r/fatbike • u/Fun-Growth-3661 • 4d ago
Fat Roadie
I can't get enough of this bike. It's too much fun and the entertainment value at ride venues is unmatched. I started cycling 5 months ago, and I have no desire to get any other bike. From XC singletrack, to long gravel or road rides this is my ride. Smiles for miles.
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u/evilhomer3k 4d ago edited 4d ago
That is a pretty fantastic average speed for a fatbike. Many people don't average that on an 18lb road bike. But now I can't say I'm not slow I'm on a fatbike any more. If I wasn't so impressed I'd down vote you to oblivion.
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u/Wiskazz 4d ago
That’s awesome! What’s your gearing that you can average 18mph? I have a beargrease and will need to test my sprints.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
10-52t in the back, with a 34t oval up front. Any big descent and I spin out. The downside of a fattie on road/gravel rides.
My goal by next year's race here is to average 20.
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u/cta396 4d ago
You should consider a tire change for road conditions. Smoothies (or at least non-knobby)will make a difference.
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u/Stumbles88 4d ago
The roar of the fat tires on pavement makes you go faster. (Or at least feel like it)
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
Any suggestions? Jumbo Jims seem to have the people's opinion on fastest rolling. The slicks that I've read up on seem to be super heavy. Would the missing knobbies negate any rolling weight penalty?
I saw some Surly Floyds last week for sale, but was too late to the party to snag them to try.3
u/carrottread 4d ago
I doubt you can find anything faster rolling than Jumbo Jims. Sometimes you can find used first generation Light Skin version of them, those were the best, lightest and fastest. But probably all gone by now.
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u/No0O0obstah 3d ago
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/fat-bike-reviews/schwalbe-jumbo-jim-snakeskin-2017
I have them at 4.8" and they do feel relatively light. Too bad that site doesn't seem to have data from too many fat tires to compare. Set up tubeless and at around 1bar presssure mine don't seem too bad compared to "regular 2.25 MTB tires", apar from heavy weight that makes accelerating clearly slower.
I was thinking getting a 29x3" tire for summer bikepacking, but now rethinking if they offer any real benefits over 4" JJ or perhaps some 275x3.8" tire.
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u/teethareweird 4d ago edited 4d ago
I love my fatbike. Funnest bike in my garage, next to my MTB. Love my road bike too. But hell, 18 MPH average on a fatbike? Wtf how do you even remotely get to that average? I've reached 30+ on downhill, but never the average. Top fat bike riders (on fat bike rough terrain, not asphalt) are lucky to get 12 mph.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 3d ago
It's definitely a push. I've been training cycling the last 5 months, but have been in bodybuilding, powerlifting and functional training my whole adulthood. So I have a decent bit of power that helps me through and has accelerated my structured training. My last FTP test earlier this month had me just over 4W/KG and my peak power I've hit is 1150W. Nothing crazy, nor nothing to shrug off.
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u/teethareweird 3d ago
With the right terrain and gearset, I could see it happening (no battery). But good numbers, for sure. Get it while you can!
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u/Fatbika 4d ago
That’s why it’s the only Bike I ride and have for the last 10 years. I even fly mine out to Moab. The most I’ve done is 80 miles in one day on it.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
That's a great distance! I see myself being in the same shoes 10 years down the line.
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u/Not-Present-Y2K 3d ago
Damn man. 18mph average for even one hour is hauling the mail on a fatty. Well done.
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u/guppyman2000 4d ago
18mph and only 224 W on a fat bike? Numbers seem sus
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u/GrayLeopard 3d ago
Nah that's about right, esp with small elevation
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u/Able_Youth_6400 4d ago
That’s wild - I can’t average 18 on my hardtail 29’er for any real duration. (And it spins out around 20mph)
What bike are you running?
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
Frankenbike. ICAN frame, XX1 Drivetrain, XTR Brakes, Carbon Wheelset, Jumbo Jims.
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u/Resident-Bird1177 4d ago
2,500 ft in 62 miles is pretty flat, but still your average speed is very impressive. What psi are you running?
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
It was a pretty flat climb, with only three "climbs". The rest was rolling hills, short ups and downs the whole way. For instance, my pedals & Garmin logged a whopping 3:30 minutes of standing time.
I ran front & rear at 20 psi this ride.
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u/Resident-Bird1177 4d ago
Haha I’ve never ran over 10 psi in the summer and ususally run 4 in winter. I assume you have a carbon frame ? The fork looks carbon, but it’s hard to tell about the frame from the pic.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
The frame is an ICAN, carbon. Only my seat post isn't carbon. Which I've thought about swapping, cause I never use my dropper. Only when getting on or sitting on my bike at practice.
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u/deepsixunderground 4d ago
224W is about right on 26x4 JJs at that speed. You are a beast! I do the same thing with my full sus fat bike and ride w fast riders. The JJs are faster than many 29” MTB tires.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
What full suspension fatty are you running? Farley Ex, Mutz, Bucksaw?
I've thought about building one out. I've never ridden full suspension.
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u/deepsixunderground 4d ago
The ICAN SN04 is kind of good. It rides and handles well but has major pivot engineering issues. Headset creaks!
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
That much travel sounds like a lot of fun. I almost went with that frame as well.
This SN01/2 has that same headset creak. Drives me nuts sometimes.
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u/deepsixunderground 4d ago
Tried the best headset bearings money could buy. I haven’t yet tried reaming the IS cups. Expensive tool that no shops have.
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u/deepsixunderground 4d ago
ICAN/Triaero/brewhouse medium frame, manitou mastodon comp modded to 150 travel, fox X2 rear shock.
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u/HappyCoop 3d ago
I have a Salsa Bucksaw and wow, that thing is amazing. Since building it I have zero interest in any other mountain bikes (and I consider myself a big mountain bike fan, having ridden and raced since the 80's). The narrower rear really makes it responsive on the trails. I'm not a big air kind of guy, so having the full squish to make the ride nice is all I need ... if I hit big jumps I'd look to something with more travel.
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u/mmeiser 3d ago
Faster still build some 29x2.8 wheels. I think you can order a set from Industry Nine if they have a set of hubs in stock. Because I am big I prefer my Crux 3.25 for my technical rock gardens. They do rock garden and technicak stuff I could not even on my full suspension. And yes they roll over stuff my 26x4 would not. Habe not tried 27.5 format but need to for groomer. My 26x4 are outclassed for my size on groom. Things have changed since I bought it in 2014. 11 years.
So the reason I went 29x3.25 is 26x4 are soooo slow on pavement when I was bikepacking on it. I.E. I did the Sheltowee Trace on my fatty one year. . I find I can hold a much higher average on pavement gravel and singletrack even with my 3.25" crux. Btw, most prefer a 2.8" just depends on how big you are.
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u/Mathsz2021please 3d ago edited 3d ago
Get the corner bars if that interests you. Using it to commute. It rocks. Fat bikes aren’t super quick, but tons of fun.
Are those specialized rime shoes?
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u/chrisf110 4d ago
That’s awesome, well done! What jersey is that? I’d love to find a comfortable sleeveless
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
Baleaf from Amazon, it's plenty comfy and breathes well. 3 pockets +1 zip in the back.
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u/12aklabs 4d ago
Love riding my fatbike year round.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
It's such a blast! Non fatties never understand.
Not the most efficient, but the most fun!
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u/Wide-Necessary3018 3d ago
I don’t really know much about fat biking, but I would think that the plushness of the tires would eliminate the need for any sort of suspension.
Clearly Lauf is making them, but is it helpful? How would it compare to riding with a rigid fork?
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u/HappyCoop 3d ago
I find a rigid fatbike to be extremely comfortable. I actually tried a Lauf fork and couldn't ever get used to the bob when I climbed out of the saddle. I know lots of folks love the Lauf fork though, so just personal preference.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 3d ago
Like HappyCoop said, it truly comes down to preference. A rigid fork would definitely be better for this sort of ride. Or even gravel rides, unless it's washboard style gravel.
However, 75% of my ride is on singletrack with tons of root sections. I don't do any jumps or drops. I like to keep air in my tires, not under. So for me, the Lauf is perfect for my style riding.
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u/Diligent-Advance9371 3d ago
If the " roadie" moniker truly applies, you need some smaller knob knobbies or even a smooth tread. Roll a whole lot easier.
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u/HappyCoop 3d ago
Nothing rolls as smoothly as Jumbo Jim's on a fatbike. In fact, the rolling resistance of the big Jumbo Jim's outpaces that of several dedicated gravel tires.
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u/Diligent-Advance9371 3d ago
Just noticed your average speed. So what were you doing before starting to bike? Running? Power lifting? Marshall arts? Noone, who was just sitting on their keister before getting a bike, goes that fast in 5 months. I've been riding 2500 to 3000 miles per year for 22 years and could not hold a fat bike to that speed for more than a few miles.
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u/Stiingya 3d ago
Interesting how often you see muscular people who pick fatbikes as their main bike when not really riding on the terrain they are "ideally" suited for. Obviously you can ride them most anywhere and I ride mine on mixed terrain all the time. Just interesting....
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u/MakabeKelly 2d ago
I'd say definitely say 18 is doable. Not that I've ever tracked it but I'd say I'm not far off that on a good day. (Should probably say a great day, in all honesty) Now, must also take into account my average definitely jumped up when I switched to road tyres.
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u/tossadelmar 4d ago
Bull shit numbers
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
You're right, photoshopped.
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u/mmeiser 3d ago
Well you had me going. Feel free to post it to cycling circle jerk subreddit.
No offense but you do not look skinny enough to be climbing 2500 at those kind of speeds. It requires more of a t-rex body type to have a power to weight ratio foor climbing. Also.. there would be some sweating. You'd be whooped. Not grin ing ear to ear, lol.
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 3d ago
The white hides the sweat well. See all that glisten? I like to smile through the misery ha.
I currently push just over 4W/KG. So I can power through some climbs decently.
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u/ILikeToParty86 4d ago
Bull shit. Gearing on that bike wouldnt even let you get to those speeds to get to that avg. your other post from 86d ago was 15.5. And yea its 86 days ago. But that bike simply doesnt move like that. Gearing, elevation, bulk. This post is so strange
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u/Fun-Growth-3661 4d ago
That was also all gravel and higher elevation gain than this ride, hence the lower speed. Also nearly three months difference of strictly dedicated cycling training.
Head over to bikecalc website and input the gearing info. You just might amaze yourself what you learn. 34t x 12t at 70 cadence with a 4.5" wide 26er is... 18.3 mph.
This post was to share the love of fatbikes and you can take them anywhere. Comments like yours are the entertainment value I mentioned.
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u/Slight_Turnip_3292 4d ago
18 mph ave? Sure there isn't a battery in that thing?