Every few years, the broader bike world discovers some hot new technology, frame style, or flavor and then there’s a mad rush to make it the Next Big Thing. And sometimes it really does become the next big thing and sometimes it fizzles like a damp firecracker fuse.
This time around, it’s fat bikes. With 29ers an old story and intermediate-size 650b wheels treading water, the snow- and sand-oriented monsters machines are gaining, er, traction in a big way, no longer just the choice for Iditabike. The classic Wisconsin crosscountry skiing race, the Birkebeiner, has added a Fat Bike Birkie next month, and last month about 60 people attended the second annual Fat Bike Summit at Sawtelle Mountain, Idaho. Nordic resorts and tracks are scrambling to develop rules governing the use of fat bikes, and manufacturers are running out of stock on frames, wheels, and rims.
Awesome sauce. But will it last? Will Pugsleys and Moonlanders soon become dust collectors in the corners of garages? Or will fatties revolutionize the use of bikes on snow?
This poll is multiple choice — select as many answers as you like.
WIN SMITH SUNGLASSES JUST BY VOTING!
This week, one poll participant will receive Smith Optic’s Serpico sunglasses. We’ll pick the winner via random number generator (and announce it here) — all you have to do to enter is vote and leave a comment so we have your email to contact you. Must have a U.S. or Canadian address. Contest ends Sunday, March 3, at midnight PST.
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{ 202 comments… read them below or add one }
I wanna try.
I’ll try anything at least once. Then I’ll have an opinion.
Fat bikes need love too.
I hope I win. A friend broke my pair of Serpicos.
More cushion for the (pedal) pushin’.
I would like to try riding a fat bike on some packed-down singletrack, but unlikely to replace a good powder day on my board during the winter months.
Not that big into mountain biking, but it would be fun to try once!
Voted…
this is ‘Murica. We love fat.
They’re fun to ride, but I don’t want to drop the 3 Gs needed to build a decent bike that I won’t choose to ride the rest of the year.
Adds another option to winter sports. Not only on ski trails but any road, bike commuting all winter long?
I think the Surly Krampus looks real interesting, but I’d probably add a road bike to my collection before a Fat Bike.
No form of biking puts a smile on your face faster than riding a fat-bike!
I love a fatty.
Rode some Surly Pugsley fat bikes in the Sawtooths in Idaho and fell in love with them!
I wouldn’t mind trying one.
I wanna ride one!
roll a fatty
how bad can it be? if you like to ride bikes, this should be a fun way to spin away the time in the winter months… or anytime.
friend has a moonlander. i’ve rode it, its comical to have that huge tire in front of you, i was actually laughing while i rode. handles well enough and didnt feel slow, but ultimately a fad. watch the fat bike vs cross country skier video (that i think was posted on here a long time ago, when fat bikes where still new) 29ers where right there riding with the fat bike, dont really need the extra rubber.
Given how global climate change has made snowboarding pretty brutal in the east I think there is going to be many more people going fat vs POW in these parts. Many of my bike brethren have already moved to the fat experience and love it. Still on the fence myself.
not really interested in fat bikes as there season of use seems to be concurrent with ski season.
Would be fun to try, but can’t see buying one.
I’m riding a 20″ wheel folding bike with my dog every morning rather than my racing bike-the one problem is the slipping on ice and snow – so this could be the answer -phil
they’ll change spring and fall riding forever as well.
I would try it but not invest in buying one. Most decent mountain bikes can be set up for winter riding or sand.
Definitely fat bike curious.
all bikes are fun.
Winter Ride??? All fun until you get caught? I’m Curious!
If you have a use for it, like living in a mountain town or near some nordic trails then why not. If it’s just going to sit in your basement then there are probably orther things to get excited about.
Trailscouter.com—-coming soon!
Id ride one if given the opportunity. Not enough snow in my neck of the woods however
They’ve peaked my interest.
I want to try one of these for the North East commute
I would ride the hell out of one.
definitely curious
they’re great for low snow days when I can skate ski…
I wanna ride one before buying one.
ooops… that was supposed to be when I CAN’T skate ski…
Bring on the snow!
I wanna roll one for a try!
No thanks
Being the last of my friends to build one of these beasts has me trekking solo this winter. Next year, for sure.
Go Surly!
Would love to try one, but don’t know if I’d spend money on buying one. I’m curious. Sunglasses please, meow!
Fad … big time a fad.
Not a fad, they rule the snow.
Fatties are here to stay. Trek and Specialized will be rolling on board next…
I’d love to try it.
mheh… nah. get out the skis, or boots instead.
They’ve been catching my eye for a while. Need to add one to my collection.
like winter, this fad will never be seen again in 2 years.
ready for the 7 inch travel fatty
fat bike-curious fa sho!
If Al Gore is right, we won’t need Fat Bikes soon, Or, we will all need Fat Bikes soon.
Cool!
Fattys forever.
Can’t really picture the appeal, but would definitely try it.
curious but sceptical.
Like I say to skiers, whatever you gets you down the trail.
I just hope it doesn’t become a mandatory component of your biking quiver. “In order to be a true mountain biker, you need a standard, a 29er, a fat bike, a hard-tail, a … “
*^ edit: “whatever gets you down the trail.”
seems like a little too much rubber for anything other than fluffy sand or snow.
Your first ride will have you checking your bank account
“Roll a fatty, be happy.” You get me, Adventure Journal…
Question is: when are they going to put fat wheels on DH frames so we can drop couloirs on ‘em? Steep riding here I come! Who’s in?
They’re great for their intended use, but most guys are picking them up purely because they “make riding fun again!!!1!” which led to my fad vote. They’ll settle down to their niche next year, but for now everyone and their cat is getting one around here in KS. Funny thing is, even with our crazy snowfall this month, my cx bike has seen more time on the snow than their fatties.
Thin may be in…but fat is where its at!
i voted.
looks potentially fun but not something i’ll spend money on!
I’m interested, but I’m holding off until these bikes are available for less than a grand.
I think it’ll be the next I get!
Actually everyone that’s asked about them always says that they’re “fun” to ride. Sounds like a good enough reason to me.
I hate riding on snow and ice. Not interested, but if the opportunity to wreck someone else’s came up, I’d give it a try for the hell of it.
I’d rather do winter sports in winter… crazy, I know. I already have five bikes, this wouldn’t by my sixth. But a swing bike? Now we’re talking.
I like the swing bike idea
Hey, I love toys like anybody else, and can see the allure, but the demand will die quickly. I’d have to be making a lot more money to spend the bucks on one.
They’d be fun around here in the winter but I’m with the winter crowd folks. I’d rather be riding the snow on my ski/board of choice.
Yea, they are fun!, test road a view… but like others have said I’d rather do winter sports. If I lived near a beach I’d also consider it.
This looks like a blast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fRAvzvXHbt8
I’ve been on a pugsly and 9zero7 and love them both. Excellent compared to the Giant 29r I have – even with studs. The wider tires help float over the thicker snow without the squirrely control my 29r leaves me with. Convinced me to hang out on CL and get one.
I love em. Admittedly they are not a replacement for more snow appropriate activities like skiing, but tgey round out the winter months nicely.
Never seen one of these ever… Do people buy these?
Just test rode the Moonlander the other day and it was FUN!
John O stole my comment.
I think they’ll run their course sooner than later, but I still want one!
I’d love to have one. If someone gave it to me.
Let it roll!
They’re kinda cool but definitely not gonna be my next bike.
i like the people who comment simply with an ”I voted” and nothing more.
reminds me of the time when i was 5 or 6 and a nice stewardess asked me if I wanted to visit the cockpit. I went with her and met the pilot who then asked if i wanted to speak into the intercom…..alI i managed to say was ‘dad’.
quite the performance I must say.
Fatties open your conciousness!!!
fat bikes need love too
rollin’ fatties is my favorite…
This poll is stupid.
They look like a blast to ride. I’d love to try one.
Do what feels good!
personally i like to XC ski in the winter and XC ride in the summer, and enjoy the excitement as i get out a different set of gear at the beginning of the season. but to each his own.
I’d take one
I’m not sure I need a fat bike to replace my mountain bike but happy to try it.
Only time shall tell…
I hate the winter and it’s long here in Ottawa, Canada. I use to mtb till the snow came, then sit on my couch till it went away (for 15yrs I did this). I was skeptical on how much of a difference the fat tires would handle and the weight and rolling resistance looks pretty dang scary from my weight weenie xc racer perspective. I dove in and bought a Necromancer and have rode it almost every day since and guys, I gotta say, I’m loving it. I’m getting out when I would not have so I’m getting my fun winter training in and THAT IS PRICELESS. I have now committed to building myself a 23lb Fatty. I use to ride 2.2 26ers in winter and could do it but no way does it compare to fat tires. I swear you gotta try it!
after NAHBS, a fat bike will definitely be my next. frame builders are already taking this in many great directions
I like my regular mountainbike in snow, I can only imagine this one is extra fun
who doesn’t like rollin on a fatty?
Where’s the option for “I’m not interested (or douchy enough) to buy a bike the costs more than $1,000
They look like they would be a fun ride and a good change up from training.
i just wish they were a little cheaper
I’s like to try it once. Not sure I’d ever buy one.
Totally want one. Would make ripping the single track in winter a lot less intimidating.
Anything to get outside in the winter.
Want one. Badly.
Don’t be a fattie hater.
i would totally try one
What a beautiful fat-bottomed girl! Definitely not a fad.
I’d try one!
Haven’t ridden one yet but I’d like to give one a try. Still think its just a passing thing though.
Def would try one … Looks like a good idea.
ski in the winter, bike in the summer
Have moved north to 5 months of bad weather. Missing my winter riding, narrow, icy, snow covered roads and unplowed city streets have stopped me. Lots of groomed snowmachine trails though. Looks like a winner to me. On my bucket list to find out if this option is for real.
Saw these in Vail – did not ride where I can ski
Certainly beats sitting on a trainer all winter. The terrain and scenery is very different on snow. I will admit I’m not arrowhead 135 fan, but I sure do enjoy being outdoors in the winter time on my fat bike!
Enjoy
I think fatbikes are here to stay and I definitely want to try it. I’d like to see somebody do a 650B mid-fatbike. Beargrease+Krumpus=!!!!!
Have one, Love it. Ride it year round. Can’t wait for a full suspension fatty to hit the market.
Ummm, I’m on my second over a 5 year span. And I ride it 90% on non-snowy singletrack. They excel on tech terrain. And I also own a full squish 29er trailbike, which although I love, cannot replace my love of my fatbike.
It is not a fad. No way.
Every year I used to dread the end of mountain bike season when the snow started to fall. Now as the daylight gets longer and spring like weather starts to appear I dread the idea that fat bike season may be coming to an end. I’m loving my new Surly Moonlander and how it’s made winter more enjoyable.
I own a Fatback it is my main ride now. It’s a blast to ride.
SURLY MOONLANDER. Own it, ride it, love it, year round!
Wish I lived in a part of the country where a fat bike would see a lot of use, but I don’t. Otherwise, I’d have one in my stable for sure!
One trip to central Wisconsin will seal out any doubts; ’round here this question was relevant a few years ago!
If I could only keep one of my bikes…the Fattie would be high on the list.
Love my fat bike, a bright yellow Pugsley. I’ve named her Goldie.
Have one, love it…don’t knock it till you try it.
I’m over it. I want to see a resurgence with tandems.
Have one. It’s alot of fun riding it when conditions are right. Still get more use out of the mtb on frozen dirt roads. Never will replace the love for my Nordic skis in winter though.
Those specs will be BA for the ridin’ of my Mukluk.
I have a first generation Pugsley set up singlespeed. Not light, but a lot of fun to ride- year ’round!
I have few hills round where I live. A fattie will open the beaches up for me.
As someone that bikes all year long, fat bikes are awesome. I always used to ride my 29er on snow rides, but if the powder was fresh and deep, you just ended up walking…or having to wait it out until hikers/skiers packed things down. With a fat bike, that doesn’t matter. You just go out and get it in. Sure, there’s a limit to when a fat bike won’t get it done…but you’ve got to have some pretty darn deep conditions for that. It makes everything more rideable.
Then, consider you can throw a set of 29+ rabbit holes with 29×3 knards on, and you’ve got yourself a sweet semi-fat summer bike. Or throw some Big Apples on the Rabbit Holes and go touring in mega-comfort.
I bought a Surly Moonlander as my only singletrack bike. Winter, spring, summer, fall… you will see me on my fatty. I even test rode a Fuel EX 9 (and loved it! Super responsive!) and still chose the Moonlander. I even use it for my daily commute to class instead of my roadie..
Surly rocks!
Not just for winter or sand riding
29er’s were a fad. People are still catching on. I dig fatbikes, skinny bikes, all bikes. Shut up and ride.
There is a nearby Sawtelle Mountain (called Sawtelle Peak, actually), but the Fat Bike Summit was held at Sawtelle Mountain Resort in Island Park, Idaho. I took my first fat-bike ride there. It was fun, but I wouldn’t get one just for riding on snow (I’m too much of a alpine & Nordic skier). I would like to try one out in the summer. I did not vote in your poll, because none of the choices reflects my opinion. Most of them are kind of dumb, really.
I demo’ed one in Gunnison. It was a sweet experience. It floats on sand, snow, and hooks up where regular MTBs lose traction.
I’ll be getting one when I can afford to buy a good quality one. Hopefully in the next year or so. It will complete my bike harem.
I bought a Surley Neck-Romancer Pug last spring. Haven’t touched my full suspension bike since. The fatty is so fun to ride!!!
My fatty is a hoot to ride. Gotta go… she’s calling me to come for a ride.
I’ve bin riding a Pug for five+ years, now I have a ti custom fat bike as well, so I guess, I rule.
Put my name in the hat.
Once you go fat….for real, just do it…on a Surly. Oh, and they aren’t just for snow
In the midst of upgrading my road bike, cross/gravel ride and my 29er.. But have been bitten by the “Fat Bike Bug”.. I will have one soon!!
i like bikes and wear glasses!
if you ride like a real goat-man, you can’t do it on anything else. a regular mtb is to a fat bike what a road bike is to a regular mtb in 1985.. there are infinite uses for riding rough terrain, people with little skill and imagination wouldn’t understand what i means to push yourself and your vehicle way beyond their original designs. i been riding my 1X1 with 3.5″ tires for 8 years, downhill, snow, in rivers, anything, and all kinds of places that people don’t even ride bikes ever. its all about vision. if this article is designed to tell people they all need fat tire bikes, then that is broad over generalization. i also see lots of concern with money and cost of it, thats not important either, go for a ride, have an adventure, and LIVE!!
I see several posts claiming regular mountain bikes can ride the same in snow (even sand) and it’s simply not true. I’ve ridden for years in snow on my regular mtb, but the amount of snow you can ride in, the control you have isn’t comparable, all with a lot less exertion because you ride on top of the snow, you don’t slice through. With that said, fat bikes have limits and although I have not found sand I could not ride in, if the snow is too deep or too heavy and wet you’ll be hike-a-biking if riding at all.
It’s been nice having one this winter, but it’s been great to have on dry trails, too. Beach bikepacking is the plan for this summer.
I was a skeptic… until Salsa set up a demo day near me. One ride was all it took and I am a fattie fan forever. Trust me … these are not just for sand and snow… they will put a permagrin on yer mug!
If you don’t have one now, you will eventually get one because they are just plain FUN!!
Long live fatties
Ride a fattie and forget about the cold wet spot! …embrace the season!
Once you go fat…
Fat bikes are like bacon. You either love it or you are wrong. The Moonie is my favorite bike since my Sting-Ray in 1971. I’ve had a lot of bikes in between and nothing given me the a permanent grin like the fat bike.
Bought my Mukluk 3 years ago when there were less than 20 people in town riding fatbikes. Now there are close to 100. The tipping point was when all the roadies jumped on the wagon to escape riding rollers and computrainers. More the merrier – the trails get into packed ridable condition so much quicker than they used to. Been out about 40 times this season so far, probably another 6 weeks of snow riding left in these parts. Definitely getting my money’s worth if you consider the cost of a lift ticket or daily XC trail pass that I’m not buying.
fatties don’t give a shit. they just stomp.
Loved them for years. Work as a wrench at a shop and we’ve sold twenty grand of fat bikes in the last five months. Everyone loves them. We have one on the floor and it is consistently the first bike people wander over to and ask about. Personally, since I bought mine, it’s about all I ride anymore. It’s just too much fun. If you think you want one, get one. It’s totally worth it.
Don’t have one yet but I love em! All Terrain Bike! No Doubt.
Wife loves her’s.
One of my favorite bikes. Good all around, go anywhere bike.
I’m Fat all year round!
Rode one of these bikes at a NE Trials Event and was floored by how light they feel….very cool set up allows you really roll over stones and dirt roads with total control and no fear of the front end washing out. The tires become the suspension for the bike…you can even bunny hop the bike fairly easy because of the tires.
Fun stuff
Step One- Get a Fat Bike.
Step Two- Take over cross country trails in western Montana.
Serpico those Smiths truly are — the bomb, fatties truly are. After all, what is a titanium plate and 10 pedicle screws between/ friends? Despite the “throwdown,” I am still in love w/ the Mukluk. Now to cure that pesky chainline issue…
Test rode a beargrease recently- super fun!
finding it hard to find a shop to buy one
Love all my fatbikes! Yes, that’s plural!
Nice looking shades for my fat bike riding! You do feel like a kid again on one!
Shades that work for a bike that just works as well, without feeling like work. Fun!
They’re fun and not just for snow. I know several people who get lots of extra riding days in the Spring and Fall on trails that would otherwise be too muddy to ride (without wrecking the trails) on a normal mountain bike.
If you can’t love the one you want, love the one with width……
Rolling with my Pugsley!
I have one
And it is a fun way to enjoy winter! Time split with xc skiing
I live inthe Middle East and surrounded by desert. It’s a game changer here, turns everywhere into a great cycling playground https://vimeo.com/60316882
Pretty cool concept – I’m skeptical of that extra rolling resistance.
Just get one.
Haven’t ridden a fattie yet, but I’ve been seriously considering trading in my MTB and adding one to the stable. It looks perfect for the types of trails around my house.
not many in the northeast
Have one love ready to my pug for a moonlander
Would love to try one, I think we could be friends.
Try it if you get it you will be hooked !5
When I move to Alaska I want one!
That looks like one heluva good time.
They are way more popular here. Been riding mine for years
I have a Pugsley AND a Moonlander…..Moonlander wins every time!
I have two and love them both!
MukLuk heaven.
Love mine, ride in places none of my other bikes will go…
Totally beats waiting till spring to ride your bike. It’s not a winter-only bike anyway…a blast to ride all year ’round!
Rode one for the first time today! Amazing! I couldn’t stop riding till I was too tired too ride any further and feet were too cold . Winter life altering!
I was skeptical at first, but love the fattie. Ride it more than I ever would have dreamed!
I put on close to 1000 miles on my 9:zero:7 just last summer and absolutely loved every mile of it! No it not a downhill crushing machine but it is a fast rolling, fun, super simple riding beast!
Don’t see enough snow around my house to make it worth it…but if I ever move north it’s a must
My wife and I each have two Fat Bikes. We have each had a Pugsley for three years. This year we picked up two Moonlanders. We love them!!!!
anything you can do to a bike to make it more versatile or to satisfy a need, is a good thing. There will always be people with enough money and interest who want to buy one!
Fat Bikes Rule! Togwotee Winter Classic snow bike race is next weekend March 9. Free entry.
I live in Anchorage and see them everywhere! I would love to own one, they look like a fun way to stay active in winter, tried one and loved it.
To ride comfortably in snow that swallows the 29er is a blast, making winter in Hayward, WI a whole new experience. Can’t wait to get my fat bike on the CAMBA single track this summer. Fat Bike Birkie here we come!
After 15 years of riding in the snow, it’s about bloody time!