Fat biking (or fat tire biking) was invented, you could say, in Alaska back in the late 1900s, but it really started to become popular in the early 2000s. Since then, the number of fat bikes you see on the trails, even when the weather is just fine, has really grown. The bar for what we consider to be the best entry level bikes fat bikes has really been raised.
Fat bikes give cyclists a way to get outside and ride in terrain that would stop most other bikes in their tracks, including most mountain bikes. Fat tire bikes have been known to cruise for miles on a frozen lake, a sandy beach, or along a rural bike trail that might not be cleared for weeks. No problem if you are on a fat bike.
A Fine Time To Miss The Fat Tire Bike
Today, cyclists from the original fat bike diehards to committed road riders and commuters enjoy fat biking. The right fat bike with the right tires can expand the riding season by months in some places, and good quality fat bikes compete on price with some high-end indoor training solutions. Not only are fat bikes popular with the cold weather set when they are trying to avoid being relegated to the smart trainer, but they are also catching-on for beach and desert bike riders because of their proficiency on sand.
Road bike tire (L) vs. Fat bike tire (R)What to Look for in an Entry-Level Fat Tire BikeIf you are looking for a fat bike, you will want to search for many of the same things you would in your other bikes. The differences involved can be intimidating at first, but this guide makes choosing a new fat bike quick and easy.
Choosing a second hand bike could shave 50% or more off the cost of a fat bike, but there is plenty of risk involved. Frame damage is the biggest danger, so look carefully for corrosion, cracks or dents. Less critical issues can still cause headaches, and test riding is a good idea, but even an experienced mechanic could miss some expensive issues on the horizon. Fat tire bikes experience particularly hard miles and accelerated wear in particularly hard-to-see places. With that said, though, far bikes are often made of steel, which is a pretty bulletproof material. If considering a used carbon bike, have a bike mechanic look at it, or buy from someone like the Pros Closet who inspects all of their bikes before they sell them.
In addition to the bike itself and some good tires that will suit your type of riding, you will want some other gear. As a cyclist, you probably have a helmet, cycling shorts, and basic apparel, but you might want to reevaluate your wardrobe given that you may be riding in harsher conditions. If you are buying your bike for winter riding, you will want to invest in everything from warm cycling gloves to perhaps even ski goggles for super cold conditions.
Not at all. While many fat tire bike riders have a primary goal of staying outside in the winter and not being confined to an indoor bike trainer, others use their fat bikes year-round, or even in warmer climates.
The wider the tire, the lower the tire pressure and more shock absorption you get from the rubber. To put it in perspective, a road bike often as a tire pressure of 100 pounds-per-square-inch (PSI), while a fat bike might be as low as 10 PSI. That means the tires make it much easier to roll over rocks, rough gravel, cobblestone, or any uneven surface.
You sure can. They are a whole different segment of bike, but they are available and you see them around quite often. Purists might scoff at the idea of riding an eBike, but for folks who want fat tire functionality with a bit of an assist, we think eBikes are great, especially if they get someone outside who otherwise would not have been. We did a piece on the best ebikes under $2,000, a couple of which can be fat tire style.
If you plan to do lots of your riding on dry, smooth trails or on roads, a fat bike might not be for you. Fat bikes, with their gearing and huge tires, have a slower default speed and more friction on a firm surface. The same tire contact that makes them so great on sand or snow really slows them down on pavement. If you plan to be doing just a little riding on tough surfaces, but most of it on nice smooth surfaces, consider a gravel bike or mountain bike.
The mountain bikes have a wide gear range (up to 27 combinations) to handle different road types. This versatility means they are very common everywhere. these bikes are not suitable for all types of weather and terrain, specifically soft surfaces like snow where tires may get stuck. Another problem is that it can be rough to ride over bumpy roads.
Thank you for a great tour! We had Alicia as our guide. She had a great knowledge about the history of Berlin and communicated in a manner anyone could follow! Touring the city on the bike was a great experience as we saw much more than we could have by foot within the same period of time.
Assembly was easy.. Just followed the video. Rode first without power to get the feel and it pedaled easily! Then I set pas to 3 and the bike took off quickly and in pace with my light pressure pedaling. I was very pleasantly surprised the power assist. Hit 18mph with no effort at all!!! I need more time - I'm really looking forward to a nice enough day in snow country to explore the pas levels. I'll review again when I can
After a few hundred miles I cannot suggest any improvements on my Cruiser. I had the dealer replace factory tires with CST Patrol size 2.25 tires and they clear the fenders just fine, and add extra grip on gravel and dirt. I added a shock absorber seat post and softer seat. I like the throttle especially when encountering severe washboards or rough boards on a bridge - - I can stand up on the pedals, use the throttle, allowing me to use my legs as shock absorbers.
I absolutly love this bike I have been able to ride it when ever I like and don't have to worry about my knees or back hurting or getting tired. I have a camper and this is the best way to get around without jumping in my truck for minor trips around the campgrounds or the state parks that I like to camp. Wonderful investment.
Although this is a full-day tour, we don't consider the biking portion to be strenuous. There are some small inclines and varied terrain, but anyone comfortable on a bike with moderate physical capability should be fine. In terms of the biking requirements, we ask that all guests have good balance, be able to start and stop comfortably, and be familiar with hand brakes. Most of the tour will be within the park of Versailles, although there will be some road riding towards the beginning and end of the day. In an effort to see everything that Versailles has to offer, riders should be prepared to keep pace with the group as it covers more ground than many of our other tours approximately 10.1 miles (16.25 km). Safety is our number one priority but confidence in yourself is the first step to overall group safety. If you are nervous about your ability, feel free to reach out to us in advance (support@fattiretours.com) to discuss specific concerns.
Absolutely! You are welcome to meet us at our Versailles office, located at 10 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 78000 Versailles, within a small shopping center. Our exact office location faces a courtyard; you should be able to see our bikes from the outside. This space is just across from the main Versailles train station (Versailles Rive Gauche-Chateau de Versailles). Please make sure we can reach you by the phone provided at checkout. When making your reservation, be sure to leave us a note in the comments section to indicate that you will meet us directly in Versailles. Your guide will assemble the rest of the group in Paris and then reach out to you by phone to give you an estimated arrival time in Versailles. Note that the train ride is approximately 30 minutes. We ask that all guests meeting us in Versailles aim to be there between 9am-9:15am and know that you may have to wait up to 30-45min for your group to arrive. There is a McDonalds and a Starbucks within a few steps of our office should you wish to arrive early and enjoy a warm drink.
We have comfortable, city bikes meant for riding upright and leisurely cycling. We also have a number of children's options, and you can see the details for these bikes after selecting the 'child' option in checkout. Height & weight requirements are listed as well as the general ages for each accessory. Unfortunately, we do not have adult tricycles, adult tandems, or bikes with training wheels for adults or children that may be less confident in their riding ability. We ask that all guests over 12 be able to ride their own bike. If you have a specific condition, please reach out to us at support@fattiretours.com so that we can try and accommodate.
Driving the bike is a hub-drive motor from a company called Aoma. This is a 500 watt motor that is driven either by the throttle or cadence based pedal assist. Aoma is new to me, so I have yet to see any long term testing being done on these motors, but it felt like it was working just fine for my test ride. The pedal assist varies in levels 1-5 and felt responsive. Mechanically, the bike has a 6 speed Shimano Tourney TZ system with 14-28 tooth cassette in the rear and a 52 tooth chain ring in the front. Not the largest range for pedaling, but I would imagine you would throttle this bike a lot like I did. For stopping power, you get 160mm Shimano mechanical disc brakes. Mechanical disc brakes are easy to maintain as well as adjust, however, they lack the immediate stopping power that hydraulic brakes offer. Mechanical brakes are still quite capable, but they take a little bit more hand actuation compared to hydraulic brakes.
The cockpit controls are great, right in the middle of the handlebars is the large and easy to read display. The display does have an adjustable angle, but is not removable which can sometimes leave you feeling insecure when parking it or leaving it to the elements. The display is grayscale and features a backlight for night-time riding. To start the bike, press power on the battery, hold the M button to turn on display. The large display offers a wealth of information starting at the battery levels. The battery infographic is shown in 10 separate 10% intervals which does a better job of leaving guess work out compared to other bikes with 33% or even 20% steps. You can scroll through several modes of pedal assist (1-5) and can use the throttle on any as long as you get that pedal rotation in. Other display options include odometer, trip A, trip B, battery voltage, and a timer. Also, if you hold down the down arrow, you can engage a walk mode. There is a deep dive menu if you want to play with other various settings. Hold up and down arrows for a couple of seconds to initiate this menu of settings. Once inside, you will have access to backlight settings, unit readout, wheel size configuration, and top speed. The top speed is really nice since since out of the box it is a Class 3 bike. If you want to lower it to a Class 1 or 2, you could change some of the settings and even extract the easy to remove throttle to comply with certain jurisdictions. To exit this menu, hold M to leave. 2ff7e9595c
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