06-13-2024, 01:12 PM
(01-03-2023, 11:24 AM)GirishH Wrote: Please let me know if you are into fat bikes and what purpose do you use them for? What's been your memorable experience on a fat bike?
I bought a steel fat bike in 2016, from a bike shop. It came with a hub gear but it had a lug for a derailleur so I asked the bike shop to convert it. That didn't work out well because in the lowest gear the chain rubbed against the tire. I contacted the bike maker (Sun) and they said even though it has a lug for a derailleur, it's not suitable for the conversion. At the time I didn't know that fitting 4" tires instead of the 4.5" tires, it would have fixed the problem. So I traded it in for a Specialized Fatboy which was lighter and no chain problems. I soon discovered that riding in the long grass on a verge, the knobbly tires were easily punctured by sand burrs (which I couldn't see in the grass.) So I fitted road tires to it and no more puncture problems. I rode that bike for over 13,000 miles mostly on paved areas. I finally sold it and bought a new step-through bike which I love and has less rolling resistance. I think I should have kept the Fatboy which I used for morning rides, and the step-through for evening rides. I favored the step-through, though.
As far as rolling resistance with the Fatboy, I can't say I noticed it, being a casual rider and with road tires, but I kept the tire pressures at 20 lb, which is more than the recommended 15 lb. It depends where you're riding the bike.
One place I wouldn't go with the Fatboy is the beaches. Years ago I damaged the hub gears on a regular bike through riding on hard sand after the tide had gone out. I used to race along the sand, then stand on one pedal and hit the back brake, spinning the back around. I don't know how derailleurs handle sand but I didn't want to take a chance with it.