It really does not matter if you are an expert mountain biker or you are a newbie and simply taking your bike out on a spin. The fact remains that, it is actually time to begin taking a closer look at these fat-tire bikes.
This is because of their soft ride, as well as versatility makes them the ideal all-round bike that everyone needs. Similar to their names already, these fat tire bikes are simply bikes with extremely fat tires.
For those who have never seen them before, your first view will leave you extremely astonished. They can be described as bikes for kids but enlarged enough for adults to make use of.
However, undermining their outward appearance, these fat tire bikes are actually here to stay. Although the date of the first fat-tire bikes ever to he created is quite hard to pin down, these bikes have been available for roughly a decade.
Plus, they are becoming quite popular. Although, they are quite difficult when riding them on pavements.
Origin Of Fat Tire Bikes
As one of the rapidly growing trends in off-road cycling back in the United Kingdom, it has been claimed that fat tire bikes were originally conceived in one of two places. We can date it back to the 1980s as the time fat-tire bikes were created. At this time, they were utilized in the snowy wilds of Alaska.
And, they were also used in the Sandy desert of nowhere else but, New Mexico. However, it was a particular time and even used as a model of transportation at a point.
While you may wonder why they ever created these bikes, well, their large and fat tires allowed its users to move around in the sand and snow. And then, in the 2000s, the fat tire bikes were finally being created by some commercial brands.
The first commercial brand to create this fat-tire bikes was Surely bikes. Their brand is the famous Pugsley frame. As it stands, most fat tire bike manufacturers provide a fat bike or two as a part of their range. These include:
• Cannondale
• Mondraker
• Genesis, and even
• Specialized
What Exactly Are Fat Tire Bikes
For those who are not clear on the earlier definition, fat tire bikes are bikes that look like they are mountain bikes. However, they are fitted with tires that are fat. These tires are about 3.8 inches. And, they can be as wide as probably five inches if not more.
Differing from some mountain bikes, the fat tire bikes do not make use of suspension forks. Rather, their fattened tires, as well as low air pressure in the tires, build up this suspension riders to have a very comfortable off-road riding.
Due to the fact that its tires are very wide and actually soft, they provide amazing traction in the:
• Snow
• Mud
• Rocks
• Sand, and
• Tree roots
Form Of Fat Tire Bikes
As a result of how fat their tires are, we can say they are what makes these bikes what they are known for. The majority of them have a tire that can be said to be four inches wide. Note that, this is almost twice the exact width of the standard mountain bike tire.
Plus, it is almost four times as wide as the usual road back tire. Additionally, these fat tire bikes have been structured to function with lower tire pressure. Though measured in pounds per square inch, the mountain bikes demand tire pressure.
These tire pressures are between thirty-five and seventy psi. Although, most of the car tires function best when they are between thirty and thirty-five psi. However, with the fat tire bike, you will be looking at a measurement between ten and twenty psi.
Bear in mind that, this low tire pressure can actually increase the surface area of the tire further. It will assist in keeping the fat tire bikes aloft especially on surfaces that are soft.
This can be said to be almost the same as the difference between walking via boots through the snow. Here, every step you take can cause you to sink through the surface’s softness.
Furthermore, this is in comparison with walking in the snow but you are walking with the aid of snowshoes. The snowshoes can actually distribute the weight over a much more bigger area and still remain on the surface of the snow.
As a result of the tire’s width as well as low pressure, it is highly possible to ride the fat tire bike on the snow, sand and even possible through bogs.
Perks Of Using A Fat Tire Bike
Amongst the diverse perks of using a fat tire bike, one of the most obvious is its ability to actually cycle through unique conditions.
You should note that, before the advent of fat tire bikes, conditions such as Sand and snow where taken to be off-limits for all cyclists. When it was winter, it automatically meant the end of all mountain biking season.
This was because it was never feasible to be pedaling through the harsh weather condition of the snow. However, with the fat tire bike, winter can be said to be just an extension of the season.
Now, it can even be the season a cyclist can look forward to as a result of the new areas that will become easily accessible. Note that, the trails which are usually groomed for the Nordic skiers are frequently open to the fat-tire bikes.
Bear in mind that, an entire network of the newer trail is opened in winter. These are trails that are being groomed to the Nordic skiers. Those cyclists that are known to be daring and adventurous have all taken fat-tire bikes in glaciers.
This includes bare and snow-covered glaciers. You can rest assured that with the fat tire bike, you can pedal all over the beach. In some countries, they are carrying out events for fat tire bike races.
Furthermore, for some people, investing in the fat tire bike automatically means having a bike that will function in every condition.
It may not be quite reasonable or even cheap to have a road bike for some city commuting, a full-suspension mountain bike for those slick rocks and the fair tire bike for snow.
Being the owner of only a fat tire bike will mean having a bike that will actually work in every condition. There are people who prefer a fat tire bike than the usual road bikes when they are traveling via roads.
This preference is due to the fact that the wider tires and even the lower pressures make the ride softer and very comfortable.
Similar to how they are able to tackle holes and rocks that are on trails, the fat tire bikes perform very well on frost heaves and potholes.
Subsequently, fat-tire bikes may as well be known for the ability to float over those trick surfaces. However, do not be deceived because they are actually heavier than the usual mountain bikes.
And, these mountain bikes are actually heavier than the standard road bikes. Their increased weight makes the fat bikes very hard to pedal on those normal terrains such as asphalt and even pavements.
There are people who see this as a plus. This is because it just means that you will have to work a little bit harder while you pedal. Therefore, the complexity of your workout will be increased.
Disadvantages Of Owning A Fat Tire Bike
While it has its obvious perks, every good thing must surely have a disadvantage somewhere around the corner. For the fat tire bike, the majority of them, which includes the base models, are costlier than the normal road or even hybrid bike.
The fat tire bike is actually a huge initial investment. In those areas where they are very popular, there are bike shops that tend to rent fat bikes for the whole day or half a day. This is actually an amazing way to preview without making a full investment.
Another downside of the fat tire bike lies in their weight. There are companies selling fat tire bike frames that come in light materials such as carbon fiber. However, the majority of beginner or affordable models are quite heavy.
With the increased weight, it makes it a little bit challenging to pedal a fat tire bike at the exact same speed that you will have to pedal a much lighter bike.
As a result of the combination of the already reduced tire pressure and the heavy frames, the fat tire bikes become much slower than every other model.
If you desire a bike that will be able to get you across town as quickly as possible, the fat tire bike is not your best bet.
Fat Tire Bikes And The Newbie Cyclist
On a general note, those who have not gotten into biking be it mountain or road before may likely make use of the fat tire bike. Even if you are simply interested in a spin class or want to purchase a bike that is free moving.
Its soft tires and much slower speeds make the fat tire bike the ideal bike for a person who is not interested in racing through wooden tracks. The fact remains that, the fat tire bikes are actually an amazing cruise bike.
They are able to conveniently tackle all types of terrain that a newbie cycle may have found a little bit difficult such as rough roads, wooden bridges, and even manhole covers.
Wrapping It Up
It does not matter where you are with the whole cycling routine, trying out a fat tire bike will aid in broadening your entire cycling experience. Even if you make use of one to explore newer terrains, it should be one that will be active when winter comes.
Also, you can put one that you can make use of in traveling all over town.