Fat Bike? Seriously?

Jan 23, 2013 at 14:57
by Mitchell Scott  
My buddy’s fat bike looks stupid. Ridiculous actually. Sure, it’s all tricked out: titanium frame, carbon fork, dropper post, the works. And it is a bike after all. But those wheels. Those ridiculously obese, monster truck lookin’, mud bog, butt-ass ugly wheels. An abomination of the "noblest invention" I say.

Both work well in snow.

It’s like my pal has gone all redneck on the cheap. In the same arrogant vein as those Joey’s who drive around town with a 12-inch lift kit and massive treads, a motorbike or a snowmobile in the back, gun racks, loud motor, shitty music, all that “look at me I’m so big and awesome” crap that makes me fearful the apocalypse will drive right over us.

Of course, I realize that my friend's ride still is a human-powered machine. Not quite the Gravedigger. Which makes the whole fat wheel thing look even more asinine. The bike looks about as spry as Jabba the Hutt after an eating binge. I imagine a nightmarish, perpetual state of riding in bark mulch, with the brakes rubbing, never able to shift out of granny because it’s such a pig. And when we think of efficiency, speed and grace—all things the bike stands for—to the uninitiated, the fat bike looks plain wrong. Even the name itself is an affront. Please agree with me here, the words “fat” and “bike” should never even be used in the same sentence, let alone right beside each other.

Most action sports have a long history of blasphemous one-offs and bizarre gimmickry. Bicycling is no exception. If you’ve ever been in the basement of Interbike, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Weird recumbent styled contraptions where you lie on your stomach and pedal with your arms, booths with bolt-on-boob, fake tanned chicks jumping around on atrocious inventions that look like a bike, a thigh buster and a shake weight had drunk sex. Bikes that fold into a briefcase, bikes made out of cardboard…it never seems to stop.

Self Portrait of Chris on his Surley.

When it comes to riding on snow, inventors have been down this road before. A few years ago, an Austrian fellow wanted me to try some snow bikes he was importing from Europe. He showed me pictures of the contraption, and a video. He kept telling me how awesome it was. How the faceshots never stopped, how it was way more fun than actually skiing. Buddy had taken a downhill bike and replaced the wheels with some cut-off skis. If you were really pro, like Austrian guy, you wore little ski blades on your boots, “For ze extra carve.” When he first phoned me, saying, “Ziss vill be a great story, the sport is about to take off!” I was skeptical to say the least. Guess what dude, there’s already a sport that’s got snow pretty dialed. It’s called skiing, and it’s only about 100 years old.

Not surprisingly, I never did try the ski bike. Nor do I see evidence of it “taking off.”

So I come back to the fat bike. Fact is though, my buddy is having a grand old time, even though the residents of our mountain town stare at him with stunned confusion, interrupting his peaceful ride with thousands of questions. There’s a little tribe of fatbikers (seriously?) in our town. After a snowfall they pack down the local trails with snowshoes, then ride. They say it’s a blast, except for the icy bits. “Ice is still ice,” they say. “Nothing works on that stuff.”

And hey, I don’t want to be the guy who knocks on creative exploration, but at a certain point, after you've seen many gimmicks—even sports—come and go, I’m left a bit of a cynic. For those of us who live in or near the mountains, there’s no need to hybridize the two sports. When there’s snow, go skiing (or snowboarding if you like dragging knuckles, cross-country if you like wearing tights). When there’s no snow, ride the bike. The two sports are actually very similar when it comes to physical mechanics.

But now these snow bikes are taking off. A local distributor can’t keep them in stock. And I’m torn. I love riding, but if I want to participate I need to buck up $3,000 for a bike that is only worth riding when it snows? Really? I’ll tell you what, when it snows, I go hit the slopes. I’ve already got the gear, and that gear happens to be super dialed. Maybe if I lived in Alaska, or Minnesota, where it’s cold and flat I’d get a fat bike. But why would I live someplace like that?

So I yield hesitantly. Even if I’m pretty sure I’ll never participate in this particular niche, I'm fascinated to see where it goes. It’s a little bit cool, I guess, even though the bike looks profoundly wrong. And the more I think about it, I bet it rides through bark mulch pretty damn well.

- Mitchell Scott

Riding fat

POV Image by Margus Riga




If you wish to learn more about fat bikes, check out NRG Enterprises in Nelson, BC. You may even run into author, Mitchell Scott, next door picking up some coffee on his "standard width" bike.

Author Info:
BigTimber avatar

Member since Apr 18, 2011
19 articles

388 Comments
  • 609 5
 I learn't absolutely nothing from this article.
  • 356 6
 This whole article was like one of those immature comments on here. What opinionated garbage.
  • 31 144
flag cheeselord (Jan 31, 2013 at 3:01) (Below Threshold)
 Hey buddy, maybe not everyone can ski/snowboard. Oh and not sure what you mean by the dragging knuckles/wearing tights remark either (I've only ever seen pros in tights). If you want to talk innovation I think you'll find that snowboarding is the reason for metal edges on skis and snowboards btw. They both slide on snow, why take pot shots?
  • 110 2
 Slow news day.
  • 313 6
 I like turtles.
  • 89 4
 The first time metal edges where used on skis was in 1928. 26 years before Jake Burton was even born.
  • 156 1
 While reading, at every new paragraph I expected him to change tune after having ridden the thing. But... no.
  • 30 4
 Hey Cheeselord, I can guarantee you that skis had metal edges before snowboards were invented. Snowboarding definately brought twin tips to skiing and is responsible for the ski industry innovating in the 90's. But don't kid yourself skis were more that pieces of wood strapped to leather boots before snowboarding showed up.
  • 141 5
 Damn. The guy who wrote this article is a dick.
  • 11 4
 ...''Weird recumbent styled contraptions where you lie on your stomach and pedal with your arms, booths with bolt-on-boob, fake tanned chicks jumping around on atrocious inventions that look like a bike, a thigh buster and a shake weight had drunk sex'''...really, never saw that before at a bike show !!!
  • 42 3
 Mitchell, you're missing the point of fat bikes. They aren't meant to tear up A-line or win the XC world championships. They're meant to go places where no other bike can go. Try riding a normal bike through snow or sand 4 inchs deep. By normal bike, I mean a 5-6 inch trailbike, probably with 2.3 tires. It simply doesn't work. That's the point in fat bikes....
  • 79 6
 Everybody should buy fat bikes and send pictures of them riding it having a blast to this dude
  • 8 3
 they work on sand too. I've sen people ride these on the beach.
  • 49 9
 The guy who wrote this is just an @$$hole. I couldn't read further than the second or third paragraph cause he is just being an ass about people. Fat tire bikes are bad ass. Just like lifted trucks (only if the lift is appropriate height and the tires look appropriate on the truck as well). If you don't like fat tire bikes, sobeit. But don't write and article saying that they are pointless, ridiculous and stupid. Write a real review, not a stupid opinion.
  • 23 3
 Bike-curious: a person that is content with riding their bicycle less that 12 months out of the year.

Fat bikes are for the truly passionate weirdos that don't want to give up the mountains to the snow.

(Seems like the author of the article is bike-curious). Next time ride a bike in its element before you critique it.
  • 16 3
 Technically you guys learned less after reading this. Skiing has been around for a couple thousand years, not 100...
  • 33 0
 yeah they could pretty much delete this article......
  • 1 0
 Yo surly's so fat... But I still cant figure out that first picture...
  • 15 21
flag husstler (Jan 31, 2013 at 6:46) (Below Threshold)
 You do realize this "article" is in the Storytellers section, right?
  • 50 0
 ^ I think we're all wondering why this is on the front page more than anything, haha.
  • 9 2
 Who cares about the fat bike? I just wanted to know more about that snowcat beater!
  • 9 1
 I live in Rhode Island, we have beaches and some snow. I have a fat bike and the only other bike tracks I have ever seen on the beach were other fat bike tires, so there's one year round riding spot normal bikes can't ride. Last week we got 5" of snow. For 6 days the only tracks on my favorite local trail were my fat tracks and one set of regular tracks that washed out at every turn and had footprints up every incline. That fat bike just plowed through, up and over everything.
  • 13 0
 Riding a Fatbike vs a Trail bike is like driving a Jeep vs a Rally Car.

Sure they both go on dirt, but there is no way you're going to get that Rally Car across the Sand or on Punchy Snow.

Fatbikes are for FLOATATION. For going places a normal bike can't.

News section? Seriously?
  • 16 0
 what an uniformed and downright ignorant article and author. are they getting 12 year olds to write this shite ? do your research buddy, skiing is 7000 years old, not 100.
  • 33 11
 To those commenting that the author didn't get the point, that fat bikes are for flotation, bla bla bla, I think you missed the point. The author gets that the bikes fit a niche. The question he seems to be asking (as I read things) is more why do we need to fill those niches. Why have a bike to ride in snow when you can just strap on some skis? Why ride your bike on the beach when you could just go for a swim? I have to admit, to me, riding on the beach, or riding through "bark mulch", just sounds like a giant sweaty pile of balls. Sure, the bike will do it where others won't, but why the hell would you want to?
  • 17 1
 Mitchell Scott, you compare apples and oranges. There is not 1 good way of doing things, but this is just wrong. You failed a lot too in your life, here's the example. The fact that there's this article published on this website, proves that you are profoundly concerned by the issue of people riding fatbikes AND that you are stressed out because of this -by you called- "niche". People don't just blabla about something, there's a series of mishappenings, frustrating someone that much, he or she loses it. You lost it buddy.

You shouldn't be concerned by this, it's bad for your health. Nagging about something you don't like is a loss of time. Time you could have spent encouraging something you actually DO like. If you had something valuable to share, with reasonable explanation, I would have gone with "ok, it's how he sees it, and at some points, he's right" but this makes me feel like "go f*ck yourself. I hope you get ran over by a fatbike's gigondo tires."

And seriously, if people want to drive overconsuming SUV's and buy a new cellphone before release date because they get 4 more pictograms on the screen, let them do so. I don't care. I invest money in what I like, and they invest in what they like.
  • 13 0
 I hope he got paid for this because if I sounded this uninformed about something in a very public fashion I'd need a check...
  • 30 1
 Might as well have written an article about how he doesn't like strawberry ice cream.
  • 7 0
 "I hope he got paid for this because if I sounded this uninformed about something in a very public fashion I'd need a check..."

Haha! awesome! Ya, he must be a politician in the US government
  • 31 0
 Never trust a man with two first names.
  • 8 2
 Stever - if what you said was an issue, then I would like the author to first consider more "main stream" actions that balance on the edge of purposefulness: like a bunch of freeride stars going to the possibly most remote places to get few shots of scrubs and backflips. They take helicopters, quads, God only knows what measures to get there, then dig a run in and a single lip for 5 days, as there is no possibility to ride a bike in proximity of 100 miles. Or a bike trip to Alaska - isn't it for telting and digging gold? Rampage - Utah? Shouldn't we look for dinosaur bones there?
  • 5 18
flag Questrails (Jan 31, 2013 at 9:37) (Below Threshold)
 Ya those huge wheel surlyesk bikes are for noobs or people living in the desert. Those big wheel bikes are like training wheels. From my many years of snow mtb riding I have discovered the best tires are large volume but not too big 2.35-2.5, and not a deep knob dh tire. The deep treads can pack up or wash out on icy conditions. The tire of choice for me when the snow falls is kenda small blocks 2.35. Awesome tires that roll good, perfect volume, dont pack up ever, and have good profile. The way the knobs are tightly spaced is very important, specially on ice. The far spaced dh style knobs have trouble when transitioning between the ground when cornering. Those gaps are what make you wash out and loose traction. It took me years to figure this out. Usually the thinking was huge knob dh tires for snow. Not any more. After one really harsh winter on the small blocks I was sold. Even riding on fields of ice was no problem as the consistant traction gives confidence and balance. It really is amazing how good a 5-6" mtb handles in the snow and more riders should give it a try instead of sitting on couch all winter. Getting fresh tracks on the bike feels almost as good as on skis.
  • 5 0
 @Wakidesigns;

I don't disagree with you. Purpose is relative. My comment was only clarifying what I was interpreting to be the author's point, because others commentors seem to be focused on the arguing the functionality of the bikes (ie. that they float in sand/snow) whereas the author seemed to be commenting more towards the usefulness (ie. why would you want to float in sand/snow?).

But, to each their own. Personally, if I'm in the desert, I'll get a camel, and if I'm on the beach, I'll get a swimsuit. But if someone would rather enjoy those locales on a bike with big fat tires, hey, why not?
  • 4 0
 I don't like fat bikes either. I don't like being cold, and I don't live in a place that gets regular snow. (Seattle) I'd have to drive my car in shitty conditions up a mountain to use one of this doodads, and I'm not gonna do that. But more power to the people that do. Because ultimately, more bikes is best for all of us. Fo' reals.
  • 5 3
 i think the author is laughing his ass off right now. well played. it's how i interpret it. it's like your buddy putting a few wasps in your lid and goggles.
  • 1 1
 Yeah but then you can make a jeep speed or a battle of the hammers truck so then you can climb shit and still blast long straights and corners!!!!!
  • 8 0
 i guess we can say we ''surly'' won't read another Mitchell Scott article anytime soon
  • 8 0
 Chuck norris LOVES fat bikes
  • 1 0
 N3Rd5 has it right on the money.
  • 8 3
 pinkbike users need to lighten up..
  • 5 0
 Just read the article, the title ought to be 'Front page? Really?' What a tool.
  • 14 1
 Pinkbike. It's serious business.
  • 3 6
 Dingus - it's like commercials for Charity actions. If I was a guy wanting to make a really good spot that could motivate people to do something that could make world a better place it would go more or less like that: " getting rid of at least one thing that makes you idle is the best thing you can do for the world!, throw that f*cking TV out of the window, right now!"
  • 1 6
flag vtfree (Jan 31, 2013 at 13:47) (Below Threshold)
 Cool story bro.
  • 1 1
 Do you think that my marzocchi super monster will fit on a snow bike (the skies one)? Razz
  • 6 1
 "Questrails" I don't believe there is any way a 2.5 tire is going to do as well as a big wheel bike in snow.. Sounds exactly like when powder skis came out and people said they were for people who couldn't ski pow.. I am guessing you are talking about riding in semi snowy and variable conditions which makes sense because you are describing the perfect setup for that.. If you were to ride in pure snow more than a few inches deep the big wheeled bike would work awesome and you woul be flailing on your setup.. Sounds like comparing a powder ski with 130mm waist and a all mountain ski.. It's not that complicated.. It's physics.. And why hate on noobs? You forget we all were once..
  • 1 0
 need decaf versions of redbull, monster, and rockstar..stat!
  • 1 0
 And you sir, get to walk away with our Pointless trophy, while the money rolls on to next week...
  • 1 0
 ParkCityPlush: You're absolutely right. There is zero way in hell a 2.5 tire is going to do as well in the snow.

I know this from first hand experience. I used to put 2.4 or 2.5 tires on my old Spesh Hardrock in the winter to go out for rides in the woods, and while I could get around, there was no way in hell I was going to be out there very long. The father of a friend of mine has two Surly Pugs and we went out for a ride a few times last winter on them (they built a little.... I guess bike park on their property with a nice XC loop we'd ride them on) and the difference was so unbelievably huge. I still wouldn't want to stay out too long on one of those things, but it was MILES better than a 2.5 tire, no matter the PSI in it.
  • 1 1
 Like a few of you guys have said, fat bikes are more for of doing fun goofy stuff. Not like 30+ mile epic rides.

(Goofy fun stuff = riding through streams, snow, flooded roads, sand, and other bizarre places that you would have a hard time getting your trail bike through)
  • 9 0
 who pissed in this guy's cheerios this morning?
  • 8 0
 ^ I think his friend on the fat bike did.
  • 1 1
 Dingus... That's funny.. I am guessing on a shitty snow day he tried taking his AM bike with his buddy On a snow ride and got butt hurt
  • 6 0
 Did he actually say alaska is flat?

You need to be institutionalized.
  • 4 6
 Finally Pinkbike stops taking itself too seriously and posts something a bit tongue in cheek and the po faced Canadians don't know how to deal with it.
  • 1 4
 Oh and the other guy who completely failed to get it, it's like when people like those 'like to save a baby from cancer' pages, how are these people so stupid and who the f*ck creates them?
  • 1 0
 Because we can...
  • 3 1
 FOR THE RECORD* Ski biking is SO DOPE! It's so loose and sick imo more fun than skiing so why is this guy hating and discouraging the community to try a sick sport. And it is going to take off no doubt you will see downhill races moto style, freeride of course, and for sure some best trick type stuff who knows what else its just not mainstream because the nicer rigs like lenz bikes are pricey, but give it time and more people will build their own. anyone who has ridden a nice skibike and knows how to rip a bike knows what i'm talking about. and let the people ride their fat bikes
  • 1 0
 Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
  • 9 0
 I don't understand why you'd single out Canadians ,Joe, when there's mostly folk from America/Europe getting mad at this. Ya silly goose.
  • 3 1
 Did you know that skiing was invented during the ice age, I think it was ice age 1 or 2 when Sid lost the baby and had to chase after it in the snow so he strapped wood to his feet.
  • 2 1
 I loled hard and snorted'
  • 1 2
 If everyone read The Guardian then they would be great like me
  • 2 1
 @ JOE701 even though it's a story, no one likes to hear someone bitching on something they haven't even tried out.... hey if ski does it for you and you don't want a snow bike, keep it for urself no one give a shhhh....
  • 1 0
 Your refferring to float in deep powder conditions with fat skis vs med fat skis. On a bike this concept doesnt work because the wheels are going to sink either way. I've used plenty on 3" noob specific tires to see the diff in handling and float. Its all about the conditions, if theres deep powder I not going to grab my bike like a moron. Skis are preffered method of shredding in the winter and will always out perform any bike setup. If theres bad skiing conditions, no deep powder, and hard pack varying ice conditions a bike is a fun alternative to skis. Make no mistakes skiing is 10,000 times more fun than a bike in the snow. That being said a mtb can be a fun cross training experience for skiing when the conditions suck.
  • 1 0
 Skiing is not 10,000 more fun than a bike in the snow. Try going uphill in skins. It is hard. I would rather ride a bike.
  • 4 0
 'I never did try the ski bike. nor did i see it take off'... covering the fact you'r reviewing a bike you've never tried with yet another arrogant comment, And my respect for you just hit an all time low...
  • 2 1
 Get some skills then come talk to me about winter conditions you dirty slimebags. I about 15 lightyears ahead of you skiing backwards at 60mph with my pants down mooning people on the lift.
  • 2 0
 I must say that I am quite surprised that there is such a vast pro-fatbikes public here. I got an impression that these wheels feel way more welcome than 650B... Awesome!

Now, for fatbike haters, watch and cry:
singletrackworld.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/09/IMG_6266.jpg
  • 1 2
 Light years ahead? Post some pics then poser..
  • 1 2
 You need to read posts before responding... Maybe the Sasquatch women in your area have you frustrated
  • 1 2
 I have no doubt that you will go backwards with your pants down but I was talking about skiing... Which I have some bad ass pics to back up ... You?
  • 1 0
 ParkCityPlush- Even joining the 100ft. club doesn't justify claiming for yourself... That's actually really lame.
  • 1 2
 What's lame is all the damn posers on here ..out of all the comments you choose to bash mine because I wanted to call out some pric that said his skiing was light years ahead of everyone else...typical salt lake attitude... Go wait in the tram line for an hour
  • 1 0
 Well besides trash talking on a dead article, it's probably because you posted 3 times in a row on a topic everyone dropped weeks ago. Leave it be.
  • 1 3
 You just commented on a dead article and sorry I don't read every post every day...
  • 151 18
 Is it me or this article can be shortened to:

"My buddy has a fat bike and - I´m not sure if I like it"

So in the words of Dude: well that is just your opinion man. Please, next time do ride it for longer period of time and tell us how it feels, because you see, we don't get much other stuff here than 650B, XX1 and drama on Team-soap-operah - Next is the confessions of Rachel Atherton about Ben Reid, and Aaron Gwin - what he thinks of Lance Armstrong. Would be nice to get something fresh - trust me, anything: fat bike, wireless brakes, DH fixie. Get those contraptions out from interbike cellar because this gets really beige.

And Billy Connolly said it: wann know how beige you are? Go to the tattoo convention - these are the least beige people on the planet.
  • 72 11
 WAKI: Your comment also could be shortened.
" Is it me or this article can be shortened to:
"My buddy has a fat bike and - I´m not sure if I like it ? p.s. Please Pinkbike, give as more interesting, fresh news"
end of comment;] I have seen so many of your comments. Each of them is as least 10 lines long, plesae stop it Big Grin
  • 20 36
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 31, 2013 at 1:10) (Below Threshold)
 hm... you got a point there... but I wanted to add a bit of depth... and from your side - how did destroying a snow penis come on the list of "necessary things?"
  • 43 13
 Welcome to the WAKIdweeb show, where he spouts off on subjects he has zero actual knowledge and experience with.
  • 15 1
 Wow, what a ridiculously biased and unpleasant article. These really aren't just for snow, the world over people have proved they are useful and a lot of fun for various different things, but I don't think it's really worthwhile writing about that here. Bad journalism pinkbike, a little bit disappointed.
  • 17 7
 Waki,
Shakespear's 12th night can be shortened to "It's really a girl you fool, kiss her", but that would not be the point. I actually like this article not as a review of FAT bikes, but as a nice piece to read. Some of the language is very colorful and creative and I think that's nice to see on PB.
  • 29 0
 First time I've seen anyone reference Shakespeare on Pinkbike! Haha.
  • 10 25
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 31, 2013 at 5:04) (Below Threshold)
 @orientdave, not everyone is into Shakespeare hokus pokus - please provide me with such article containing lots of swearing in french, or at least in rough Scottish then I may like it!

Se whoul sing is´ a one beeg pees of merrde! Ounly a bastah´d like Loic could ride sis sing...
Look Jimmy - got´ym wee fat tyres from a Lassie from Aberdeen for a tenner, took a bevy, went to a lavy and I'm Rrready to gooou, jerkin away on the path to the clide. Apparently, a good wee track to test, rough as baggers arse!
  • 9 2
 Waki is spot on. I gained really nothing from that article except that this guy does not like fat bikes..... I don't mind thoughtful editorial... in fact I love thoughtful editorial... this was not in great taste imo. "Fat bikes are stupid ride a snowboard instead" .... ummm ok??
  • 9 2
 Waki, I am agreeing with you, you know. As "a review of Fat bikes" I agree, it tells me nothing and could be shortened to "I rode my mates' etc etc etc", however if you take a step back from that and see it as, well, if you read Dirt, one of Steve Jones' pieces (which infamously sometimes leave you feeling like you have read nothing with any structure or point but strangely leaves you with a nice feeling of having played with the English language), then, and only then, you may grow to like this piece about Fat bikes. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is similar: no real point, doesn't say much of any importance (unless you are planning to cross dress and fall in love with royalty), but still kind of nice to read with and go along with. More of this stuff please PB: young rippers pulling awesome whips are cool yes, but life is more colorful and varied than just that so more of this please, so that surfeiting the appetite may sicken and so die.
  • 7 12
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 31, 2013 at 5:39) (Below Threshold)
 I got what you mean straight away fromt he first comment Wink Yea I read Dirt sometimes... ekhem... often! very often ekhem! Wink Steve's stuff on Flow was a really nice thing to munch.

And the part is on negative side towards something so, with too little backing up argumentation - so. I went this way and my own short experience tells me: want to criticize something in an open article and make people appraciate you for it: you got to make them laugh or forget it. People must feel light in their chests after an "offtopic" endeavour.
  • 2 3
 Yeah, fair point. Well said. actually this piece made me go back to On-One's website and take another look at their new FAT, the Fatty. For about $1000US complete you get a great looking FAT bike with some nice geometry. I feel overbiked too many times and would love to get one (but can't really justify another bike!!!).
  • 2 1
 I'm not sure if fat tires are fun, but I do know that riding on snow is a blast! 2.1 tires, unspiked, on packed snowmobile trails is like riding miles of pumptrack bliss!
  • 2 0
 Haha, very true Barticus.
  • 2 0
 bbakus your comment should have been shortened to: "Brevity is the soul of wit"
  • 2 1
 This thread is funny. Waki has a comment with 106+ props to start it, then has 2 below threshold with a third on the way down...
  • 5 0
 I think the more he talks the more downvotes he gets.
  • 3 0
 Its articles like this that have me spending more and more of my time on vital and less and less on pink bike. This article was super dumb, the whole monster truck thing could be said about DH bikes just as easily. Pinkbike contributors and users alike need to stop judging and shooting down every new thing in our industry. Go ride your bike, which ever kind, what ever kind, and where ever you'd like and stop b*tching about what others are riding.
  • 1 0
 Thank god a Canadian calls this turd out
  • 43 1
 an abomination of the noblest invention? i do believe that bicycles fit the description "noblest" but saying fat tire bikes are an abomination is like saying bikes should be limited to what they already are, and with that kind of thinking we'd still be riding penny-farthings.
  • 43 2
 I want to ride penny farthings Frown
  • 7 0
 maybe i should have said we'd be riding penny farthings at whistler, but maybe you want to do that too Big Grin
  • 1 0
 i used to ride flat land on a pennyfarthing, cherrypickers look sick, but spare parts were a pain in the ass to source
  • 38 1
 If anybody has truly put some time on fat bike, they will not deny that these rigs are a blast, even on summer trails. It is an awesome way to shake up a normal ride. Different line choices, TONS of traction and a ton of squish. A bit impractical as an everyday rig? Yes. A ton of fun as an occasional novelty rig? Hell yes.
  • 25 5
 You do a better job of explaining the purpose and fun of fat tire bikes right there than the author did in his entire piece. Its good to see people experimenting with them but I'm waiting for the DH real monster bike version: 8" travel, slack angles, and 29" wheel up front. If Bender had that maybe he wouldn't have crashed so much.
  • 8 12
flag deeeight (Jan 31, 2013 at 2:22) (Below Threshold)
 The expression "those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." comes to mind or in this case, "write". I've owned a Salsa Mukluk for a year. While some ride their fat bikes in the summer months (they are equally at home in mud or sand) I myself do not. At $150 PER tire, they're not a bike you really want to ride on trails in the summer time, especially given the usual 50-ish durometer of the tires unless you're simply looking for an excuse to waste money. In the winter though, anything you can snowshoe with your typical trail series snowshoes, you can ride with a fat bike as the ground pressure works out about the same. As to riding on ice... some fatbike owners DO run studded tires for ice conditions, QBP's house brand of fat-bike accessories and parts, 45North, does offer a version of their tires with studs.
  • 4 0
 The perfection of fat bikes for places that have both snow and sand is immeasurable. There is a couple that ride up at Kodiak Island and they ride the beaches and snow trails, and only when the conditions are perfect do they use their normal bikes. Actually, if you lived near a beach, a fat bike would be really nice to have.
  • 4 0
 Funny I'd love to try a 27 front 26 rear or something to that extent!.. There is a reason Moto does it that way! Get your front end over the bumps and the rear still corners
  • 2 0
 Current fat bikes are all 26er tires but when you get to 4 inches wide, the effective diameter is 29" so some owners build a second 29er tire wheelset for summer riding and may go so far as do a fork swap for a suspension fork so they only need to get one special hub for the new wheelset. Surly however has a fat bike called the Krampus that has 700C x 3" wide tires, so its effectively a 31er.
  • 1 0
 Honestly, I haven't owned it for years, but I still fondly remember my Bighit. bike was just confidence inspiring, big front wheel to get over stuff, rear felt like it was directly under your feet. Sold it because parts were so hard to get, but nowadays, no biggie, 24" parts aren't a big deal to find.
  • 27 1
 Rubbish article. Why bother us with your opinion if you haven't even ridden one?

Other than the fact that fatbikes are just plain awesome I think they are a different way to tackle technical terrain with a similar result (speed and control). Writing them off as some useless contraption for bearded people is pretty dumb and only shows how short sighted the PB crowd is.

Remember Pinkbike slating 29ers a couple of years ago?
  • 11 11
 I think their worst ever article was "Did Aaron Gwin breach his contract with Trek?" PB sucker-punched Gwin with that one and I'll be surprised if Gwin ever does an interview with PB any time soon. You could tell he was pissed about it in his recent Vitalmtb interview, but at least he said he got a laugh off my Trek/Lance Armstrong conspiracy theory.
  • 6 5
 Protour - please continue providing another colour to this place as you are so creative. I tend to disagree with you, and believe a lot of what you say is way off, but well, recently I understood the meaning of "love your enemy" thanks to Alan Watts. More of you the better people we are.

Cheers!
  • 24 0
 Can't we just vote down an article ?
  • 4 0
 Yeah, is there a "least favorite" button?
  • 16 0
 I have no idea what motivated this article. I think they look awesome, as do several of my riding buddies, and if we had enough snow, there'd be one in the shed. Secondly, the article was mainly waffle; cynical waffle at that.

Abomination? How does putting bigger rims/tyres make it an abomination? Sorry. Poor, pointless article IMHO.
  • 7 0
 Yep i agree poor article 1/10 please try harder.
  • 1 4
 go read the Guardian and learn something fucking morons, there's a whole side to life you clearly can't even comprehend.
  • 14 0
 Dear Mitchell Scott
How can you write so much rubbish about a bike you have not ridden?

P.S

$3,000 nope: www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATX5/on_one_fatty
  • 10 0
 The link that you've posted informed me a lot better about this Fat-tyre bike category than this article. Thank you kindly
  • 15 0
 When did we stop riding bicycles for fun? Does tire size matter if the rider has fun in the snow?
  • 15 0
 "butt-ass"?
  • 16 2
 All I got from this article is that Mitchell Scott hates everything....
  • 1 9
flag shijinkamisai (Jan 31, 2013 at 14:35) (Below Threshold)
 And all i get from your comment is that you are ignorant
  • 2 1
 Really? Enlighten me genius...
  • 11 1
 If the world was going to end and I had to pick one bike out of my quiver to ride through the aftermath of the apocalypse, it'd be my fat bike.

It's too bad this author is so overly concerned with fashion and the status quo that he's not interested in giving some snow riding a try. When the snow conditions suck I get the fatbike out and shred XC ski trails & packed down snowshoe trails. It's a blast, seriously.

Hell, I drove to Alaska from Oregon a few years back and shredded the dry singletrack in Pemeberton on my fatbike. It wasn't any less fun than my suspension bikes, just different.
  • 16 3
 This dude must ride xc ALL the time and drive a prius.
  • 14 0
 Hey now... I respect guys who ride XC all the time and drive a Prius. I, however, do not respect this guy.
  • 1 1
 I personaly drive an old, solid Volvo and occasionaly when I pass a Prius, we open windows and hold hands, driving side by side, blocking the road for some wanker in BMW... respect
  • 1 0
 When you guys hold hands do you have limp wrists?
  • 1 1
 hmmm... not that I know of, but why gear levers in BMWs and right side straps on helmets with Monster Energy logo smell sweaty balls?
  • 9 0
 the next article on this should be a guest-written "counterpoint" from the guys at surly. it will be funny as hell, enlightening, and quite possibly informative. For the record, the 2013 Pug retails for 1900 dollars, complete. I think a lot of people get it with fat-bikes, but a lot of people are just throwing their money around. I mean, go ride a bike in the snow, ice, mud, sand, salt, etc. It will get the living crap beat out of it. I will agree with the author that 3000 dollar titanium fatbikes are stupid, but the idea of a simple tool designed to address a specific problem--that is 100% radness.
Props to PB for posting more than just the mainstream reviews and opinions, though... this was a great article to read.
  • 12 0
 If it works it works. Mountain biking doesn't need fashion police.
  • 7 0
 This is the same person that wrote the "Argument for Long Travel Bikes" which once again I looked forward to but ended up being filled with too much "brah" and no facts, unlike the Short Travel article...part of me wonders if he just writes outrageous articles just to drive traffic...it worked...damn it..haha
  • 2 0
 wow, what a coincidence. These two articles have been the worst I have ever seen on pinkbike. Front page editors, please take note.
  • 7 0
 Im jealous of my buddy with his fat bike, his super fun dirtbike, his awesome snowmobile, and damn do I feel left out when they go shooting clays/taffeta/beer bottles, and it really sucks having to beg him to do shuttle runs in his truck because my Prius can't haul a bike up a hill......what a retarded article.
  • 8 2
 Fck you complain a lot. Seems that whatever you like goes and whatever you don't like makes absolutely no sense right? Who died and made you king? Let people who like fat bikes ride fat bikes and people who like ski bikes ride ski bikes. Till then stfu
  • 10 0
 Some good pictures surrounded by worthless literature
  • 2 0
 I wouldn't call it "journalism" let alone literature.
  • 6 0
 "Those ridiculously obese, monster truck lookin’, mud bog, butt-ass ugly wheels. An abomination of the "noblest invention" I say."

I thought it looked like a bike with fat tyres but you've described it as a plate of vomit.

How about for the sake of fairness you write an article about your friends 29er calling it a ugly wagon wheeled monster truck and name the article "29er? Seriously?"

BTW I don't hate 29ers
  • 7 0
 Wow so many comments! I'll bet these are perfect for dry spells in the winter.

I think Mitch is just f#*kin with us. Lots of riders think wtf when they see these bikes and he's addressing that perspective.
  • 8 0
 "booths with bolt-on-boob, fake tanned chicks jumping around on atrocious inventions"

Time to get to Interbike!
  • 4 0
 Got a moonlander in my quiver and now i can seriously say i have no excuse to not ride... put some studded tires on this thing and its like a cat on carpet... 6" of pow and no $$ for a lift ticket and the avy conditions are deadly? i can still ride... i say anyone who is a cyclophile should at least try one, you'll buy it. pretty damned fun to ride in the summer too.
  • 4 0
 This article? Seriously?

I mean, this sounds like you want one but you can't have it! I don't like how they look a lot of 'new bike standards' but i'm not complaining all over the internet about it. It's great to give space to all opinions but in a clever way, not this, this is simple and plain hatred to (in this case) fat tyre bikes and doesn't take anyone to any place.
  • 6 0
 So XC is all about wearing tights ? Weak man, weak ...
What' stopping you from borrowing a fat bike from a friend AND THEN write this article ?
  • 4 0
 I was pretty sure the author would eventually get around to talking about how he finally tried a fat bike and had a blast, instead just sounds like an uninformed opinion piece. Reminds me of people who go on and on about how stupid 29ers are, but have never even tried one.

Hopefully the article was meant to be "tongue-in-cheek," but was a bit too long to come off that way by the end. Actual writing wasn't that bad.
  • 8 1
 The worst article I had ever red
  • 5 0
 TBH i expected the comments to be filled with praise and agreement for this terrible article - Pinkbike users I’m ashamed and i salute you..
  • 5 2
 This is the worst article I've ever read on here. All he did was write that he doesn't like fat bikes because they look strange. HELLO MORON, IT'S STILL A MOUNTAIN BIKE! This article is absolute garbage... I've never even seen a fat bike in person and yes of course they don't look like a typical mountain bike, that's the point. I'd still love to hop on one to at least give it a shot, even if it's not winter. In fact, everything you said about fat bikes is what people said about the first hippies flying down mountains on bikes in the 60's. Trying something different with the pure intention of having fun is the very spirit of this sport. If it were not for this way of thinking we'd all be doing something else or still stuck on road bikes.
  • 3 0
 After the second paragraph I stopped reading. Everyone likes diffrent things. Red necks probably think ur a idiot for driving some BMW with a road bike on top. (Not to dis road bikes I have one two). I think you should just shut the hell up and worry about yourself.
  • 4 1
 This is honestly the worst, most bias, and most uneducated opinion I have ever read here on Pinkbike. This Mitchel Scott guy sounds like an absolute tool with a twist of elitist attitude. He should go "hit the slopes" and leave the bike talk to the grown ups.
  • 4 1
 Well I seem to be in a minority but I kind of enjoyed the article. It's an opinion, and not one I necessarily agree with, but everyone is entitled to their own! Perhaps PB should put a little disclaimer on all their articles to stop the flaming!

Fat bikes look interesting to me. The argument that you save weight with suspension (the lack of it, but suspension is rreplaced by the squish of the massive tyres) but replace it with a large traction tyreskind of makes sense (cue rotating mass comments) bit I see them as similarbto 29ers - heavier wheels but traction is better. I'll reserve judgement on each until after I've rode them both!
  • 4 1
 What a douche... Keep that to yourself! Those "contraptions" were made by people trying to push the wheel forward, without them, bikes would not be what they are today. And yeah, we could start a discussion on how snowboarding brought the rocker camber to skis or how fat bikes look funny and all... But at the end of the day, we're all just enjoying winter in our own way!
Get out there and ride... Whatever you like riding and whenever you like riding!
Peace
  • 3 0
 This article, Seriously? what is the point of this to get a rise out of fat bike owners? How can you hate something you've never tried Mitchell Scott. Try one then write an article, Fat bike are simply soo much fun to ride, and i think you are having Fatty envy. You don't have to like averything that comes out, for example I don't see the point of 650b, but you know what i tried one before I decided i didn't like them. I live where there is six months of winter, and riding fat bikes all winter is the best, sure I like skiing and snowboarding, but not as much as I like riding. I have had enough time on a fat wheeler to know that they can be ridden in all kinds of snow even ice with studded tires, and that you can ride them downhill, cross country, all mountain whatever you want. Bing on the fat bike revolution
  • 3 0
 Why is this on the front page? How is “I think fat tire bikes look dumb... I have never really ridden one… If it snows I think I would sooner just go skiing…” constitute as content that visitors to this website would care to read?

Easily the most useless thing I have ever read from the front page of this website. The former “most useless” article from the front page of this website was the instruction manual on how to replace zip ties with wire twisties, but at least that article had some instructional substance to it.
  • 3 0
 This was a complete fail. Next time try to write something productive that explains the point behind the bike and why you would want one with Pro's and Con's. Better luck next time.
  • 4 2
 This is a pile of shit if I've ever read one. Has this guy ever heard of sand? On one of our local trails, the river right next to it floods the trail and deposits a few inches of the sandy stuff every single year on most of the trail. A fat bike is literally the only way through it. This article seems to be saying that fat bikes are like the pimped-up jeep that the muscly guy has but never actually uses off road, but in fact fat bikes are a way to get even further out there in uncharted territory. Wow. Worst article ever, Pinkbike.
  • 8 2
 Boooooo! Booooooooo! Hissss!! Booooo!
  • 2 0
 Having had a brief 10 minute demo on a Surly Pugsly, (thanks to Chainline Cycle) at a XC event in the summer, and a rip around the block on my buddies On One fatbike last xmas, I have to say, I WANT ONE!!
It is probly one of the coolest bikes I've ever ridden. The flotation, the monster truck size tires, and the buttery soft feel of 10psi so your not taking it in the spinal cord are in my book positive reasons to buy one.
But I'd at least want to put a small travel fork on it. But how would that affect handling? Would it make it too wallowy (if that's an accurate description) in corners??
Yeah, opinionated article for sure, this guys head must be in his ass. I'm sorry but you can't in todays bike world get stuck on one type of riding. There is just too much to offer.
  • 2 0
 Lack if real info bugs me so, here. I've had a flotation bike for 2 years and ride low Tides in Alaska and packed snowmachine trails. Fat tire bikes are otherwise super crappy on snow and ice because they have too much flotation and no studs. In fact, unless I'm riding beach or packed snowmachine trails I never use the beast in winter. Instead, a 29er with super spiker pro tires, dropper post and 140mm of forgiveness is far safer and will go anywhere on packed snow and ice roads. The "suspension" from the 5 inch tires is better perceived as spring with no rebound. The bike is not safe for trail riding because bumps amplify you into the air and tires spend less time on ground that a normal bike. Flotation bikes are the kind for beach and intertidal rides because there is no other rig that will get you along that surface as fast and easy. Downhill bikes used to be a niche market, remember? Fatties are here to stay and for people that live near large tidal fluctuation in snowy places it gives you a chance to ride all winter long at low tide when there are no trails. Maintenance is not as bad as you'd think and it worth it for the wilderness experience and novelty.
  • 4 1
 Yea that truly was a worthless article. I was hoping the author would change his mind and say that he had fun on the fat bike or least post a video but no, he just offered his opinion that no one asked about.
  • 6 4
 I actually quite liked the article, sure it wasn't informative or really even useful in the slightest but these kinds of poetic rants over completely unimportant things are always a laugh to read. And wen I'm done reading I forget all about the article but take a smile with me for the rest of my day.
  • 4 2
 This was an ENTERTAINING ARTICLE. That's the point. Also, everybody needs to remember this was written as an opinion and not fact.

While I completely disagree with 99% of what is in the article it was still pretty friggin' funny. At the end of the day it's not going to stop me from riding fat-bikes either(They are just way too much fun not to)!
  • 2 0
 This is an AWFUL article. Like others I kept reading waiting for the turning point where you actually RIDE the bike and see maybe its not all about the fancy technology and it's fun to be on two wheels no matter the circumstances. This article oozes ignorance. It's a shame I was really looking forward to an interesting off topic article.
  • 3 1
 The worst most uninformative article ever written on this website! And worst of it's bashing the sport of cycling and Pinkbike only exists because of cycling! By the way, downhill bikes used to suck ass too! I hope this is deleted asap
  • 2 0
 I have a surly moonlander i use it as my winter and all mountain rig, no oil, everything is mechanic, my suspension is my knobbies. I love to ride my downhill bike too. I don't discriminate anybody for their bikes or their geography. Go ride now!
  • 2 0
 if there were such a thing as a 'stirring contest', Mitch Scott would be a contenda! peeps are more interested in being brainwashed by advertising than in opening their minds, it seems. but for those of us who appreciate being prodded to think about something, guys like Mitch are worth their weight in gold.
  • 5 0
 Opinionated, poorly written garbage of an article. The writers political opinion is also clear, and seeps intolerance.
  • 4 1
 This article is so opinionated. ..why would this even be published??? No worthwhile facts or bike reviews...or even any real positive insight... weak article...this dude should go write in national enquire..
  • 6 4
 Surprised you still have a buddy with a snow bike, if I was your buddy I would of told you to f*** right off, and no you can't have a go on it just to get a feel.
I would be offended if I was your buddy and probably ignore your phone calls.

Oh yeah 'noblest' should spelt knobbliest I guess?
Seems you rushed writing this article.
Bad form jack.
  • 2 0
 "Maybe if I lived in Alaska, or Minnesota, where it’s cold and flat I’d get a fat bike. But why would I live someplace like that? "
Did you just insult everybody that doesn't live near a mountain? Some of us prefer to live near our favourite people rather than our favourite geography.
Spend a bit of time thinking about what you've written before publishing. It's part of good author hygiene, just like proof reading .
  • 1 0
 Wow, relax!!! It's an opinion piece! Not a review! Opinion pieces are often the most enjoyable reads, whether you agree with them or not! Evidenced by the number of posts, wouldn't you agree?
  • 1 0
 The author is capable of some interesting imagery. That doesn't mean it's a good idea to publish something that is so negative. For example, Cowan was putting a bunch of negative stuff in his editorial for Decline mag, that's probably why he didn't last there. I think Pinkbike shouldn't have posted this on the front page.
  • 2 0
 All this bitchin is lls bull , the bikes work awesome in the right kind of snow pack
We have three of them for anyone to try @ the Bike Co in Pemberton
check out our facebook site to see it for yourself
www.facebook.com/bikeco.ca?fref=ts
Fat bikes need love too !!
  • 3 1
 I am pretty sure that this was not written to be an informative article.
Honestly, that was pretty damn funny. I think if the writer left out the last section about the uselessness of the bike, it would have made a great satirical piece.

Made me laugh out loud in my college's computer lab. Not many things can make me do that.

"Those ridiculously obese, monster truck lookin’, mud bog, butt-ass ugly wheels."
"The bike looks about as spry as Jabba the Hutt after an eating binge."
" It’s called skiing, and it’s only about 100 years old. "

LOL
  • 2 0
 It says at the end, "Even if I’m pretty sure I’ll never participate in this particular niche," Pinkbike stop with this trash, fatbikes are a ton of fun. Either get people that have experienced it or dont write anything. This article is just a bunch of bull shit on what some guy sees with no experience to it.
  • 2 0
 Honestly, this is a poorly written article... Your opinion seems to be based on very little experience, from your article it seems you don't have much. Yes, you truly do seem like an asinine idiot who has little to no experience to draw from. It is narrow minded people like you who fall behind the curve of innovation in this industry. I suggest you do not write any more articles.
  • 2 0
 By the way, this is the same guy who wrote that article arguing for long-travel bikes. The one that was egotistical and dripping with testosterone and included the video of pro riders getting 50' of air. His main point seemed to be that because he goes, or some people go, big then shorter-travel bikes are inferior and limited. It was a reactionary diatribe, basically. It was written in the same grating, annoying vein that this article was written.
  • 2 0
 Mitchel Scot is my favourite writer of all times. I used to relish every word that was printed in Bike Mag. Im stoked that he is writing stuff for Pink Bike now! Thank you Pink Bike! As for Mitchels oppinion on Fat bikes. He is stating his own oppinion instead of trying to please the masses. Your writing style and humor entertain me to no end. Im looking forward to more articles written by this man.Judging by the amount of comments Mitchel is very good at stirring the shite. Mass respect!
  • 2 0
 I didn't read all previous 500 comments so someone may have already said this, but the entire sport of mountain biking exists because people wanted to ride bikes on trails instead of roads. To take bikes into new terrain ("to go where no man has gone before...). It could have easily been said "Hey, it's a trail - so I will leave my bike at home and just put on my hiking boots." Mountain biking grows and thrives because people take bikes places where they aren't necessarily intended to go. The bike designs evolve and we all benefit from that. If we stop doing this, we stagnate and nothing moves forward. No new bikes, no new gear, just same old. Pushing the limits of biking is what keeps it all alive - fat bikes included!
  • 3 0
 One of the sandman riders finished 189th in the mega, that was the fastest time anyone put in on a hardtail, they make fat bikes in case you hadn't guessed
  • 2 0
 I'm sure I saw a picture of one taking part in the Trans Provence too...
  • 2 0
 It was probably the same guy, they had a team doing a tour and competing in loads of enduro events
  • 3 0
 Ed Oxley was riding one as part of the "Timing Team" at the Trans-Provence. he put a lot of us, fully tricked out, full sus riders to shame
  • 4 0
 Although this guy was 189th he was only 18 minutes slower than the winner, considering he's only semi pro and on a hardtail it's insanely impressive
  • 2 0
 I can believe it Callum; a mate here has one and he is super fast on it: he can beat me (on an Uzzi) down a 3 minute DH track on his FAT, they really are more than a snow/sand bike.
  • 1 0
 Last summer i've seen a guy on a Sandman rip the trails in Livigno bikepark ... man he was faster than most of dh riders out there ...
  • 5 0
 I'm sorry, I just wasted 10mins of my life reading this.... :-(
  • 2 0
 i stopped after the second pic knowing that it would not get any better!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Um so did u ride it then? I have a fat bike here in Bermuda (Surly Moonlander) I also know we don't have snow but we do have lots of sand which transformed the riding. So much fun, . But what I have found is how fast the bike is off the sand and on the trails. We are mid way through the mtb race season here. I was going to use my enduro but every race I have been using the fatty. It just goes over everything, In fact I have not used the enduro since November (that's when the fatty arrived) if you get a chance to ride one do it. It will change everything u thought u know about mtb.
  • 1 0
 dude, we need an expose on the enduro scene in bermuda!
  • 1 0
 Check out the site
www.fattiremassive.com

Or you can search for the mtb videos on YouTube (m933swg in search will bring them all up) I also have a few posted on PB.

Though last weekend the site crashed and had to be rebuilt. So a lot of info photos video etc is still not online.

Yep maybe I should send something in. Smile
  • 4 1
 This "article" is worse than the Lance Armstrong posts and Brett Tippie commentating at world cups. Pinkbike is really starting to suck. Step up your game.
  • 1 1
 i love you cru jones ghost..........i really, really do.
  • 1 0
 I'd love one, but I can only afford 2 bicycles. Dammit!

The best part about these bikes is how they don't tramline badly crossing ruts in snow. So relaxing and easy to ride. Faster than my 29" MTB in the deep snow, of course.
  • 11 10
 Most of you are missing Mitch's point here. He loves mountain biking and skiing. Those sports are dialed with equipment these days. Fat bikes are a niche, and he's exposing the culture of it in Nelson, BC. He has also, been in the mountain culture biz for longer than most of you have been alive, so yeah the article come across as opinionated. Bam.
  • 5 3
 at least someone gets it
  • 4 6
 I bet all the article haters live where it's flat and winter sucks. I bet they've never skied 40cms of fresh at Whitewater or Red.

PB guys. More storytelling articles please. Some of us can actually tell the difference between a review / media release and an actual story.
  • 6 1
 I wrote a long winded response but it was too long so here is a short version... I was a die hard ski bum during the 90's and came across this attitude all the time(still do). I am a local I am awesome if I think it is gay it is. When shaped skis first came out we mocked them, same with snowboards,fat skis, twin tips, rockered skis. Anything different we said was gay. Man am I glad I grew up and matured.. I guarantee your skis are "shaped", over 100mm at the waist, have some sort of rocker or early rise and even if not a true twin tip they are somewhat rounded and raised in the tail. All these amazing innovations were initially met with all kinds of opposition. New ideas create new innovations. Now the whole debate over wheel size, width, long vs short travel, hardtail vs FS... It's getting exhausting. I used to think riding a SS in the mountains was stupid until the only bike I could afford was a nice SS rigid 29" and I loved it..hmmm.. I will never go back to 26" doesn't mean I think they are gay. Would I prefer a $5000 650b trail bike that weighs a mere 27# to my SS rigid? Yes probably.
If this guy has been in the "mountain culture" business for so long he should know better.. The predictable response that all the"haters" live somewhere flat or have never skied 40cm of fresh is juvenile. First off 40cm ain't shit and second I guarantee hundreds of PB users can out bike and/or out ski you. Hopefully someone from Nelson will chime in and dispel the notion that this guy is exposing the culture there.. And now that your precious Nelson is named best ski town get ready for the flood of " gapers " to invade and hopefully force to be exposed to diversity
  • 3 1
 Oh and before you assume I am a fat biker.. No I have never tried one, yes I think it a little"gay" but my common sense tells me that it would be fun every now and then..
  • 1 2
 I think this article did come off as opinionated but I kind of agree with the opinion expressed. I've never tried a fat bike but I think they look stupid. But that doesn't mean people should not ride them if they enjoy slogging through snow and freezing cold on a bike. If thats what you enjoy, by all means have fun, I have no problem with that.

I think the main point of what he was saying was that there are already established winter/snow sports options that are quite fun. There isn't a huge demand for a highly modified niche product like a fat bike to allow people to do a 'summer' sport in the winter. When I see a fat bike it makes me think of 'mountain boards' which are those ridiculous snowboard looking things with the skateboard trucks and off road wheels. That was the opposite, it was snowboarders trying to make a snow sport into a summer sport. While cool and enjoyed by some, it (not surprisingly) did take off because if someone wanted to ride down the mountains in the summer there was already a well established option, a mountain bike.
  • 3 1
 I know what he is trying to get at but we are not talking about snow bikes or mountain boards which will NEVER BE EVEN COMPORABLE TO SKIS/snowboards or a skateboard in the summer.. Just like slopestyle bike comps on snow or remember when x games had winter mx freestyle.. Those are useless adaptations. If you can't hit a kicker with your skis though go for it I am not going to knock you unless you look like an idiot.. If you do something sick I will give you props.. These bikes are made to be the bike alternative to Xc skiing which there is no huge advantage/disadvantage to either.. Skiing is my #1 sport but I would take a big wheel bike any day over Xc skis.. Especially on miles of groomed Nordic. These aren't meant to ride up or down a 45 degree slope..
  • 4 0
 Shit article...how did it get on the front page? I would rather have a fat bike than a 650b, just sayin.
  • 1 0
 Also used in the south as sand bikes. Take your regular mountain bike and ride in six inches of soft sand. Fishermen use them to bike up and down the beach pulling pier carts loaded with fishing gear. A friend did a tour of the Everglades on one, try that on a regular MTB. The volume of the tires allows the bike to float on its side. He did many alligator infested water crossings with his Pugsley, that takes balls! R.I.P. Mark
  • 1 0
 The author should really get on a fat bike. We took our 9:ZERO:7 demos to Interbike and Outerbike this past fall, and repeat riders were waiting in line to take them out on rocky singletrack. I'm not suggesting you replace your Wilson with a fat bike, but these things can rally...Year round. I particially agree with Laerz. I've spent a little time on a dual suspension fatty with an 8" fork, and it definitely has its applications. Its not necessary in the snow, so it just depends on the type of riding you want to do.

Kudos to the PB readers for an open mind. The On-One is a great example of an affordable ride, and most of our bikes are under $3K (Yes, if you want XO and a lot of carbon, it's going to be pricy).

BTW, Alaska is not exactly flat, and BC tends to get a lot of snow.
  • 3 0
 It seems a little bush league for pinkbike to post an article like this and possibly burn bridges with fatbike companies. What is this, amateur hour?
  • 1 0
 If i was you're buddy and you talked about either me or my bike like that, I'd simply kick you're ass and you'd be a buddy no more. Have you ever taken time to demo or ride a fatty before you make useless snide comments about something you clearly don't like or know it's purpose. I like them so do my buddy's, they're really taking off over here in the uk, a fat bike will be my next build snow or no snow....
  • 1 0
 Well that was a waste of time the guy spent the whole article trashing them then says hey wait a minute maybe they are alright and then to add insult to injury the punchline its a bloody advert with a link check out NRG enterprises.
  • 1 0
 Why the duck do you care this much about your friends bike. It's a damn bike. And not even yours. Your article is pointless. It's like 5 paragraphs about how your friends tires look bad. Have you heard the expression "tripping over mouse turds"? Well you take that toa new level
  • 2 0
 so pink bike can post an article ripping on these bike, which yes i agree are stupid, but they post a video about scooters and think its cool? loosing faith in pink bike. this article was stupid and so are scooters
  • 5 0
 Why do you care so much? Just don't buy one....
  • 2 0
 I met a guy in Moab who had a pugsley and he looked like he was having a blast tearing through the sand and then he let me pedal it around. I didn't want to stop the thing it was so fun
  • 2 0
 Too bad I can't add this author to my ignore list so I don't have to see such drivel again...hasn't even ridden one...bet this guy is useless in more areas of life than just writing articles.
  • 1 0
 I thought he was making his point by being cynical. Either way, you don't need a fat bike to ride in snow or sand, but the flotation sure makes it a heck of a lot easier. I've done it on my cyclocross bike, but cutting through the snow rather than floating over it can be limiting and exhausting. If I had the cash to throw at another bike, I'd probably have one by now.
  • 1 0
 Ski bike not taken off ? Spoken like someone who has never seen it in his town therefore it doesn't exist, it's alive and well over here with more and more taking it up every season.
Fatbikes ? Something you ride on trails,sand , snow mud, that's just as capable as full suss on certain types of trail ? What's not to like.
All through the 'article' I was thinking here comes the switch, he's going to actually try one and have good things to say but no. The guy remained a bigotted dick from beginning to end.
  • 1 0
 I can tell you all in no uncertain terms, these bikes have opened up a whole new avenue of possibilities, I live with six months of winter, forced on a trainer and studded tires on groomed trails , well not no more! There is no bad days , and summer is not the limiting factor ! These bikes scream adventure! Mega traction ! Incredible float on some of the Most shitty terrain imaginable .Yes they look wierd , but I can tell you all with no reservation , since I have built my fat bike the smile has not left my face! I have been cycling for 35 years , and the feeling harkenes back to the day the training wheels came off and I was free!! I love bikes! And this new concept had opened a whole other realm of cycling, all you haters and dissers out there , you can have a opinion , fair enough, but you best sit your ass on one and try it before you label it a Rediculous gimmick .
  • 1 0
 Hope you weren't paid for this?! Regardless, I can speak from experience that fatbikes are not just for snow, I don't know why this myth exists, it's ridiculous. MTB is all about traction, and you can't get more traction than a 4" tire! Try it sometime, imagine not having to scrub speed into a corner for traction!
  • 1 0
 Article good? Article bad? Who cares. Fat bikes are f*cking dumb. Only thing dumber is the way the fatbikers or "nutswingers" all come running to defend the useless contrivance when someone says "hey, thats f*cking weird" or "what the f*ck?" or whatever.

If you don't get it, your not cool... whatever douche. I'm not fringe enough to hang with your dumbf*ck fat bike...likely story. Swing on nutswinga! Swing on!
  • 2 1
 I ride in Japan in and around the Tokai/Nagoya area. Everyone who is into bikes here knows about My N. He used to live in Kentucky and when he came back to Japan was appalled at how few bike facilities there were here, so he got to work with landowners and now he runs two bike parks in the mountains around Nagoya. Every year there is a winter mini race series (mates race really) that has about 5 rounds, and he rides one of his two fat bikes a Pugsley and an On-One.
and he is FAST. I don't know where anyone gets the idea they are only for snow riding... Mr N rides his Pugsley at Enduro races and even on DH courses. He has an inverted Shiver on it for some extra bounce, not that he needs it because he is so smooth anyways.
When I have been able to take one out all I can say is that I think it would take me some time to get used to but once you are, like Mr N, you can rip with the rest of the 5 inch crowd and even more!
  • 2 1
 this guy doesnt sound very knowledgeable, he complains about buy a 3k fat bike when his dh bike starts at in the same area of cost and probly has equivalents amount of use. for some of us like myself. biking is a yearlong thing. facing the elements in the cold rain of november or the cold of february for me is what makes it real. biking is so much more then hauling speed and hitting jumps. for me cycling has always been the ability to travel and adventure to new places. sure the downhill and dirt jumps has its time, but when it comes to appreciating this the nice forest in canada i'll do whatever i can do to get there. even a fat bike.


Currently i dont own a fat bike cause i havnt bought one due to $$$ but its in the plans, i do ride a 2001 norco fluid around mind you. all winter long.
  • 3 0
 Whatever you ride surely the only thing that matters is having fun, everybody's different. Get off the internet, stop moaning and go outside.
  • 4 0
 Well that was 5 minutes of my life I won't be getting back... Damn, what a terrible article.
  • 1 0
 ALL the bitchin why not come and try one out we have three of them in pemberton @ the bike co !!!
and they do work in the right snow pack check out the bike facebook page here
www.facebook.com/bikeco.ca?fref=ts
Fat Bike need love too !!!!!
  • 1 0
 Nobody's hatin on snowbikes or fatbikes, except for the guy that wrote the article. It's about the asphole attitude of the article.
  • 1 0
 To each his own but personally, there is nothing that looks attractive about this fat-bike riding in the snow thing. I mean first off, you have to snow shoe to pack down the trails, and snowshoeing itself is another thing that looks like a miserable time (again just my opinion).

I think the point if the article was really just that these things are niche sports, not something thats going to take off. That there are already sports geared toward each season. Like he said, if you want to ride down a snow covered mountain, skiis and snowboards already have that covered. I think the opposite of this is something like a mountain board, which is basically a small snowboard with skateboard type trucks and big wheels thats used to ride down mountains in the summer. This was the same concept, snowboarders looking to do a winter/snow sport in the summer. Its cool and has a small following but most people just ride mountain bikes instead.
  • 1 0
 Two Belgian guys (Martine and Adrienne) rode fat bikes in the BC Bike Race. One of them finished top 20, other was in the 40s (that's bordering the pro-range). This is a singletrack-intensive, all-out 7 day XC enduro race, with world class athletes, and they hung in just fine. Oh- it wasn't snowing either. Martine and Adrienne happen to be world-class athletes in their own right, but they're certainly not westcoasters by any stretch and had no locals advantage. In the technical stuff, the killed it. In the slipper stuff and the rooty stuff, they killed it. I rode with them a few days (no sloch myself), and the bikes did just fine on the pedalling sections. I think the BCBR is as good of a test as any. I won't be running out to buy one, but they can certainly do more than just snow and DH. That being said, agree with most posters- the article made little to no point and provided no new information other than an opportunity for ranting.
  • 1 0
 wow... that article was pretty terrible. Having ridden a fatbike for the first time recently I came away pretty impressed. I was out for a ride with a friend who is rocking one (and not just for snow, full time) and I couldn't believe how plush the ride was considering it was fully rigid. We were in a mix of snow and rooty/rocky terrain and the fatbike just glides over it all, I was amazed how easy it was to ride. As for how it looks? Get over it fashion whore...
  • 6 1
 The only Downhill on Pinkbike just now is the quality of the articles....
  • 1 0
 FAT-BIKES are all the rage here in the CO Rocky Mountains. They really are fantastic on snow. After having knee surgery this past winter, Skiing & Boarding are out for this season, I am very interested in anything that can keep me active while I do physical therapy. Cycling is the #1 recommended therapy for most knee surgeries. While I am not getting rid of any of my other bikes, I am in the process of building a Fat-Bike with a 3-4 inch travel front fork. While it will be fun in the snow, the second the trails are clear I will be back on my 26 inch full suspension!
Downside to Fat-Bikes is the weight....and unless there is snow or you are riding on sand at the beach they just don't make much since to ride. But they DO fill a spot in the market and I am betting they are here to stay.
Ride on!
  • 1 0
 The thing is, fat bikes really only work in cold, dry snow. That's why people around here have to snowshoe the trail first - we have deep, wet snow anywhere that you could ride a bike. And our mountains are super steep - they are perfect for skiing and ridiculous for snow bikes. Canmore, for example, is a perfect snow bike spot - with its cold snow and lots of valley trails... The Kootenays? Not so much...
  • 1 0
 I disagree completely. While when the snow is fresh I'll agree that only a fool would bike rather than ski ( if lucky enough to have the option ) but when it's cold and old here in Rossland we've got tons of trails that the snowshoers have set up perfect for us.
  • 4 0
 What a piece of garbage of a post.

This kid should give up on his barely budding "career" of journalism.
  • 1 0
 Mitchell, what does your current quiver of mountain bikes look like? I'm sure like most of the readers here it includes more than just a Trail or DH bike. Is having a mountain bike for each type of discipline excessive?

Unlike many of us you are fortunate to live in a full on wonderland having access to every type of ski and bike terrain right out your door. So yeah, I could understand not understanding the fat bike niche. But what of the winter time when you live someplace with poor snow coverage, no access to backcountry or nordic ski areas what then? Wait for the snow to melt OR get out and ride while there is riding to be had?
  • 1 0
 Add another one to the list of recent fails.
1st that terrible story about the dirt jumpers that went to Iceland and only hit a few jumps.
2nd any wright up by RC.
3rd that stupid video few days ago with the orange cones (so bad).
PB you need to bring up the quality of the journalism you publish. Instead of publishing this rubbish story why not do a wright up about Fat Bikes and the tech or do a shoot out. Something productive.

Now for positive reinforcement, here is a list of great publishing you have done lately.
1 st that great story about the group that went to Iceland and rode the back country.
2 nd your coverage of the Gwin move to the BIG S.
3 rd I really enjoyed your Nova Tec inside story.
  • 1 0
 I love to winter bike, in fact I dont think there is a better way to hone your drifting / mud condition skills. check out this clip, I'm the guy in blue vimeo.com/58331730 ........... and thats with a 26 x2.3 tire setup (mind you I have DIY tubeless ice tires). Now after watching that imagin you were riding one of thes 26x4.0 beauties. I have ridden one and all I can say is GIGADEE, BOOM, goes the dynamite. I do agree that 3k is much but he, how much is my M9 that I ca only ride when thee lifts are open? nuf said
  • 2 1
 Even if this was just basically an opinion piece the author should have tried riding a fat bike before posting this. That way he would have actual basis for his opinions and the readers would actually learn something from his first-hand experience. He could say "hey, I went out and tried a fat bike and I loved it/hated it because . . ." Then the readers could chime in with their opinions and those who own/have ridden fat bikes can share their experiences as well and contribute to the subject. Pinkbike is probably the largest MTB site in the world and poorly-written articles like this are a great disservice to the site and to its readers.
  • 2 1
 I think everybody who thought this article was shit is missing the sarcastic slant on this rant. It was meant to point out that even though first impressions can't be avoided, that there just might be something to it. Re-read the last paragraph. Guess you'll have to be a little less subtle next time Mitch.
  • 4 1
 just a wee bit of advice here holmes squeeze............. if ya have to explain a sarcastic slant...........it ain't really working. if ya have to explain a 'joke' to 98 percent of the population.........it probably ain't that funny. common sense really.
  • 1 0
 Well said, Kootenay. I think most readers here are semi-illiterate
  • 1 0
 Stacykohut... Did you read the last sentence of my comment? If yes, what's the point of yours?
  • 1 0
 I guess I took what a few others above did from the story.

Why?

I mean you basically started without a point, and ended without a point, and told two ends of a burning match and walked away leaving me wondering what one benefits from reading or writing such a piece?

If you like fat bikes ride fat bikes, if you don't like them don't, and if you think fat bikes are for snow riding purely or lack understanding of how versatile and awesome they are, don't bother trying to tell people what they are, you have no idea and clearly don't want to learn.
  • 4 0
 That was 5 minutes of my life I
ll never get back....
Why is this ridiculous rant in the news feed?
  • 1 0
 ok I just don't get why this article is such a draw for the negative comments. Anyway I have to admit that I've thought of getting one myself to ride during the winter when the trails just aren't accessable to my normal bike. I'd be the one to show up and ride the resorts after dark with a headlampSmile I love night riding.
  • 1 0
 The thing I love about FAT BIKES the most is the impression people get when they see one for the first time. 'That must be a pig to ride!' 'That must be for DH, right?' 'Can I put those tires on my bike?' 'I don't get it.'. 'Holy shit!'... ETC. Then once they ride it, then they get it. And note that they are awesome trail bikes on the summer. SOOOO much control. Apparently the fastest growing segment of the cycling market.
  • 1 0
 Seriously what a dumbass! Thank you for wasting 5 minutes of my life! Have you ever tried a fat bike? No! So shut the F up! Sheesh, if there's snow on the mountain there are many ways to enjoy it we don't all have to f..ing ski! I snowboard (yeah deal with it), snowshoe, hike and will try out a snowscoot and I don't have a fatbike but would love to try one! Please pinkbike don't allow the idiots to post crap!
Over and out!
  • 1 0
 Why was this bozo allowed to publish this waste of words? Is there ANY purpose to allowing the baffled, especially the ignorantly baffled, to spout off about subjects they have NO experience with? Let's wait til he's ridden a fattie, on snow, on riverbeds, on beaches, with a bikepacking trip under his belt, and with some time to figure out HOW to actually ride a fat bike....THEN we would at the very least be likely to respect his EDUCATED opinion a little bit...otherwise, you set up both the writer and the reader...this is on PINKBIKE as much as this writer....stupid, just plain stupid!
  • 3 0
 hey its how i have my Balfa BB7 set up...
www.pinkbike.com/photo/5796893
  • 1 0
 That thing is so freakin' cool!
  • 1 0
 agreed nice ride
  • 3 0
 What was the point of this article??? Stupid. Ride one first, then see what you think. They're not just for snow!!
  • 4 0
 wait...was there a point?
  • 5 0
 this was the worst article I've read on pinkbike. Don't know how the hell it got featured
  • 2 0
 I thought for sure it was written by this guy:
www.pinkbike.com/news/A-Day-With-Nick-video-2013.html
  • 3 0
 @Waki...I'm Scottish and find that offensive.
@everyoneelse...agreed, pretty weak and pointless article.
  • 4 0
 Looking forward to part 2 of this story... "Now That I've Tried One..."
  • 4 0
 I like how he never even rode it
  • 1 0
 The most enjoyable part of this article are the comments! I think the editors should add a new thread to 'photo' and 'video of the day' with 'Comment of the Day!' I'm sure it would be highly amusing..
  • 1 0
 I love riding spring crust in the cutblocks where you can choose any line you want... no trails needed. Got to get a fat bike to make it even more fun...
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7802056
  • 1 0
 ..but you guys should just stay home and argue about whether it's stupid or not.
  • 2 0
 no one cares about your uninformed opinion Mitchell Scott. Why don't you try riding one instead of complaining about something you don't understand.
  • 1 0
 Is Mitchell a junior high kid or just a colossal douche bag? Had you even ridden a fat bike at the time you wrote this pile of shit you are passing off as an article? You are a hack.
  • 4 0
 Did he just call Alaska flat?
  • 1 0
 Unwittingly, yes.
  • 1 0
 Well that was pointless. Was hoping for you to actually ride one and give a review of your opinion. We've sold a few and one of the guys at the shop is a Surly rep... the Krampus and Moonlander are both SWEET!
  • 3 0
 From a different article by the same author:
"Bigger equals better. Plain and simple. "

Hypocrite ...
  • 2 0
 I like how this the author writes about an "arrogant vien" this story I found to be very arrogant. What a f*cking pile of garbage, this story pissed me off.
  • 1 0
 now he's gonna post a story that's like, psyche! seriously though, look at how many people are thinking about fat bikes all of a sudden, defending their use. Pot stirrer indeed. And we saw a bb7 with gazzis to boot.
  • 1 0
 Hatin' on the Pugs....they are pretty fun to mess with...but I don't know about the extra loot just for a snow ride....I have studs, legs and lungs.....and snowshoes ! They are a hoot though.....
  • 2 0
 "Snow day for bikes" in verbier/la tzoumaz in Switzerland check it out no need of big tires
  • 4 0
 Well that was stupid.
  • 2 0
 The author absolutely, totally has to be trolling all of us. I can see no other explanation.
  • 3 0
 I thought so, too, but then I realized this was the same guy, who wrote the longer-travel bikes apology article, which showed how arrogant and egotistical he was.
  • 1 0
 I quickly glanced at the author`s name and thought it was Michael Scott which explained a lot. Disappointed to realize after it wasn't him lol
  • 1 0
 Mitchell, ride what you want and have fun. My page has a video of my manager riding his Fat Bike in Downieville and he had a blast.
  • 3 0
 Ouch. That was a shit article.....Next!
  • 2 0
 Alaska, cold but certainly not flat. Unless you live in Bethel, and then a fatbike is the least of your worries. J
  • 2 1
 Haha! That was freaking hilarious! And for everyone who harshed on the article? Lighten up for chrissakes - I think you missed the point.
  • 1 0
 yeah...sure we did...sorry we didn't wait for you to enlighten us...jeezus...did you ever consider that YOU missed the point? Get over yourself!
  • 2 0
 This is just trolling of the worst kind. With 320+ comments obviously the troll worked but this 'article' is worthless.
  • 2 0
 Im using mtbr.com a lot more these days, far more informative and dont hold bias opinions
  • 2 0
 They are pretty darn good for riding on sand too. And elsewhere for that matter. Oodles of traction.
  • 1 0
 We have desert races here and they are very popular for those.
  • 1 0
 im kinda curious about them. i dont know if i would buy one coz i like to ride on the snow with my normal maxxis tires with no spikes Big Grin
  • 1 0
 I love a well-built fat tyre bike! I enjoyed mine in Colorado... Not useful enough here in WV, but boy was it a hoot on the beach in FL!
  • 6 3
 i just wasted a portion of my day over this rubbish article.
  • 3 0
 Fat bikes need lovin' too ya know.
  • 3 0
 Where's the MTB article I came here to read ?? Garbage !
  • 2 0
 full moon fever??? sounds like nothing but a bitch and moan article.....rag man....
  • 2 0
 You guys should look at Ski Bikes then like NorthLegion. Those things are SICK.
  • 1 0
 How did this make the front page? He's probably just mad because his bikes worht less and he cant afford the sweet stuff others have.
  • 3 0
 Lame article. Mtb doesn't need this garbage dogma.
  • 3 1
 Why pedal a bike when there are machines called motorcycles that are pretty "dialed".
Ignorance is bliss.
  • 2 0
 Another article written by the idiot that thinks women have Y chromosomes...
  • 2 1
 Mitch, hilarious as always... Wow what a giant shit storm that stirred up. So many serious people in such a fun world of biking. Somewhat ironic even.
  • 1 0
 I learn't everything good article a 50$ frame some 100$ wheel and tire are sold for over 2500$ this is ridicules even more people that buy them.
  • 1 0
 Whoever wrote this is probably a rode biker and was wearing his spandex while writing this shitty article. Fat bikes rule you flamer
  • 3 1
 that snowcat looks like a blast
  • 2 1
 It's funny the only reason people go on this article is to read the comments. I couldn't careless about some tyres hahaha Smile
  • 3 2
 If this is what pinkbike thinks is worth publishing, then this truly is a terrible website.
  • 3 0
 Shorts too tight.
  • 2 3
 "When there’s snow, go snowboarding. When there’s no snow, ride the bike"

Is that common sense on Pinkbike ?!!!
I swear i could actually like the guy if he wouldnt ride a Kona.
  • 2 0
 Anything can be cool if its done right... even fat bikes...
  • 2 0
 PinkBike's article quality is going downhill.
  • 2 1
 People are so sensitive, it's actually pretty funny. Chill out and take the joke!
  • 1 0
 I have an idea. Ride your bike! And don't be a hater on others that are doing the same...
  • 2 0
 turd sucker........put your literary genius to work reviewing douches
  • 1 1
 Anyone else find it funny how many of you got bent out of shape by this... Lighten the F*&K up people, maybe winter has put sticks up all your asses
  • 1 1
 Minnesota and Alaska are flat? Whatever you do, DO NOT drive around either of these states, you may be greatly disappointed.
  • 1 0
 winter is long. riding bikes is fun. fat bikes make fun happen. proof:

www.pinkbike.com/video/302080
  • 1 0
 Switch to a 24inch wheel and you may be able to squeeze some 3inch Razorback tyres on your regular 26 rig.
  • 1 0
 Would you have a link to those tires? Definitely curious...
  • 1 0
 durotires.com/products/bicycle/dh/razorback.php
Rode them on an ebike called a stealth bomber.
www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/bomber.html My seat stays are too close for such a wide tyre but, I reckon they'd fit some burlier bikes in a 24 inch size and the actual outer diameter would be similar enough to avoid geometry issues.
  • 1 0
 Thanks a ton for that link. Those are definitely not light tires, though...
  • 4 3
 Pink bike is scraping the bottom of the barrel w this article written by a retard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just ride an shut up!
  • 2 1
 wow that was boring and no vid ,and 3 k is alot for this, i saw a few up close
  • 1 0
 I expect more from Mitchell Scott. I have friends who ride their fat bike all year around here and they love it!
  • 2 0
 Whatever floats your boat man.
  • 2 1
 Is this a new wheel size? I need to get on board, so i'm selling my 26, 29 and 650b bikes to buy one of these bad boys.
  • 2 1
 On-One fat bikes now shipping for $1,449:

shop.titusti.com/product-p/cboofatx5.htm
  • 2 0
 Opinions often differ. Bikes rule. Choose one and then go ride.
  • 2 0
 thats one bad ass snowplow
  • 2 1
 Great article, very amusing and well written. I guess some people took this a little too srsly...
  • 2 0
 Fat bikes....put them on diet...more water less soda
  • 1 0
 I prefer this story:
www.ericlarsenexplore.com/expedition/cyclesouth
Sometimes it makes sense to choose a fatbike
  • 3 1
 Boo this man!
  • 2 2
 They're not just for snow Mitch, you really know nothing about fatbikes. Im extremely disappointed with PB for this garbage.
  • 1 0
 Those look so fun.. But id want to have suspension.. not solid forks
  • 1 1
 I ride in the snow with regular old mountain kings on my regular old Specialized aluminum bike. Works just fine.
  • 1 1
 Read this post to learn about the bike, not here some guys' negative opinion on the thing.
  • 3 2
 This article is offensive.
  • 1 1
 I think its pretty cool. I broke my elbow riding my stinky in the snow so yeah I can see the point of these lol
  • 2 0
 dem tyres
  • 3 2
 I prefer sand over snow myself
  • 2 3
 I can imagine sand makes it a pain in the ass to clean and keep it running smoothly?
  • 3 1
 Think nice warm beach instead of freezing in the snow.....
  • 1 1
 Actually, it's easier to deal with snow than with sand if you ask me. Dirty snow, on the other hand, is the absolute worst.
  • 2 0
 Targets. Damn phone
  • 1 4
 I understand the desire to ride in winter. However, and I know I'm going to get lit up for this, I worry about the impact impatient bikers will have on trails during freeze/thaw cycles. When a trail is hovering between a hard freeze and thawing it is at its most delicate. Fat bikes allow riders to access trails that would normally be left untouched during these periods. While I have no qualms about using fat bikes on hard pack or during the hard freeze portions of the year, it raises grave concerns about trails during their vulnerable periods.

However, I suppose the same argument could be made for "mud tires" and I realize the larger tires distribute the weight more evenly over the trail so perhaps my concern is unfounded.
  • 1 0
 very small amount of impact...less than a hiker or regular sized tire bike... just did a study last week. we had a chinook that blew through and took most of our snow with it... my 5" wide tires left less of a mark than the hiker and his dog before me... of course this was a clay based, decomposed granite (almost sandy) section that wasn't covered in ice...
  • 2 0
 You shouldn't get lit up for this, because it is good thinking to stay off the trails for a couple weeks while they thaw out. I ride almost year round here in interior BC, but there are a few weeks I stay off the local trails in spring because they are soft and will rut badly. For the sake of a couple sloppy, greasy slow rides, the trails get hammered for the rest of the season. I'm a big fan of all year riding, and I also think the author of this article needs to pull his head out of his extra tight ass - but using some common sense so the trails don't get hammered is just the smart thing to do.
  • 2 0
 Any type of trail use is going to erode and damage trail to one extent or another. You make a very valid point that fat bikes could give riders access to thawing trails(most delicate when thawing) and could potentially cause some serious damage to said trails.

Part of trail user-ship is being an active member of your trail crews(Showing up and volunteering on trail days). It's also about educating people on proper trail use.

For instance "Why should I stay off the trails while they are thawing?" A: Because the trail thaws in layers. While the top layers become all slimy the bottom layers remain frozen. When you ride over these top layers that are thawing you are effectively separating the top layers from the bottom layers frozen layers and after that it doesn't take much at all(light rain or somebody sneezing on them) to erode and remove the now loose top layers away.

There are a lot of cool articles on PB and other similar websites but I think it would be really cool to see some articles along these lines to educate the new up and coming riders and also the old ones who may not know or may not give a frig.
  • 1 0
 The whole debate over trail erosion is so overblown...when taken in the context of larger ecosystem, eroded trails really only affect the riders or hikers...nature is NOT going to hell in a hand basket because of what we do on bikes in general...that said, there are clearly very delicate places, mostly desert or high altitude terrain that should NEVER be ridden or walked on because they are not only fragile but rare and take many many years, decades or more, to rebuild themselves. But at lower elevations, we're really talking about aesthetics and use quality. If a trail is getting worn out, most riders and hikers will happily rebuild or start new variations...so let's stop making such a big deal about erosion. If the top layer of thawing ground should not be tampered with, then THAT PLACE SHOULD NEVER BE RIDDEN ON!!! Ok...I feel better now...feel free to piss on me as I lay back on my hammock and watch the avalanche of reaction!! Happy trails everyone!!!
  • 3 6
 Spot on Mitchell . fat bikes ski bikes and all the 96rs and other mutants out there detract from the sport and the point of it RIDING id rather get hiv then waste my time riding something so inefficient and stupid looking if u like snow buy studs like everybody else who actually rides bikes not freakshows
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 I think writing articles complaining about this stuff detracts more, myself. Creativity drives innovation, and if it isn't for you don't ride it.
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 LOL sensitive people. Good wind-up.
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 *laugh out load, get it right
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 I'm with you Mitchell, I've ridden one of these things and they're pretty not worth the effort or money!
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 At least you rode one! That makes you entitled to this comment!
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 This reminds me of this story I have; well, once upon a time....
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 Fat Bikes look fun!
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 I wanna try one now, lol.
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 I.... i mean, my friend....has a fat bike.
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 That's the most stupidest articel i ever saw on pinkbike .. or should i say: Hello, autrian guy her, thaz not good articel her on ze pinkbike? ..
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 Can I put my Super Monster on a snow bike?
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 i don't think you would have the clearance on the sides or the top... a 26" fat wheeel is essentially a 29er... some of the tires are pushing 5" wide...
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 No mate, I'm talking about the snow bike, those thing with skies Razz
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 AHHH.. sorry, my bad...That would be very interesting... wonder how it would handle in powder? might be a big air application only...
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 Reading all these comments gave me a fat boner!
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 good for you..... no realy well done
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 I was trying to say something slightly offensive and/or edgy, in an effort to evoke the sense of humour of my fellow pinkbike connoisseurs. In no way was it to be taken seriously.
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 tweaker.
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 magnum tires
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 Big wheels on a bike. ITS A DISASTER
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 Nice sno-cat
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 Pass the coolwHip !
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 these bikes look so silly i cant take them seriously
  • 2 1
 I hope your romantic possibilities were not so ignorantly predetermined by those who never even talked to you...I can assure you that those of us who ride and thoroughly enjoy our fat bikes care nothing about what you or anyone thinks about what our bikes look like...Its a pity that it takes such superficial issues to keep you from trying a fantastically fun thing...hope you don't make a habit out of such an attitude....you'd be a drag to hang with if so...
  • 2 1
 wow buddy, you're pretty hurt. Getting so rustled over a harmless comment i made over a year ago? i mean you even typed a whole paragraph haha I'm sorry you took my comment so personally, obviously it was directed towards you.
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 not my fault you're you missed the humor of my note because you're so glib...guess you don't want folks to take you seriously...But I guess it's important to give you the benefit of the doubt and remember you're clearly another whiner who hasn't even ridden a fat bike yet...no wonder having someone write a "whole paragraph" in response would surprise you...I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you go on a first date! I'll bet you're quite a laugh!
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