N + 1 (fat)

 

Most of you know the formula. How many bicycles does one person need? Answer: N + 1 (with N being the number of bicycles you currently own). There are a number of new fat bikes in Rexburg this winter. You may be seeing mine first since I have the blog but if anyone else wants to post a picture of his new bike or comment on it, I would be happy to put up a post.

     Fat bikes are perhaps the hottest segment of the bicycle market right now. Sticks and Stones is a dealer for three lines of fat bikes Surly, Trek, and Borealis. The other local shops all carry fat bikes as well, but the biggest news is that Brian has his first generation of Kelson fat bikes in production right now. It goes without saying that these bikes will set a very high standard and we are looking forward to showcasing them on the blog in the near future.

     I have been shopping for a fat bike with Joe for a while as well as doing a fair amount of reading on fat bikes. Having been a fat bike owner for a matter of hours, I am not an expert on the subject, but I have learned a few things in the process of shopping for the new bike. Fat bikes are having their moment right now, and the range of fat bikes on the market has grown exponentially. Many feature the new Rock Shox Bluto fork and a handful are even available as full suspension models. The development and evolution of fat bikes has been closely linked to snow racing events like the Iditabike, but in recent years, fat bikes have proven to be viable contenders in muddy conditions as well in races like the Ruta de los Conquistadores. At the same time, I think that some of the most enthusiastic proponents of fat bikes are probably overreaching a little. As an example, I saw a couple of guys on fat bikes at Rebecca’s Private Idaho. The rougher sections and the downhills may have been pretty fun, but I can only imagine that the long climbs were hell on a fat bike.

     Fat bike wheels come in three popular widths; 60 mm, 80 mm, and 100 mm. Tires come in three popular sizes; 3.4 in, 3.8 in, and 4.5 inch. Surly has three basic fat bike model lines; the Pugsley, the Ice Cream Truck, and the Moonlander with a few variations of each. I felt like the best fit for me was a Pugsley model, the Pug Ops which features a rigid fork, 80 mm wheels with 3.8 inch tires, and hydraulic disc brakes. Because the Surly is a steel frame, we took some extra precautions in the set up. Charles treated the inside of the tubes with Frame Saver, and Brian stopped in help with some facing of the frame and precision fitting of the various components.

     I cannot comment on any extended use of the bike, but I can give some first impressions. Surly is the pioneer in the mass marketing of fat bikes and their bikes have a very traditional, almost industrial look, typically with fairly drab paint colors. It would not be a stretch to say they are kind of ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of the traditional narrow steel tubing with the big tires, but it may take some time for the grey color to grow on me. This is a bike that lacks the elegance of a Borealis or the bling of a Trek, but has its own distinctive look.

     I was able to ride it around a little this afternoon. It is a very big bike and it rides like you imagine a monster truck would drive. Year-around commuters know that traditional mountain bikes can be pretty sketchy on ice and snow, even with studded tires. On my little test ride with the new Surly, it plowed through any combination of snow and ice on the streets with absolute indifference. It was crazy fun to ride except when I was going uphill. The same qualities that make a fat bike such a beast in bad conditions conspire to make it a ponderous climber.

     I am grateful to Joe, Charles, Brian, and Mitch, all of whom had a hand in getting the bike set up and assembled. I am looking forward to getting in some quality riding time in a broader range of conditions.