Fat bike

[Weasel]

We've had a little bit of snow here, so had a little ride on fatty.
Wish we had more snow

[Gareth]

Where about are you Weasel?  Looks like you've got a good bit of snow right now.

[Weasel]

I'm in South Yorkshire ,yeah had a little bit only a few inches.
It's still snowing but not enough

[NKlamerus]

Looks fun! Can you notice a weight difference?

[Higgins617]

Awesome! I've heard On-One makes some great frames.

[Weasel]

Yeah they make some good bikes ,
I'm no expert on bikes though I got the fatty as it looked
Cool and to get me back into cycling again

[sir_mike]

So how do they really work in the snow?  Is there really a need for one? 

I actually thought about one just a week or two ago when me and the misses were shopping and I seen one so I showed her it!  I told her we should get some for the winter and exercise but she doesnt like the cold so she said she can wait til spring and ride then.  I said we can ride year round as we already have a nice set of cruiser bikes!

Here I see alot of folks just biking with regular size tires in the winter as most areas are plowed or shoveled.

Just curious if they really make a difference in winter riding!

[AimlessWanderer]

I'm in South Yorkshire ,yeah had a little bit only a few inches.
It's still snowing but not enough

Another one!  That's at least four members

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've not got a fat bike, but do cycle everyday in all conditions, and apart from the rare occasions when you do need to ride in deep snow I'd say your better of with a regular bicycle as there easier to ride on an everyday basis IMO

[JAfromMn]

Nice Bike .

I ride my fatty to work half the time

[Weasel]

I've not got a fat bike, but do cycle everyday in all conditions, and apart from the rare occasions when you do need to ride in deep snow I'd say your better of with a regular bicycle as there easier to ride on an everyday basis IMO

Practicality never entered my mind when I got it
Fat bike looked cool to me and it got me back into cycling
.Im not at all a serious cyclist I only use it for getting to work and back
And general riding for fun.

[tosh]

I'm hoping to buy a new bike this year for comuting to work and general getting about.
My choices couldn't be further apart.
I like the fat bike - ( On-One actually ) but also hanker after Hybrid Racers cyclo-cross (Boardman Team CX)

Both around the same price, both appeal. But I keep hearing fat bikes are very hard work to pedal. I went out a few weeks ago straight from work and covered just under 20miles. Would the fatbike make 20miles seem hard work?

Mainly paths, bridleways.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've not got a fat bike, but do cycle everyday in all conditions, and apart from the rare occasions when you do need to ride in deep snow I'd say your better of with a regular bicycle as there easier to ride on an everyday basis IMO

Practicality never entered my mind when I got it
Fat bike looked cool to me and it got me back into cycling
.Im not at all a serious cyclist I only use it for getting to work and back
And general riding for fun.

Sorry mate I never meant my comments to come across like a dig

They are definitely very cool bicycles, but here in deepest, darkest Kent we have nothing but steep bloody hills, so narrow-ish tyres and high pressures are the way to go if you don't want a heart attack on the way to work

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm hoping to buy a new bike this year for comuting to work and general getting about.
My choices couldn't be further apart.
I like the fat bike - ( On-One actually ) but also hanker after Hybrid Racers cyclo-cross (Boardman Team CX)

Both around the same price, both appeal. But I keep hearing fat bikes are very hard work to pedal. I went out a few weeks ago straight from work and covered just under 20miles. Would the fatbike make 20miles seem hard work?

Mainly paths, bridleways.

Some tyres like Schwalbe big apples seem to strike a good balance between comfort and lower rolling resistance. Personally I thing anything less than 70psi is going to eat a lot of your energy, and I expect the big contact patch and low pressure on fat bikes will make it harder going.

[Weasel]

Don't be daft pal,
I never thought you were having a dig, my main reason for getting the bike  was traveling to work mainly off road on a very muddy footpath. And I can't think of a more fun way of getting there than on my bike.
You are right though they do take more peddling

[Weasel]

I'm hoping to buy a new bike this year for comuting to work and general getting about.
My choices couldn't be further apart.
I like the fat bike - ( On-One actually ) but also hanker after Hybrid Racers cyclo-cross (Boardman Team CX)

Both around the same price, both appeal. But I keep hearing fat bikes are very hard work to pedal. I went out a few weeks ago straight from work and covered just under 20miles. Would the fatbike make 20miles seem hard work?

Mainly paths, bridleways.

. There definitely a bit harder to peddle, but im not a serious cyclist and wouldn't
Ride 20 miles on any bike, don't think I'm fit enough

[AimlessWanderer]

I'm hoping to buy a new bike this year for comuting to work and general getting about.
My choices couldn't be further apart.
I like the fat bike - ( On-One actually ) but also hanker after Hybrid Racers cyclo-cross (Boardman Team CX)

Both around the same price, both appeal. But I keep hearing fat bikes are very hard work to pedal. I went out a few weeks ago straight from work and covered just under 20miles. Would the fatbike make 20miles seem hard work?

Mainly paths, bridleways.

Some tyres like Schwalbe big apples seem to strike a good balance between comfort and lower rolling resistance. Personally I thing anything less than 70psi is going to eat a lot of your energy, and I expect the big contact patch and low pressure on fat bikes will make it harder going.

  ... my tyres are rated 40-65psi 

They are 650Bs too, which I believe makes coasting easier, but hill work harder ... is that right? All I know is there are lots of killer hills round here, and I have no qualms about getting off and pushing  Not that I've been out much lately anyway.  I'll save my winter/low traction cycling for when I've got a bit some more proficiency back 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

As a rule of thumb the bigger wheel the easier they roll. Smaller wheels do climb well though, my Brompton sails up hills in quite a high gear compared to my other bicycle

[AimlessWanderer]

There are a couple of hills round here that I can't get up even in lowest gear, but obviously I've not got my fitness back yet so I can't blame the bike for anything at the moment

[tosh]

Hills....pah

I pride myself on the fact I haven't got off and pushed up a hill since I was 18-20.
I realised back then, if you get off, you'll always get off. So now I just climb......take my time and peddle.
Don't worry I have stopped halfway up - just to regain my breathing, but then get back on a peddle.

Worst ever time for me was years back going up a steep hill, I could feel my knee joints creaking, the gradient was so damn steep the back wheel was spinning as I was trying to lean forward to push the peddles down and the worst bit was I just couldn't get oxygen into my lungs, my mouth was wide open but the air just didn't seem to be inflating my lungs. Never done that hill again  have to say though I'm not one for gearing, I hate it when my legs are going 10 to the dozen and it's crawling along - no, I'd rather just grab the bars and haul myself up the damn hill.  but I have to say it's getting harder as I get older - that hurts more than anything....... Knowing that it used to be easier!!

In a sad sort of way I find hills better, they tax the body and demand effort - isn't that what cycling is all about??

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Might not be your fault as (don't know what bike you have) most hybrids have tall road bike gearing. :/

[AimlessWanderer]

Hiking, no problem.

When I had a bike in my teens, no problem.

Now though, it's like my legs cease even if I'm not out of breath. I'm guessing the last 20 years of smoking means I'm not getting oxygen to my legs fast enough. My legs will cease to function and when I get off (about three seconds before I simply topple off) they're like lead weights, but after a few minutes walking and pushing the bike, the life comes back into them and I'm ready to get back in the saddle and go again. I'm not getting completely out of breath though, and not suffering any real muscular aches the following day either - my legs just stop working! It's not a lack of fuel or hydration, so I can only put it down to oxygen getting through the system

I don't think the lowest gear on my bike is all that low either to be honest. You see some people peddling like mad and crawling along, but my bike doesn't seem to gear down that far - that may be partially to do with the wheel size though. When the weather (and evening light) recovers, I need to put in some towpath work I think. Something fairly level where I can go a good 15-20 mins without stopping and just get the body to realise what it needs to start adjusting to. I've got to be very careful of not straining the tendons in my right knee too (old injury)

[AimlessWanderer]

Might not be your fault as (don't know what bike you have) most hybrids have tall road bike gearing. :/

I'm not sure what that means Mike ... 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Might not be your fault as (don't know what bike you have) most hybrids have tall road bike gearing. :/

I'm not sure what that means Mike ... 

Hybrids either use mountain bike gearing or road bike/racer gearing. Mountain bike gearing is pretty sensible on the road as it'll get you up pretty much any hill. Road bike gearing is very tall and is purely a training/torture device

[AimlessWanderer]

Ahh gotcha. Well the bike spec is all foreign to me  but I've copied the bike spec from the net if it helps ...


    Bottom Bracket:
    Cassette:
    Chain:
    Chainset: SUNTOUR, CW-XCE-T318PB, 48/38/28T, W/ALLOY BLACK 175mm CRANK
    Colour:
    Frame: 7005 Alloy
    Frame Colour: Blue
    Front Hub:
    Front Mech: SHIMANO, FD-M191
    Gear Shifters: Shimano shifters
    Grips:
    Handlebars: Steel black
    Headset: 1-/18" Semi-integrated, steel black
    Hubs: Alloy Black Hubs
    Pedals: Wellgo Alloy black - 9/16"
    Quick Release Front Wheel:
    Quick Release Rear Wheel:
    Rear Hub:
    Rear Mech: SHIMANO, RD-TX55D
    Rims: Carrera Alloy Double Wall Rim
    Saddle: VELO, VL-3035D2
    Seatpost:
    Stem:
    Traditional Mudguard Mounts:
    Type: Hybrid Bikes
    Tyre Size:
    Tyres: KENDA, K-841A

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yeah that's road bike gearing mate. It works out at about 33 gear inches for first (at a guess) which makes first gear pretty high already! A mountain bike would start about 25inch which would feel walking on air in comparison mate

Its quite an easy fix to get either a new cassette for the rear or a different chain ring

Have a chat with your local bike shop I'm sure they can sort out what you need pretty quickly

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks Mike  Nice to know it's not just me being totally pathetic 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No its the bicycle mate

I've had similar woes with my bicycles as since my back went I need low gears, and not many bicycle come with them as standard, which is bloody stupid given how hilly our little island is

[AimlessWanderer]

Top stuff. I know someone who works at a local bike store, so I'll try to get hold of him this weekend.

Thanks again mate 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No worries, let us know how it goes