Does Fat Biking Suck?! | The Harsh Facts About Fat Tire Bicycles

6 months ago I moved to Vermont and I learned very quickly that the mountain biking season ends very abruptly up here. Once the mountain bike trails are shut down you basically have two options, hit the slopes or get a fat bike. Since I am a mountain biker, the fat bike made the most sense, but there are generally two very different opinions of fat bikes out there. Either fat bikes rule, or fat bikes suck! It was time to figure it our for myself, so I linked up with Matt from Bootlegger bikes and hit the trails!

Enjoy the video and be sure to leave a comment below and subscribe for more!

#fatbikes #fatbiking #trekfarley7 #kingdomtrails #bootleggerbikes

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[bertschuh]

Got my 1st fatbike in 2010. It's a great compliment to xc-skiing. When there is lots of fresh snow the skiing is great but that fatbiking not so much. Conversely when there's been a thaw/freeze cycle the skiing sucks but the fatbiking rocks! Perfect winter combo 👌

[PinheirosBike]

Only those who have or have tried a FatBike know the unique experience of cycling on all surfaces without ever putting the fun aside. The trails and mountains take on another charm when we pedal a Fatbike. First it's strange, then it sinks in. It's a real addiction. Keep enjoying your fatbike. Happy cycling. Greetings from Portugal.

[audionerdio]

Just got my first fat bike this year. It's a 2015 Specialized Fatboy. A bit of a franken-bike... mismatched crank arms, oval chainring, Framed-branded rear hub, DT Swiss front hub, mismatched tires... but it was a good price (650) and I added a Box Prime 9 drivetrain, a dropper... still need to go tubeless but for around $850 now, it's be best money I've ever spent on a bike. It's so fun!

[geraldprost]

I just bough my first fat bike today. I live in Calgary, so we have a long winter. I have an e-mtb for the summer. You did a great job on this video.

[jackgarner]

Fat bikes are 4-season riding machines, I enjoy mine all year long here in Central Kentucky!

[ajmckay]

It's been really hard to find them for the past 2 years because bike manufacturers are prioritizing their top selling bikes but if you can find one snag it! I was lucky and picked one up a few months ago. I'm in Michigan so it will get used. I also plan on riding it during the summer as many around here do. It's a good way to switch up your normal trail rides.

[jeffpagel]

Bought one 12 years ago and thought it sucked. LITTLE DID I KNOW that you don't just ride in the snow... ideally you need groomed trails and studded tires, then it is fun. Sold the old one and upgraded to a carbon higher end one last year - dilly 5 studded tires, heated gloves and socks and ample groomed trails make it a blast.

[mikejung]

Love the music, and for a bloke from the land down under, I wish we had snow, looks like total fun, thanks for brining us along👍

[seryjnymeteopata]

reading comments it seems like fat bikes are somewhat making a comeback. great to hear, love those fun bikes :)

[allywilkeforsenate]

I am getting old and can’t hike like I could when I was 50.I need to get one of these bikes for hunting.I have used regular mountain bikes in the past for hunting and they work great.Only problem was going over soft stuff.This is where the fat tire comes in.I bet I can swap out rims and tires to be the most useful on the terrain I am in.I ain’t in no hurry unless I got meat in hot weather or am worried about bears on my kills.

[TGormania]

Fun video!! Yup the snow isn't like it use to be. I live in New Brunswick Canada and the last few winters have not been normal at all. But you get out on the snow when you can. Cheers.

[dtj]

My year round daily driver is an XO1 Salsa Bucksaw and I love it. Not much interest in going back to riding 2.35" wide tires.

And no fatbiking doesn't suck.

[adamzinnecker]

Fat bikes are great all year round bikes. I love my Trek Farley 9.6. I have three wheelsets for it, and a two different forks. In the winter I have a rigid fork. I switch switch between two 4.5 wheelsets for snow trail riding...4.5 studded alloy rims for snowy icy conditions, 4.5 non studded carbon frames for snowy non icy or pavement rides. Also put on 29x2.8 wheels for all pavement. In the Summer I put a suspension fork on with 29x2.8 wheels for trails. With all these wheelsets I can ride anything at a high level.

[OldManFatBike]

Very cool video! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us! Welcome to the FAT life, I hope you stick around for a while brother!!!!

[theepimountainbiker]

I just got a e-fatbike in June, cant wait to try it on snow. Ive ridden a standard hardtail with 2.4" tires for 20 years in the snow just fine cant wait to see the hype. Its been a great bike on gravel and pavement so far this year.

[marcs]

They're fun, good way to keep riding during winter, but they have their limitations, I would never ride the trails I ride in the summer snow covered on a Fat Tire Bike, the trails need to be kind of tame.

[BeautyOfGaia]

I have one as all day bike. Its pure fun to ride it. Every day starts and ends now with a smile.

[Todd]

Good video. Not only are Fat Bikes fun, they look cool af. I have a motorcycle back ground, so fat tires look normal to me lol.

[ElevationEveryWeekend]

It’s the most fun! My full suspension bike is on the chopping block as a result!

[BudExplorer]

Depends what your intentions/terrain are. I use a fat bike for 365 day commuting. Most times it's 3.8 tires on the Blizzard carbon 30. Packed snow or unplowed roads, it's the reliable studded 4.5 tires. have even taken her down steep trails of the Adirondacks in autumn. The annoyance of tire pressure can be irking, as is this video, which vexingly pops-up no matter what fat bike model is searched for.