New Fat Bike help.

[Higgins617]

I love the older rides too. I really want to build up one of the older aluminum cannondales with the smoothed welds.

My bike now is the newest mountain bike I've owned, and it's an 05:D

[JAfromMn]

I had to google "fat bike" just to know what you guys were talking about.  I think I lost my cool factor about 20 years ago.

Being my cool self has nothing to do with the fat bike.

I need it to get around this winter.

I live close to work and i used to walk there but biking is so much faster. 

My wife has our minivan during the day. ok i admit it.  I drive a minivan.

 maybe I'm not as cool as I think I am lol

Nah I still am

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

I've bought two bikes from bikesdirect and had a good expierence.  First was a 09' 29er Cliff Pro and second was a 12' Motobecane Super Strada road bike. Both frames were very good quality and the bikes arrived quickly and easy to put together. I was suprise that they took minimal tuning to get shifting smoothly. I've since sold the 29er for a Salsa Spearfish.

[JAfromMn]

I've bought two bikes from bikesdirect and had a good expierence.  First was a 09' 29er Cliff Pro and second was a 12' Motobecane Super Strada road bike. Both frames were very good quality and the bikes arrived quickly and easy to put together. I was suprise that they took minimal tuning to get shifting smoothly. I've since sold the 29er for a Salsa Spearfish.

Thanks for posting GEARHEAD_ENG

That's good to know.

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

I've bought two bikes from bikesdirect and had a good expierence.  First was a 09' 29er Cliff Pro and second was a 12' Motobecane Super Strada road bike. Both frames were very good quality and the bikes arrived quickly and easy to put together. I was suprise that they took minimal tuning to get shifting smoothly. I've since sold the 29er for a Salsa Spearfish.

Thanks for posting GEARHEAD_ENG

That's good to know.

Sure no problem. I took the Motobecane on a 580 mile, one week tour last year. No problem whatsoever!  Only upgrades were the saddle, set of Renolds wheels, and Conti GP4000 tires
 
I would post your fatty question over on MTBR forums for some more opinions.

[Higgins617]

Careful though, MTBR is one of the more hostile of internet forums lol. Try not to have too many feelings over there.

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Careful though, MTBR is one of the more hostile of internet forums lol. Try not to have too many feelings over there.

True, may not want to mention bikesdirect over there.  At least back in 09' they were quite snobby over these budget online bikes. "How dare you not support your LBS and spend double on a Trek".

[JAfromMn]

Careful though, MTBR is one of the more hostile of internet forums lol. Try not to have too many feelings over there.

I won't be joining mtbr forum


I got way to much going on here and edcs.

Edcs is not the friendly forum this is but I got friends there.

[Higgins617]

Yeah, basically if you don't already know everything, or act like you do, then they'll belittle you and bust your balls. I was on there for quite a few years when I was learning about the sport. Needless to say, I didn't post much.

[JAfromMn]

Yeah, basically if you don't already know everything, or act like you do, then they'll belittle you and bust your balls. I was on there for quite a few years when I was learning about the sport. Needless to say, I didn't post much.

Yeah from what I've read il just stay a lurker

[dks]

lets all go there and do what Hank Hill would have done...

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Yeah, basically if you don't already know everything, or act like you do, then they'll belittle you and bust your balls. I was on there for quite a few years when I was learning about the sport. Needless to say, I didn't post much.

Yeah from what I've read il just stay a lurker

Yeah, avoid MTBR... they're a bunch of elitist ass-hats. I've been riding and working on bikes (for several years as a professional bicycle mechanic) for 30 years, and while I'm not up on all the latest high end tech, I know my basics, particularly about mechanical issues. Less than 10 posts there and I simply quit. Nothing but hater after hater calling me all sort of names ("idiot", "wanna-be", and "dumb-ass" were the most common) for simply stating my experience and offering suggestions to others based on my literally decades of cycling and bike mechanic experience.

That said, JA, if you order a bike online, you should budget a good $200 for a professional build by a local bike shop. First, the price tends to be higher at an LBS to build an out-of-their-store purchase (think of it as a corkage fee for bringing your own bottle of wine to a restaurant). Second, bicycles are deceptively difficult to work on; I've literally seen master automotive mechanics come into shops I've worked at, nearly in tears because they couldn't figure out how to fix something that seemed "so simple" to them. Mechanically, a bicycle is a fundamentally different kind of machine than a car, or even a motorcycle. They are so simple they are actually very subtle; a small maladjustment in one system will throw another out of kilter. For example, if your wheels aren't true enough, your brakes will rub (rim brakes that is), and no amount of brake adjustment will properly solve the problem; you have to true the wheel to fix the problem. In short, if you don't have a lot of experience assembling bicycles, don't try it yourself. Take it to a shop and have a professional mechanic build it for you.

[Lichtbote]

I have to disagree - in my opinion most parts of a bike are quite easily build/fixed.

As a kid/teen i never was interested in the condition of my bikes, if something broke they layed around until my dad fixed them. After getting my drivers license i never used a bike for years (motorbikes yes, but nothing where i am the engine), until i had the idea i need a bike - but not a bought bike, one made from a pure frame and parts. A challenge if i can get it done.

Most stuff is pretty outdated today, but was not that bad those days (24 gear, no suspension, mostly XT components, Gripshift clear SRT-800, flite titanium, Ride-on goretex lines - standard cantilever brakes, as i wasn´t sure if the new aired Magura brakes will stay on the market). I was able to build it completely on my own, without anytime ever before having fixed a bike (but i was/am a trained mechanic, so i know what side of a wrench is what size). Only thing i had made by a shop was spoking up the wheels, i delivered my WCW hubs to the shop and had them spoke the hubs into a nice sturdy set of Mavic rims. Oh, and i had the bearing mounted in the brand new frame, as i didn´t had the tool get the sides/flanges done.

I rode it 1-2 years, since years it´s stored in the basement. 

It can be done - at least i would give it a try, if he gets stuck it´s soon enough to bring the parts to the shop.

[JAfromMn]

Yeah, basically if you don't already know everything, or act like you do, then they'll belittle you and bust your balls. I was on there for quite a few years when I was learning about the sport. Needless to say, I didn't post much.

Yeah from what I've read il just stay a lurker

Yeah, avoid MTBR... they're a bunch of elitist ass-hats. I've been riding and working on bikes (for several years as a professional bicycle mechanic) for 30 years, and while I'm not up on all the latest high end tech, I know my basics, particularly about mechanical issues. Less than 10 posts there and I simply quit. Nothing but hater after hater calling me all sort of names ("idiot", "wanna-be", and "dumb-ass" were the most common) for simply stating my experience and offering suggestions to others based on my literally decades of cycling and bike mechanic experience.

That said, JA, if you order a bike online, you should budget a good $200 for a professional build by a local bike shop. First, the price tends to be higher at an LBS to build an out-of-their-store purchase (think of it as a corkage fee for bringing your own bottle of wine to a restaurant). Second, bicycles are deceptively difficult to work on; I've literally seen master automotive mechanics come into shops I've worked at, nearly in tears because they couldn't figure out how to fix something that seemed "so simple" to them. Mechanically, a bicycle is a fundamentally different kind of machine than a car, or even a motorcycle. They are so simple they are actually very subtle; a small maladjustment in one system will throw another out of kilter. For example, if your wheels aren't true enough, your brakes will rub (rim brakes that is), and no amount of brake adjustment will properly solve the problem; you have to true the wheel to fix the problem. In short, if you don't have a lot of experience assembling bicycles, don't try it yourself. Take it to a shop and have a professional mechanic build it for you.

I want to.   

But after trying to get my pos Mountain bike to shift right I believe you. I should have a pro put my bike together. 

I know I could put it together and make it work but how good I can't be sure.

I should have someone put it together that can fine tune it and operating perfect. 

Now to read the next post of Lichtbote who thinks I can put it together . I like him already

[JAfromMn]

I have to disagree - in my opinion most parts of a bike are quite easily build/fixed.

As a kid/teen i never was interested in the condition of my bikes, if something broke they layed around until my dad fixed them. After getting my drivers license i never used a bike for years (motorbikes yes, but nothing where i am the engine), until i had the idea i need a bike - but not a bought bike, one made from a pure frame and parts. A challenge if i can get it done.

Most stuff is pretty outdated today, but was not that bad those days (24 gear, no suspension, mostly XT components, Gripshift clear SRT-800, flite titanium, Ride-on goretex lines - standard cantilever brakes, as i wasn´t sure if the new aired Magura brakes will stay on the market). I was able to build it completely on my own, without anytime ever before having fixed a bike (but i was/am a trained mechanic, so i know what side of a wrench is what size). Only thing i had made by a shop was spoking up the wheels, i delivered my WCW hubs to the shop and had them spoke the hubs into a nice sturdy set of Mavic rims. Oh, and i had the bearing mounted in see the brand new frame, as i didn´t had the tool get the sides/flanges done.

I rode it 1-2 years, since years it´s stored in the basement. 

It can be done - at least i would give it a try, if he gets stuck it´s soon enough to bring the parts to the shop.

I'm not a mechanic but I do work on all sorts of equipment when I need to and I sort of know what I'm doing.   

Also like you say if get stuck and I can't get it put together I can bring it in to someone who can.

I wish there was a local bike shop but the closest one to me is at least a hour drive from here.

Huh

I Guess There's only one way to find out

I think I will just wait until it gets here until I decided if I can put it together or not. If I get stuck il have to find some help.
 

[Lichtbote]

I would suggest you try to get as far as you can, then maybe further with some online help. And the things you clearly don´t want to do, for whatever reasons, you find someone who can do it. The more you can do on your own, the better.

It´s always good to know your stuff, esspecially when your next bike-shop is that far away. If you know how it works, you will be able to fix it in case of a damage, when something breaks.  If you ride outdoor in the woods, it may be that a simple fix can bring you home ON the wheels, not with the wheels on your back - but you have to know how it works. 

[JAfromMn]

I would suggest you try to get as far as you can, then maybe further with some online help. And the things you clearly don´t want to do, for whatever reasons, you find someone who can do it. The more you can do on your own, the better.

It´s always good to know your stuff, esspecially when your next bike-shop is that far away. If you know how it works, you will be able to fix it in case of a damage, when something breaks.  If you ride outdoor in the woods, it may be that a simple fix can bring you home ON the wheels, not with the wheels on your back - but you have to know how it works. 

That's what I'm thinking too Lichtbote

[Higgins617]

I would suggest you try to get as far as you can, then maybe further with some online help. And the things you clearly don´t want to do, for whatever reasons, you find someone who can do it. The more you can do on your own, the better.

It´s always good to know your stuff, esspecially when your next bike-shop is that far away. If you know how it works, you will be able to fix it in case of a damage, when something breaks.  If you ride outdoor in the woods, it may be that a simple fix can bring you home ON the wheels, not with the wheels on your back - but you have to know how it works. 

That's what I'm thinking too Lichtbote

Just fly you and your bike out here and I'll show you! That shouldn't be too expensive right?

[JAfromMn]

Unfortunately I am going to have to buy the bike I can afford and not the one I really want.

We got snow and my mountain bike sucks in it so I'm ordering the gravity bullseye monster http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/fat-bikes/fat-bikes-deadeye-monster.htm

It's a single speed but it should work out ok for getting me back and forth between work.

I'll keep saving and get a Minnesota from framed next winter hopefully.

[JAfromMn]

Bullseye Monster in orange on the way.