Why I'm Selling My Fat Bike │ My First (and Only) Year of Fat Bike Ownership
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- 0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Why I Love Fat Bikes!
1:59 - Why Am I Selling My Fat Bike?
4:23 - My Biggest Complaint About Fat Bikes
So I've owned my Surly Wednesday Fat Bike for a little over a year, and now, I've decided to sell it. I loved owning a fatbike. They're super versatile and super fun, but it wasn't quite for me. I didn't use it in the snow as much as I thought I would, and I was disappointed in how inefficient it was. The fatty was also a victim of its own success. It got me out riding mountain bike trails regularly, but now, I want something better suited for the trail. My biggest complaint, however, is the big Q-factor (stance) of the bike. While I may like riding a fat bike, my knees don't.
I'm glad I owned the fatty for the past year. And I'm still a fan of fat bikes, but I think owning a fat bike isn't quite for me... at least not right now.
Whatever you choose to ride, enjoy your ride!
Follow me: / the_lanky_cyclist
#fatbike - Sport
Sorry to hear it didn’t work out, but the Q factor is the one thing that you really can’t work around. Otherwise I would just tell you to go the full carbon route for more of that performance efficiency! Even though I ride fat bikes most of the time, I definitely get the appreciation for hopping on my XC 29er though.
I think a beargrease would have been a better fit. If I had unlimited space and funds, I’d keep it. Thanks for your confirmation on my qfactor thoughts. Didn’t seem like much you could do.
@@TheLankyCyclist ironically I am working on a full review video of the Wed right now, and gave your lightweight build vid a shout out😂
@@ElevationEveryWeekend oh man, I appreciate that! Part of the reason I bought it was to use as a trail bike, and arguably, it was too good at its job... got me MTBing regularly and pushed me into full MTB mode. Definitely an excellent trail bike! Look forward to your review!
You can work around the Q factor on some fatbikes ... I myself was unable to ride my 2015 pugsley any distance without awful knee pain but , after much trial and error and component swopping I got the Q factor down from 210mm to 184 , so only about 10mm more than on my usual rigid mtb's . This has made all the difference and I now get zero problems . My modification was the least expensive but a couple of other guys have done similar (but at great expense and involving cutting the bottom bracket shell and using pricey cranks etc ) Mine required no cutting and unless I had persevered and experimented I would have been unable to ride Fatbikes without buying a special frame like Waltworks? and another company ,have produced. I can also run 4.8 rear on marge lites with no tyre/chain rub or frame chafing . Limited to a single ring up front though . Bill in the UK
I'm definitely more of a 'kid exploring' type rider. Not usually in a rush so my fatbike is perfect for me. We're not all the same. You have to do what's best for you. Good luck.
I get it. I loved the slower pace to an extent. I’m so damn competitive tho. Haha. I need to get on a fatbike from time to time, definitely healthy to slow down and enjoy.
@@TheLankyCyclist Who are you competing with? Why do so many cyclists always act like they're in a race? Why not slow down, explore and enjoy like you did when you were a kid? Anyway that's why I love fat bikes -- they make me feel like a kid again.
@@black_eagle I do both. Sometimes I race bikes. Sometimes I just explore. Lots of different ways to enjoy cycling.
I git down from 305 to 285 the past 2 years riding my fattie.excellent workout bikes for me
They are a good workout for sure.
Makes sense. Most reasons are similar to why I have never taken the leap even when people tell me I should. I feel like on the occasional ride where it would shine it would still be only 20% of that ride that I need it for. I'd rather struggle through a bit of under-biking. I think you'll find snow tires on the XC get you through the rideable winter conditions. Though I think you'll find you feel pretty worked on any kind of snow ride regardless of the bike weight/dimensions....
That’s what cross-country skis are for ⛷
Or snowmobile screw it go all out lol I’m kidding but that’s fun too.
This is why I have multiple bikes - so I can ride outside whenever possible. I'll ride the trainer if I absolutely have to, during thunderstorms/hard rain, very high winds, or when the snow is too deep/crusted over, etc. But cold, rain, normal snow, slush, whatever - I want to ride outside. So I have Hundreds of dollars in gear/clothing for any weather condition, and different bikes for whatever comes along. I currently own a road bike, gravel bikes(plural), city bike, recumbent trike(for icy conditions so I don't crash), and I'm currently shopping for a fat bike(or maybe a fat tire trike) to ride in normal snowy conditions.
Good video, thanks a lot! I am a fat biker, and almost bought a fatbike, but ended up with a Orbea Laufey with 2,8 inch wide spiked tyres. This bike doesnt like deep snow or snow with wheat flour feeling, but it is great on all kinds of icy surfaces. The Laufey is close to a do it all winterbike, and it has been out every week this winter. 2,8 spiked tyres are heavy for commuting, but I like it. I dont need high speed, and the big cogs does help me up the climbs. Fatbike or MTB? I think it depends on where I live, and how the winter , roads and trails are outside my own apartment. Large mountainbike works for me. And I also like to have spiked winterboots and flat pedals when riding, which enables me to set the foot down on ice without falling.
Thanks for sharing. MTBs are so versatile.
Great structure of the video, really enjoyed hearing your thoughts!
Thanks!
Q factor is such a personal thing. I switched to flats to get a wider Q and my knees haven’t bothered me since. I was riding as narrow a Q factor as possible for years.
Great job on this video. Under 10 minutes but packed with info. I have had similar reservations about buying one and I think ill rent first before buying if i do.
thanks. trying before buying always a good idea.
I have a salsa pony rustler 2017 and a Kona process 111 . This past winter built up a custom salsa mukluk fully rigid carbon hoops 27.5 4.5 tires and this my favorite bike to date. Don’t give up on fat bikes just yet.
Mukluk is a great bike. I probably should have gone carbon.
I would like to see more 2.8-3.2 inch fatbikes, it seems like a lot of the market skips straight up to 4-inch which is fun but unecessary for a lot of people, it doesn't feel like a bike anymore. I see a lot of 20x3 inch e-bikes, but I'd like to see some actual 26x3 inch and 27.5x3 inch bikes, to give that extra comfort factor without adding quite so much weight, bulk, and rolling resistance, and without looking like it's not a bike anymore.
Plus sized MTBs were all the rage several years ago. Good point.
Yeah Q-factor is the hardest thing to deal with but in terms of efficiency I've made my bike way better by doing two things: running a big tire on a skinny rim and departing from the typical drivetrain setup. For the wheels I have a set of 26x5 Terrene Johnny 5 studded tires mounted tubeless on Surly Rabbit Hole 50mm rims. It sounds crazy but because of the more rounded profile the bike is much faster, lively and nimble. Like you I like to ride the trails and my previous, more common setup with 26x4.8 on 80mil's felt sluggish. I can still drop pressure and float and being studded I have less road noise plus I can really dial in contact with air pressure.
On to drivetrain I switched from the common 1x11 with a 11-42t cassette and 32t front ring to a 1x10 11-36t cassette and 26t front ring. There are so many benefits to this but the main one is those nice tight ratios. I am a cadence freak and again riding to and from the trails or any distance riding I would always find my self either spinning or grinding. The thing is (and this goes for mtbs in a lot of cases) you don't need a lot of top end. I was rarely if ever in my last few gears. Now not only do I use the entire cassette but I still have plenty of low end grunt (I think it's the same low ratio I had before). On top of that I have even lower front ring options, smoother shifting, less weight and more ground clearance up front. Oh and those close ratios matter in the trails too!
My bike (built it myself) is also carbon with a carbon Lauf sus fork and I run aero bars...yep you read that right, aero bars! Once again riding to and from trails or being in a wide open sitch means your getting the beat down unless you can duck the wind (add that to the misery of an already inefficient bike). And while my bike at about 30lbs isn't crazy light it's efficiency makes up for the weight.
I'll ride with a group and note the differences as other riders are working much harder than I am, but everyone seems to just run same shit. The people on the really light bikes do better but they pay much dinero for them (I have about $1200 in to my current setup).
It's funny how this played out because I got a set of 29er wheelset and put 3.0 Knards on them. Given the ability to run those in the summer and my current setup in the winter if I had to choose one bike and allowed two wheelsets it would be my fat. If I had to chose one bike and one wheelset it would be the fat with the plus wheels. Anyways thanks for the vid and if you want to see my crazy bike along with my other crazy bikes you can check them out @racerx8410712 on IG! Sorry about the Q factor, we'd love to have you back! Take care!
You’ve really thought this through. I can appreciate that. Not going carbon was a huge mistake. There’s a fatbike CZcamsr I follow who just went with aero bars… makes sense. Will check out your IG for sure.
@@TheLankyCyclist Thank you for your time!
"Not going carbon was a huge mistake."
Carbon is a game changer as is shedding weight on a fat bike. But you really hit the nail on the head for me when you used the term "efficient." For my builds that is what I consider the most and for me not only is that is arguably the most important aspect of most any bike but an aspect either not getting much consideration by the industry or they are just plain missing something.
On the subject of carbon in the fat bike world it's spendy. Really spendy! I took the "Charbon" route with a Chinese, open mold, generic frameset ($560 shipped) about three years ago and it was absolutely the right thing to do as it's been a solid performer. I also took a chance on the Lauf as it was a used, damaged ebay special. I bought it for $150 shipped, repaired it for $20 and despite my abuse it's been rock solid. It's too bad the Lauf is so spendy because it is the perfect fork for this kind of application. It's light, requires no maintenance and allows you to maintain better steering via higher tire pressure.
"You’ve really thought this through."
Ha! That's for sure! I am 45 and have been trying to build the ultimate bike for about 22 years. The quest started out around 2000, unconsciously, with a mid eighties Raleigh touring bike I put knobbies and flat bars on. I say unconsciously because I don't recall my reasoning for converting it. Furthermore I cut up the og drops and with plumbers strap made them into make shift (see suicide) aero bars! I dubbed it "The Goat" and can denote bikes I've built along the way that support it's evolution. One of the best being based on a 2013 Giant XTC XC frame...I would give that name to my fat but given the apprehension surrounding Chinese carbon, my brave/foolish nature and my love for South American culture I dubbed it, "El Diablo," adding the joke that I sold my soul for Charbon. Being an artist I have also taken to decorating it by hand with a Day of the Dead theme. On top of that and almost everything else I so love bikes...
And the aeros? Yeah there not just for time trials! They are to flat bars like red wine is too steak!
Getting back to the point, and apart from other quests (builds) I've been after not a "one does all bike" which is a misnomer, and maybe not even a "one does most" bike, which is a better pursuit, but more of a kind of "if you had to live with one bike what would it be," type of constraint. And as of now it's the fat!
@@racerx8410712 I'm still confused. What was the bottom bracket size of your bike, 100-120mm? I get that you changed the rims and cassette but how did you got around that?
@@elpretender1357 I'm not sure what you mean in terms of "getting around the bottom bracket" as it didn't interfere with anything. As or the width I'm not sure off hand what it is but I think it's 120mm.
Good insight on the fatty. I have one on order, Rocky Mtn Blizzard AL 10. It's heavy at 34 lbs. I'm thinking leisure work-out bike, like 4-6 miles of out-the- back-door xc trail with some tech climbing. I ride a aggressive hardtail at 29x 2.5, 7-9 miles at the bike park typically. 10 minute drive each way. I'm hoping there wouldn't be much overlap with the 26x4.6 fatty which I'll ride from the house.
Short leisure ride… should be perfect. Enjoy the new bike!
It’s perfect out here in the winter in the Rockies. Tends to be cold and crisp with over night lows of -20 and over. This makes for hard packed trail that you can rip on a studded fat bike. You guys out east get such a mixed bag of weather making it so sloppy for fat bike terrain. Studded tires are the way to go…
@@user-gj8mn4ce8d Im an mtb rider new to fat biking. Here in the VA burbs, fat biking is a dirt sport pretty much 4 seasons. However, I go out to WV often where a fat bike shop called Traillabs just opened. Wintery conditions are common, so im hoping to try it! Meanwhile ive got 200 miles in 10 weeks on the new fatty in both states. There are a ton of trails around my house and huge oak trees everywhere in the wooded burbs. The fat bike eats it up for a quick weekday ride. Agree though, gotta figure out how to stud the Cake Eaters before the short winter.
I never road a regular mtb 8n my life also like you I didn't use it much in the winter but that's bcs use it was freezing out.and when we got a snowfall it was like 2feet too deep
I had and sold a Mongoose Vinson about 4 years ago. I missed it so much I bought another one. I'll never be without a fatbike again.
Been a few moments of fat bike regret, but I’ve gotten by thus far.
I just got the mongoose hitch and I have a nicer fat tire ebike as well.
I’m so used to riding the heavy bike that the steel framed mongoose feels light to me now.
What if you'd of bought an E fat bike? Would that have possibly solved some of those winter power issues or complicated them in your opinion?
Wouldn’t change the qfactor issue. And also wouldn’t be allowed on many of my local MTB trails.
True
Looks like you at are the CVNP. XC hardtail is a good choice for OH. I bought a cheap rigid fat bike to ride in winter. Many CAMBA trails are fat bike only in sloppy and wintry conditions. Going with a tubeless setup really made the bike more lively. I ride Stumpjumper FSR 29er, the rest of the year. Prolly ride the fat bike for about 2 months per year, but it is worth owning for me. Wouldn't want it as my only bike.
Agree XC hardtail is the way to go in NE Ohio. Actually picked up a full sus XC rig this past year. Found on really long rides I like the extra cushion.
@@TheLankyCyclist I ride a lot of tech not on "sanctioned trails" so a 150/130 suspension trail bike makes sense for me, but most would be best served with a good hardtail with a good fork. I do like my $600 fat bike for the slop and snow. I bought it to be as maintenance free of a set up as possible for my fat bike...Mechanical disc brakes, X-9 drivetrain w a 2X crankset. I ride that thing in road salt, mud, sludge, etc. all cheap things to re[place. Riding it in that stuff actually preserves my other bikes.
I bought one a few years ago. It was slow and it was very heavy. I loved that bike and rode it 20 - 40 miles every other day. Everyone has personal preferences.
Agree with you. Fat bikes are fun but not so rowdy as MTB. 1. More sluggish ride , mostly to stay in shape in winter. 2. They are great on climbing trails, dry or wet/leaves 3. Really need an area that grooms winter trails - Colorado ski areas. Having two sets of wheels, medium fat and full fat, also helps.
My first experience fat biking was on groomed Colorado trails. So much fun.
I'm a fat bike lover. 4 years with my fat bike. But even then I can still understand why you're selling yours. And beautiful video I love the scenery!
Thanks! They're lots fun.
I feel like the core reason people don't fall in love with fat bikes is the fact they get bikes that are too heavy. A steel fat bike with big heavy tubes and big fat tires costs too much energy to get off the line and in snow you stop and go.. a lot.
I have a ~8kg full carbon fat bike and it just rips. I wouldn't ride one that's heavier than that.
You're not wrong. In retrospect, I probably should have gone carbon. Even with lightweight carbon components, the bike still weighed 13kg.
what kinda bike is it? Have a link?
Google Otso Voytek. I have one with a Lauf suspension fork. @@TC-yx1qt
Calling some MASSIVE B.S. that you have a fat bike that weighs 8kgs… i know professional XC racers who have full XC carbon EVERYTHING race bikes that dont weigh that little… there is NO way a FAT Bike is doing that.
I see the fat bike tire would be much better than regular hard tail XC as every darn root and rock is felt through my hands and arms it’s awful. I’ve lowered the PSi but it still is a rough ride. Am I missing something with not pulling the trigger on a fat bike tire? Seems like a better experience on thick roots and rocks.
You running tubeless?
Thanks for the video.
As a beginner, I have a question : I see your fat bike was a Surly.
It was a steel frame ? I don’t understand why a steel frame is better than an aluminum frame.
Thank you 😊
It’s not better or worse. Just different. More forgiving ride quality but generally heavier. Hope that helps.
@@TheLankyCyclist thank you
It's good for the casual. The hardcore maybe too heavy
I Rod lots of mountain bikes from the time I was 8 years old, Now I'm over 60 and being riding fat bikes for the last 8 years, I presently own 5 fat bikes and 1 mountain bike,mountain bike 2 years old, with maybe 2 klm, it still new fat bikes are my favorite bikes to ride nothing to compare for me is fat all year long I love my fat bikes🥰
The trouble with biking is that we want to have one bike that does it all. I have four bikes I ride that all do something well but none do it all well. I have a XL Farley 7 AL with a Mastodon front fork that is awesome. It is also almost 40 pounds with my light and battery pack, pump, and water. It is NOT fast EVER. Downhill and downwind my top speed is 18 MPH. The fat bike is a monster truck that truly goes anywhere but sometimes you just want to shred, or put on miles or have a full sus XC bike that you can ride all day! 😁
Agreed. I was on a minimalist kick for a while but then I remembered bikes are cool… the more the merrier!
There's nothing wrong with trying out new riding styles and pushing yourself to be better-rounded. It's a luxury our sport gives us...may as well see what works for you :)
Yeah, only rode road bikes on roads for years, so been nice to explore new options over the past few years. Learn some new skills.
@@TheLankyCyclist Bike-Curious? LOL.
😂 decided road cycling wasn’t expensive enough so needed to find new cycling disciplines to spend my entire paycheck on!
The frame designer could have given it a narrower Q factor from the outset. As with everything else, bicycles are full of compromises, all based around the designer's main priorities. I really don't think fat bikes have reached their pinnacle yet, much like MTB frames from the 1980s and early '90s, which were still largely based on traditional ideas of frame design. Hopefully the fat bike concept will be refined further.
So has it sold? All those great components!
It did!
I keep the Dude fat-ride in the attic, just-in-case I get that temptation, to ride-it. Purchased in 2020, when getting a new bike was virtually impossible. Enjoyed-it. Then I started riding on muddy trails. Snow-covered trails. And in strong wind. The wide tires create too much resistance. And if snow, is over four inches, it's not worth the sweaty effort. even groomed-trails can present problems. The snow is too packed-down and requires tire lugs, to ride-on. Making the bike even slower. And then there is the carbon frame. If your over 200 pounds, get an aluminum frame. Carbon is too flexy. Those fat tires, can be a wallet-buster. A new pair cost me over $250, in 2021. And not very many tires were available in 2021. The rear wheel's spoke nipples were breaking through the rim. Too tight? Too much weight? That was another unexpected expense on a fixed income. Not pleased. Hmm? A compromise. Purchased a Ragley AL29. 2.6 tire on front, 2.35 tire on rear. And in deep fresh snow, I'm able to plow right through. Amen.
Fat tires are so expensive. Lots of valid points here. Glad you found something that worked better for you.
I still like my fat boy. I ride it more than my 29rs. I even feel better riding with weight on. I feel like it’s great up hills. Only drawback for me. Is the size. I don’t have a problem with it. But when it comes to going in on trains, ferry’s or storing it. It takes up a lot of retail space.
They do take up a lot of space.
Hand gestures are great, but I’d suggest doing so further from the lens. Great video, but I found that distracting. Just a suggestion.
Ok, will send a refund.
Thanks for second annual reminder of the knee pain!
👍
Ive never ridden in the winter so i am buying one for the snow, and then i can stop hating when it does snow!
😂 enjoy!
I just got my first Fatty. Ice Cream Truck. Love it. Im Retired now so i like riding slow. All my other bikes are jealous.
That’s a great bike!
Never found the Q factor to be a problem. I ride everything from a road bike with 68mm BB to a fat bike.
everyone is different
a fair few folk do though ..myself included ..although I sorted it eventually
I want a 29er next
Do it.
Close your eyes and this dude becomes Malcolm Gladwell. A podcast with them together would be so confusing.
Now, if I could just write like him…
i got a 1000w motor on mine love it
DIESEL Power!
I never own any bike because knee injury. when I knew about fat bike It was like love at first sight. knowing my knee limitation I bought the bike with pre installed 1500w mid drive. tho I never ride other bike, I'm happy with my 1 month old fatty. the only complain, I can ride it for hours but my butt hurts. paddle assist 2 is my sweet spot otherwise im ghost peddling if in Pas3 -5
@@kairulazwan112 my but never hurt got a leather brooks saddle model flyer spring loaded wery cumfy ride
@@b2501733 sound like a butt friendly saddle..I might want to install those saddle too if my satori suspension saddle post fail which i just ordered few days ago. i cant wait to test
Wide stance! You NOT sitting on the tires,only complaint is how slow they move and turn other than that it's all a plus+
How do you think they fit wide tires on a fat bike? Chainstays are pushed out which requires a wider bottom bracket. It’s a subtle difference but bike fit is personal. Didn’t work for me.
@@TheLankyCyclist how would that be uncomfortable tho bike it self is not wider only wheels front and rear forks..nothing wich will make you feel like you on a horse🤦♂️ or cause pain, LOL or do you just spread your legs open more because you think it's wider because of the fat tires🤣
the bb is wider which places the cranks wider which places the pedals wider. the Q-factor is wider on fatbikes by about 20-40mm (maybe more depending upon the bike) @@keepitthoro6768
@@TheLankyCyclist lol Millimeter.... yeah maybe on the bikes because all the ones I've had was NOT like that lol
You will miss that fat bike. Those big tires are like nothing else.
was at a super muddy cross race last weekend, and i did wish I could race the fatbike division. was a cool bike.
@@HomeOrchard what is a SE fat bike?
😢
I agree! Fun bike.
I've only done a few test rides but definitely prefer a carbon fat bike, probably the only time I actually care about carbon (and added benefit it isn't a cold magnet like steel, for winter riding). I'm most likely picking up a fat bike at some point, but I've already decided that I do not want a MTB other than maybe an older rigid fork type. If I owned a modern MTB I don't think I could justify owning that AND a fat bike as they'd be competing for my attention. I'd probably be doing more exploration so shorter 20mi rides sounds about right, I'm going to be freezing any longer than that anyway (me and winter sports don't mix). Thanks for a different perspective than the norm!
At one point, my plan for the Surly was to run some 29er wheels with 3 inch tires for summer MTB and return to the fats for winter. Definitely some options out there for fat bikes to make them more versatile. Thanks for the comment!
Get a electric fatbike . Its so much fun and I love mine. Cycle in the winter and its s beast. Also have a MTB and road bikes and use them a lot. Love all my bikes and different ride experiences . Thats life :)
Ride All the Bikes! Agree. Just don’t ride a fat bike enough to justify owning one.
phew! almost made a mistake of buying one of these😂 i don't even like mtb's
Gravel bikes FTW!
Gravel bikes are great.
#allbikeshapesarebeautiful
Put a bbshd on it
is that going to materially shrink the qfactor? not sure it can go much narrower.
The Q factor and weight are why I went with a rigid 27.5+. As capable as a true fat bike, but much lighter.
Still a sad sad day.
I miss it 3 or 4 times a year.
Why sell it? Just keep it and buy another bike
Have to answer to the board.
Electric fat is good bc heavy
⚡️⚡️⚡️
Are fat bikes slow compared to mountain bikes
Depends. They’re definitely heavier.
Yes, they can be but depends on snow conditions. Crisp hard pact trails out here in the Rockies you can absolutely rip on. If you live back east with a sloppy mixed bag of weather it’s obviously slower. Absolutely love the crisp hard pact trails at negative 15 and under though , so fun in the right conditions. Get studded tires so you don’t have to worry
Are you calling me a “fat” biker?
PHAT biker 😉
lol, roadies are ridiculous.
👆👆👆
You can just buy mtb 🤦♂️🤷♂️
That’s what I did. 🤷♂️
“Unsubscribed” 😜😜😜 just kidding. Sorry the Fatbike didn’t work out …. You will be back someday 😉👍….. just don’t morph into “The Lanky MTB Bro” 🤣
Hah, I’m sure I will lose someone. Don’t worry… I’m a roadie at heart. But I am having a lot of fun riding all the bikes, bro. 😉😂
They look cool but ride like garbage. I really want to like thwm
I totally understand
Fat bikes are pointless. Get Freeride XC, and change tires as needed.
Good idea.