
 @boozed: we have just as long of winter as summer. We ride the same singletrack in winter as summer. Thats who. Carbon trail bikes, Carbon fat bikes.
  • 2 0
 @rustiegrizwold: This is the internet so you should probably be angrier and less understanding Smile . Rocky had two fat bikes previously, the Blizzard and the Suzi Q. I'm thinking they just consolidated and became one of the very very few with a Carbon version of a Fatbike with modern geometry; and there is just one now in two frame types.
  • 2 0
 Out of stock.
  • 4 3
 Hahahaha, good one, $3,300 for a rigid carbon fatbike.
  • 1 0
 Add a Mastadon fork and Bob's your uncle.
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