I quite fancy the idea of a fat bike for a wintery ride in Scotland.

I've got a couple of bikes that are boost already. Will I be blown away by the fatter tyres capabilities?

I rode one at Strathpuffer in the slop one year, and it probably wasn't the best bike for the course, though it was ok to ride.

Need? That's a difficult one.

There are times of the year (for me) when the fatbike is out and out the best, or even only, option.

For "slop" it's not the best choice. Until its so deep that floatation is better than cutting in.

Out on the fatbike today for the first time in a while.

Living in North London I definitely don't need it, but it's just so much fun. If I'm going mainly off road, it's my first choice bike.

I can't decide whether the grip going uphill or the steamroller effect going downhill is the best.

Rich... IMO no you don't (although I've not had one and the closest I got is with some 3.0 semi fat tires)... Apparently 2.6 tyre width is the 'middle path'...

I've gone 2.6 (actual width as the tyre is 2.8 stated) and couldn't be happier.

Not sure if it answereth your q but if it helps then

Hey rich.

Well done on the Tour Devide ride. Well pleased for you.

I asked this question. After a poll and chat. Yes was the answer.

I'm a little skint right now, waiting for one to pop up that requires no work to it. Then I'll join the crew.

The signal is 2.6 and the hunt is 3.just makes sense for 4.

Thanks for the replies.

I obviously do need such a thing.

Feel free to let me know if you read this thread and have something that you no longer need.

Size?

My 9zero7 is currently at backcountry.scot in Andys consignment store. It's a Medium.

No way of obtaining a Vir Fortis?

What I need is a 29er singlespeed fat bike running 1.5 tyres for the winter mud clearance where I live.

I have found that the Vir Fortis in x2 has replaced my Susser and HT totally. Fast on DH and XC, and you can go anywhere on it that a bike would go. If I lived where you did, It would most likely be my only bike, apart from a Camino for road and gravel.

Don't get put off by riding a "heavy" fat bike or riding in bad conditions. They are fat bike not a f**king miracle bike.

I picked one up recently and I'm hooked.
Already have a 29er that also runs 3" 650's but have always been fat curious.
Admittedly its a light fatty, 11kg. Its seriously fast, floats over stuff the 3" one rattled my teeth on. Only a fraction slower up hill but over the course of a ride its just as if not faster with far less physical fatigue due to the comfort (4.8 JJ's)
Its a keeper and will probably sell the 650's as I cant see them getting used.
Hoping for a really snowy winter

rufus748 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:50 pm I picked one up recently and I'm hooked.
Already have a 29er that also runs 3" 650's but have always been fat curious.
Admittedly its a light fatty, 11kg. Its seriously fast, floats over stuff the 3" one rattled my teeth on. Only a fraction slower up hill but over the course of a ride its just as if not faster with far less physical fatigue due to the comfort (4.8 JJ's)
Its a keeper and will probably sell the 650's as I cant see them getting used.
Hoping for a really snowy winter

If you can try some, 4.0 JJ's are much lighter and feel far less draggy than 4.8's.
I can't honestly say I feel any more grip or they are more comfortable ride wise from the 4.8's over the 4.0's.
As a result, I never use the 4.8's unless I was going to go somewhere with snow and have 4.0's on all year round.

I've been around a few fatbikes and my two cents worth is that they're absolutely brilliant and what they're best at, great/fun at a lot of stuff and horrific in a few instances.

If the "wintery ride in Scotland" involves snow then yes, you probably do need one.

But if not then you might really enjoy one and even be faster on one but you might not need one.

To put it in context, I don't get mine out if there's >10cm of fresh snow (with soil or a very firm snowy base underneath) as my 29+ is better/faster/funner in those conditions.

Once things get beyond 10cm or are icy or are on a softer base or are crusty or if I fancy it then the fatty comes out and it excels.

Hope that helps a little.

rufus748 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:50 pm I picked one up recently and I'm hooked.

Oooooh, what you got?

Hoping for a really snowy winter

.....or someone you could go visit who lives in a snowy area?

I don't get mine out if there's >10cm of fresh snow

Err, did you really mean "more than 10cm"?

whitestone wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:58 pm

I don't get mine out if there's >10cm of fresh snow

Err, did you really mean "more than 10cm"?

Nope.

I don't get it out if there's more than ~20cm of fresh snow but between 10-20cm is great.

And the dream is obviously a rideable crust but those only come around a few times per season.

Can deliver to the Lakes and chuck in a set of spare lightly used white (well, as white as any soft mountainbike component can be) floaters?

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15563

Oooooh, what you got?

Its just a generic Chinese carbon frame (made up for a guy who raced it and won the British Fat Bike Championships on it). Carbon rims etc.. This one https://www.liosbikes.com/bomber Bloody love it

Hoping for a really snowy winter

.....or someone you could go visit who lives in a snowy area?
[/quote]


Who's that then?

Your use of quotes is sadly lacking

gairym wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:23 pm Your use of quotes is sadly lacking

Colin, I could get a killer deal on a Vir Fortis obvs, but it would still be a bit rich for my wallet (possibly).

Size I'm usually medium though I'd size down maybe for a fat bike.

The On-One too heavy for me, thanks for the offer though.

rufus748 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:20 pm Its just a generic Chinese carbon frame (made up for a guy who raced it and won the British Fat Bike Championships on it). Carbon rims etc.. This one https://www.liosbikes.com/bomber Bloody love it

First dibs on that please Andy when you decide to get rid in a few weeks.

In Reverse wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 8:18 am

rufus748 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:20 pm Its just a generic Chinese carbon frame (made up for a guy who raced it and won the British Fat Bike Championships on it). Carbon rims etc.. This one https://www.liosbikes.com/bomber Bloody love it

First dibs on that please Andy when you decide to get rid in a few weeks.

Very kind of you.

Richpips wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:19 pm Colin, I could get a killer deal on a Vir Fortis obvs, but it would still be a bit rich for my wallet (possibly).

Size I'm usually medium though I'd size down maybe for a fat bike.

There is certainly a tradition about looking for a lower top tube when selecting a fatbike. That's based on the notion that you stop somewhere, put your feet down and find they sink into the snow.

My old 9zero7 might have been ideal for you if it wasn't quite so far away. If you want I can scribble down some stuff on specification etc and get some photos to you. Andy has had it in his store for a couple of weeks but I guess that interest will increase as we get the first snows.

Its not about need, its about want
If you are planning on hitting snow then a fat bike will generally be the best option. Very wet, shallow snow is the exception....

Richpips wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 6:13 pm Do I 'need' a fat bike?

Yes

On further reflection, what John said

Yes, you do