It was upon a recent trip to the bike store to get my Trek tuned-up before the start of this up coming season that I was introduced to these new style
'Fat Tire' Bicycles.
They were invented up in Alaska and designed to ride on snow, sand and somewhat marshy ground. With tires up to four inches wide they give a broader
footprint and allow you to traverse ground where you'd have to abandon a more traditional mountain bike.
From Wiki
Fatbikes were invented for winter trail riding and racing in sub-arctic Alaska and simultaneously, for touring the deserts of New Mexico. Their
utility has expanded to include all forms of cycling; they thrive in snow, sand, desert, bogs and mud as well as riding what is considered normal
mountain biking.
The frame looks more like a BMX styled bike and except for one carbon framed custom high dollar model, their a lot heavier than my Trek.
Talking to the sales guy I learned there are a growing number of people who will ride these on the back trails traditionally reserved for us
cross-country skiers. I was also told there are a few ski areas that now allow these bikes on their downhill runs. Though just thinking of pulling a
'Dookie' on a bike makes my nuts hurt.
Pulling a Dookie, BTW is when you jump off the ski-lift, trying to look cool as you ski away but in this case you would make a hard landing on the
bikes saddle and it's kind of hard to look graceful once your eyes fill up with those big old alligator tears.
I can see where this style of bike will give you mobility where other bikes fail, snow, sand, maybe even muddy trails as long as their not to soupy.
My problem is when the wife and I ride we usually have our daughters with us astride a Trail-a-Bike
If we wanted to continue using them we'd have to mod the frames to accept a rim and tire for a 'Fat Tire' to match. FYI a normal Trail-a-Bike cost
just over $200, to have one modded or custom made might place them right out of our toys budget.
A quick Google search listed 'Fat Tire' bikes with starting prices around $300 USD, that carbon framed one I saw in the store and just over $2,500
cost ten times what I paid for my Trek! and again Google as another carbon bike listed for just under $6k!
Guess I'll have to wait until after I win the power ball before I can afford one of those high end machines?
Seems to me a "Fat Tire' might just be the perfect form of transport in a real SHTF, natural or man made disaster.
Anyway while I debate the merits of buying a new bike I'll leave with a website
Fat Tire Snow Bikes - A
Mountain Bike for Winter Play so you can learn more about this growing sport
edit on 18-2-2014 by HardCorps because: (no reason given)