Fat bikes have taken the biking world by storm. Fat bikes are all the rage, but not everyone knows the story behind these amazing machines. The popularity of fat bike began in the United States. Where serious snow bikers began realizing that the fat tires they used in the winter made their bikes more versatile. Fat tires were originally used on snow bikes, but riders soon realized the benefits and started using them off-road. What began as a niche market has now grown to encompass people from all walks of life.
What Is A Fat Bike?
To understand the success of the fat bike craze, it’s important to understand the difference between a snow bike and a fat bike. Both bikes have similar snowbike and fatbike variants, but the distinctions between the two are numerous. A snow bike is designed to work well in snow, as its tires are designed to move snow, or “dope” in snowbiking lingo. A fat bike, on the other hand, is primarily meant to be used on the road or in the trails. While the concept of riding a fat bike on the trails has been around for years, the riding was traditionally done with mountain bikes. That is until fat bikes came along. Fat Bikes: Riding With Purpose Fat bikes were designed to be a viable option for serious riders. Both snow and road bikes have been adapted to a wider range of uses.
Fat Bikes Are Great For Snow
There are many benefits to fat bikes. Snow bikers often utilize fat bikes in the winter to go snowboarding. This is a great activity for a weekend trip. However, for serious snow riding, a fat bike is an excellent option. A fat bike is lighter than a snow bike, and the easier it is to mount a snowboard on the bike. Additionally, fat bikes handle snow better than snow bikes do. If you take a snowbike on a steep mountain, you’ll likely kill it, but a fat bike is much more stable. Off-road fat bikes can also be used on roads and trails.
Are Fat Bikes Good Off Road?
Fat bikes are not your typical all-terrain riding bike. While most fat bikes are excellent mountain bikes, a few fat bikes are purpose-built to handle both the terrain and off-road applications. The deep snow, rock gardens, and loose gravel the fat bike is designed to handle make it a perfect tool for this kind of riding. Fat Bikes Begin At $500 Fat bikes can be found at the bike shop for a bit more than $500. If you are on a tight budget, there are many companies that make fat bike components for the price range of just under $500.
The Benefits Of A Fat Bike
It’s called fat biking for a reason. Fat bikes feature a wide, fat wheel with hubs that allow you to go up to 40 miles per hour. Plus, you can ride your fat bike year round. Not only are fat bikes great for winter, but you can even ride them during the summer! Your fat bike can keep you feeling like you are biking in winter all year round. They are also good for all terrain, such as steep hills, loose gravel, and mud. These bikes are also convenient and light-weight. So what if you want to cruise around town instead of going on a trek? You can cruise on a bike that’s easy to maneuver and doesn’t break the bank.
Buying A Fat Bike For Under $500
While fat bikes have made quite an impact in the world of bikes, they do come with their own set of requirements. You need to make sure that your riding terrain is appropriate for this type of bike. Because fat tires can get in the way of hard-packed snow or even trails, they should not be used on trails that are at high elevation. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be riding a fat bike anywhere that you are likely to get stuck or break a rim. To keep you safe on the trails, you need to make sure that you are not riding on wet or icy surfaces. Luckily, you don't need to go out and drop a ton of cash to get a fat bike. There are a number of models that are available for less than $500.
Can Fat Bikes Be Used For Commuting?
While there are several factors to consider before riding a fat bike, let’s look at the potential benefits of riding a fat bike for commuting. When you don’t have a place to ride right away, riding a fat bike can be a great alternative. A fat bike is a great way to cut down on traffic and get some fresh air! Fat bikes, also known as all-terrain or mountain bikes, have a larger tire than traditional mountain bikes. The larger tire causes the rider to slow down, but it provides the rider with much better traction on any type of surface. There are many different types of fat bikes, and the highest of quality versions of the bikes are available for a significant price tag. No matter the type of bike you ride, fat tires give you an advantage.
Best Places To Ride A Fat Bike
Winter bike riding is an adventure in itself. The weather can make just about anything impossible. Thankfully, Alaska has plenty of perfect places to ride a fat bike. There are also plenty of experienced mountain bikers from around the world who make sure that a little experience goes a long way. If you're trying to get the most bang for your buck, consider finding a local off road trail path. That way you won't have to pay to travel very far.
Conclusion
Fat bikes are hear to stay. They are great fun and somewhat practical if you're planning on going off road onto a tough trail. They can take a beating, even more so than some mountain bikes. However with a small budget you'll need to be ruthless when it comes to finding a bike that is functional, reliable and affordable. Take a look at the recommendations we've found below and let us know what you think!
