N+1: a fat bike or something with full suspension?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
N+1: a fat bike or something with full suspension?
OK, so I'm looking at expanding what I ride and where. The majority of my mileage is two-lane county roads, with an occasional crushed limestone rail trail. I'm thinking doing more trail or singletrack. There are some county and state parks nearby with dedicated mtb trails.
Any thoughts on a fat bike or a full suspension mtb?
Any thoughts on a fat bike or a full suspension mtb?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 26,245
Liked 10,155 Times
in
4,935 Posts
I think a fat bike is best for snow or deep sand and very loose dirt. A friend has a 27.5+ bike, kind of a semi-fat tire with a light frame and full squish. He goes fast on it.
There are so many choices in off road bikes now it boggles the mind.
There are so many choices in off road bikes now it boggles the mind.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,929
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,053 Posts
So, I hear you are getting a full-suspension fat bike. Cool.
#5
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,515
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Liked 2,814 Times
in
1,808 Posts
I'd certainly consider a variation of that theme. Due to chronic back and neck pain I'm thinking of a balloon tire type gravel geometry frame for my next drop bar bike. A friend put Schwalbe Big Ones (now the G-One) on his drop bar gravel bike and loves 'em. And the tires are still nimble enough for cruising at 16 mph on pavement for long distances. That's about all I can manage on my skinny tire road bike, and far less comfortably.
I've already put fairly wide, soft tires on my hybrids and enjoy 'em. But they're still limited by the upright position on the comfort hybrid, and the other bike's flat bar with only one hand position -- fine for distances of 20-30 miles, but on longer rides I'd like another hand position without resorting to bar end extensions.
I've already put fairly wide, soft tires on my hybrids and enjoy 'em. But they're still limited by the upright position on the comfort hybrid, and the other bike's flat bar with only one hand position -- fine for distances of 20-30 miles, but on longer rides I'd like another hand position without resorting to bar end extensions.
#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,973
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Liked 1,472 Times
in
912 Posts
I like my old school non-suspension mountain bike, which serves all of my fat tire, cruiser, inclement weather, multitrack trail, gravel, patriotic parade (it's red-white-and-blue and was made in the USA) and other applications.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#7
Having owned several full sus bikes, and ridden several fat bikes for a day or two at a time, I can confidently say the full sus bike is more forgiving, however it is more complicated. The fat bike requires more effort to move at the same speed as a standard 26/29 full sus. Without question the 29 wheel size is more forgiving than the 26 wheel. If you want to feel neat and up to date, get a fat bike, but plan on working harder. If you don't mind more potential maintenance, get a full sus. Me, I ditched suspension and fat tires and use a standard rigid frame/fork 29. Run tires at 28psi and call it good. If the bike were tubeless then psi would be set down around 25. I do not offroad anymore, only gravel and paved roads.
Edit: I use road bars on all my bikes. The extra hand positions are necessary for long term comfort.
Edit: I use road bars on all my bikes. The extra hand positions are necessary for long term comfort.
#8
Not quite dead.
OK, so I'm looking at expanding what I ride and where. The majority of my mileage is two-lane county roads, with an occasional crushed limestone rail trail. I'm thinking doing more trail or singletrack. There are some county and state parks nearby with dedicated mtb trails.
Any thoughts on a fat bike or a full suspension mtb?
Any thoughts on a fat bike or a full suspension mtb?
#9
Senior Member
I got a fat bike as my N+1, and it's awesome good fun. I was riding some hard pack sand with a friend on a hardtail Mt bike and every time we hit something loose, he'd have to slow down, or fall over, and I'd just buzz on through. So! Much! Fun! And also amazing fun on loose sand (although a lot of work) and in snow.
If you're just looking for plain ol' fun, I recommend a fat bike.
If you're just looking for plain ol' fun, I recommend a fat bike.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Liked 645 Times
in
366 Posts
I think that it all depends on where and how you picture yourself riding your new bike.
If you've got some reasonably technical single track where you live, the suspended mountain bike will be an absolute blast until and unless you start breaking stuff.
If you just want to continue riding where you are but extending the season, a fat tire bike would be my pick.
If you've got some reasonably technical single track where you live, the suspended mountain bike will be an absolute blast until and unless you start breaking stuff.
If you just want to continue riding where you are but extending the season, a fat tire bike would be my pick.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#11
your god hates me
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,630
Bikes: 2016 Richard Sachs, 2010 Carl Strong, 2006 Cannondale Synapse
Liked 1,458 Times
in
787 Posts
the full sus bike is more forgiving, however it is more complicated. The fat bike requires more effort to move at the same speed as a standard 26/29 full sus. Without question the 29 wheel size is more forgiving than the 26 wheel. If you want to feel neat and up to date, get a fat bike, but plan on working harder. If you don't mind more potential maintenance, get a full sus. .
I don't want to have to overcome the bike itself (plus I rarely expect to encounter deep snow or sand) so a fat bike would be pointless, unless I was fishing for hipster points. otoh, I've read an awful lot of technical articles and product reviews and ride reports etc. on full-squish bikes, and I come away utterly convinced that the last thing I want to deal with is a whole new paradigm of geek-speak: I don't have the patience to learn what "preload" and "sag" and "squat" and "bob" mean, much less have to define preferences for those criteria before getting my ride dialed in.
So I'm thinking a fully rigid 29er is in my future.
"Dear Santa: A Jeff Jones Ti Spaceframe with Truss Fork please..."
Last edited by Bob Ross; 11-28-17 at 01:05 PM.
#12
Senior Member
Having not ridden off-road in over 20 years, but just recently starting to get the itch again, ^^^this is the conclusion I've been leaning towards.
I don't want to have to overcome the bike itself (plus I rarely expect to encounter deep snow or sand) so a fat bike would be pointless, unless I was fishing for hipster points. otoh, I've read an awful lot of technical articles and product reviews and ride reports etc. on full-squish bikes, and I come away utterly convinced that the last thing I want to deal with is a whole new paradigm of geek-speak: I don't have the patience to learn what "preload" and "sag" and "squat" and "bob" mean, much less have to define preferences for those criteria before getting my ride dialed in.
So I'm thinking a fully rigid 29er is in my future.
"Dear Santa: A Jeff Jones Ti Spaceframe with Truss Fork please..."
I don't want to have to overcome the bike itself (plus I rarely expect to encounter deep snow or sand) so a fat bike would be pointless, unless I was fishing for hipster points. otoh, I've read an awful lot of technical articles and product reviews and ride reports etc. on full-squish bikes, and I come away utterly convinced that the last thing I want to deal with is a whole new paradigm of geek-speak: I don't have the patience to learn what "preload" and "sag" and "squat" and "bob" mean, much less have to define preferences for those criteria before getting my ride dialed in.
So I'm thinking a fully rigid 29er is in my future.
"Dear Santa: A Jeff Jones Ti Spaceframe with Truss Fork please..."
Enjoy
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Liked 3,680 Times
in
2,381 Posts
let the intended use guide you. then once you get the bike, seek out more trails (or whatever) that you bought it for. I've been looking myself but what I have suits where I ride so can't justify a purchase
#14
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm on a Hard Tail 27.5 'Plus bike' and love it.
My Full suspension was fun but I got tired of hauling all that full suspension up and down my single tracks.
I'm much stronger now and my legs are my suspension.
I don't get air and I stopped flying down rock gardens so a condition three bike Is plenty for me.
My Full suspension was fun but I got tired of hauling all that full suspension up and down my single tracks.
I'm much stronger now and my legs are my suspension.
I don't get air and I stopped flying down rock gardens so a condition three bike Is plenty for me.
#15
Did you guys see the new Fatbike forum here? https://www.bikeforums.net/fatbikes/
#16
Senior Member
Consider a Specialized Fuse ? More pragmatic than a true fat tire bike. At present, seven bikes in my stable. Since I got the Fuse, primarily riding just two. The Fuse and a full custom steel frame road bike. All the good things that I have said about my other bikes still hold, just like these two the best. My partner of 35 years thinks I am finally growing up, hope not ?
#18
Other Worldly Member
#19
Other Worldly Member
My FB is a Minnesota 3.0, modded for the windy beaches. It’s a great rocky trail ride as well. All my other bikes hang as that fat bike is so fun.
__________________
Make ******* Grate Cheese Again
Make ******* Grate Cheese Again
#20
Banned
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I ended up with a plus 27.5 with full suspension, hydraulic discs and a dropper post. Rolling over and off stuff I used to steer around is just FunFunFunFun!
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 26,245
Liked 10,155 Times
in
4,935 Posts
#23
Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Glad to hear you are happy with your full suspension. I just saw this thread and was going to suggest that. For single track mountain bike trails they can't be beat, and they can be a little more forgiving on aging backs and bodies too.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 96
Bikes: 1973 Raleigh Competition, 2010 Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen, 2010's Bike Friday Pocket Companion
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I move to serious snow, offroad, singletrack country I will be looking for a hard-tail with max-wide tires. Until then my Rivy AHH does just fine on dirt trails. Consider also narrow tires for snow. The reach down into the snow to the pavement / ice giving better traction. That's my experience through 3 Laramie WY winters on 27x1 tires. Only problem was mid spring melt when just standing on your own two feet could be a problem!
Cheers!
Cheers!