Thanks for the video. A key to fatbiking is playing with tire pressure. Finding the right pressure will help you float, make it feel less like going through ''mud'' and increase your speed. On soft trails, going as low as 4 pounds changes everything. You can raise that pressure on harder , icier trails. There are some great videos that show that Fatbikes actually go faster downhill in summer than other mountain bikes due to the way that they grip better, giving you more control and therefore less breaking as you also can basically roll over everything. Climbing is another story though. So in winter, with appropriate tire pressure and in the right conditions, fats can really rip. Oka rentals added some really aggressive studs to their bikes that make Dillinger studs look like baby teeth. I invested in the studded tires and cringed at the fact that I was paying almost twice more than my car's Michelins. But a fact to consider is that they basically will not wear out if you use them only on snow and ice. So their durability is unbelievable and something to consider if you are thinking of being on a fat for a long time. As for dress, I usually dress light but if you are going to stop to snack on a longer ride , packing a light but warm down jacket (there are some real super compact ones out there that I also use for backcountry skiing) will keep you warm while you are resting/snacking. Layering is everything. In real cold weather , pogies change everything for your hand. Electric socks can help for your boots (another huge investment for socks and boots...ugggggghhhhhhh) and you might want to buy a bigger fatbike boot and use several layers of socks. I have gone fatbiking at -35 celsuis so face coverings and goggles are a must at -20 or less. In fact , the most painful part of my trips have been with ''Willy''. It might be beause I am also starting to ''drip'' a bit at my age but there are special underwear out there and I am still experimenting with the idea of some kind of ''shield'' as the wind chill and moistness make for painful enemies at -25 and below. As for skills and technique, I find that Fatbiking is less forgiving than mountain biking in the sense that you have to have the right technique. An obvious example is braking through a turn. However, just keeping general balance at slow speeds is another one as sometimes if you lose ''it'', you will put your foot down into 2 or 3 feet of soft snow beside a very narrow fatbike packed trail. Falls are brutal for the ego but as mentionned, it is almost pleasant compared to falling in the summer. I'm convinced that Fatbiking, in some ways, takes us back to the basics, and makes us better bikers in the summer. It makes us a better biker period. And finally there is something magic about floating through a snow covered forest. And when it snows too much!....put away your fatbike stupid and go skiing. LOL. In other words, Fatbiking is a great alternative when it is to icy or cold to ski. If one looks at the weight to ground contact ratio, I feel more comfortable and more grippy on ice with a Fat than I do with a car or just walking. FAT IS FUN.
Awesome comment Peter, I'm going to pin it to the top of the comments section as I think a lot of people will benefit from your tips that you mentioned. I completely agree that fat biking is a lot less forgiving than normal mountain biking and your technique really needs to be on point or you'll end up sliding off the trail or worse! It forces you to learn how to do things properly :)
@@RamsayRides Sometimes I worry about comments and I was a little worried about posting it after the fact. I just wanted to add some of my own personal experience to a great video.
Great video! I love the simplicity of my fat bike, 11 speeds, no suspension. Whenever I'm out riding I feel like I am on an adventure, like being a kid again.
Thanks Mike! Yeah definitely it's nice. Low maintenance and not much to think about bike-wise while riding, just focusing on the terrain and finding the best line really keeps you in the flow-state and having a good time! :)
Nice and informative and you got that "old man" part right! Riding on studs the next week was like night and day. Was able to fly (relatively) and had way more confidence. The groomed trails at Oka are calling!
$600 for a tire, WTFF??? I can build you a tire for half that. All you need is carriage bolts, a file and a drill in order to shape the spike portion. You can go from minimalist to down right shredder with the pattern. There are several videos here on YT showing the process. Or search for motorcycle on ice and you will find several variations. 🥶🌬️❄️
No $600 for a pair! But yeah it's still crazy. Had never heard of making your own tires, I'll check it out thanks! These are the tires in question but they're all about this price www.bicyclesquilicot.com/en/pneu-a-clous-45nrth-dillinger-5-26-x-4-6-120-tpi-tr-tr4656
Thanks for the video. A key to fatbiking is playing with tire pressure. Finding the right pressure will help you float, make it feel less like going through ''mud'' and increase your speed. On soft trails, going as low as 4 pounds changes everything. You can raise that pressure on harder , icier trails. There are some great videos that show that Fatbikes actually go faster downhill in summer than other mountain bikes due to the way that they grip better, giving you more control and therefore less breaking as you also can basically roll over everything. Climbing is another story though. So in winter, with appropriate tire pressure and in the right conditions, fats can really rip. Oka rentals added some really aggressive studs to their bikes that make Dillinger studs look like baby teeth. I invested in the studded tires and cringed at the fact that I was paying almost twice more than my car's Michelins. But a fact to consider is that they basically will not wear out if you use them only on snow and ice. So their durability is unbelievable and something to consider if you are thinking of being on a fat for a long time. As for dress, I usually dress light but if you are going to stop to snack on a longer ride , packing a light but warm down jacket (there are some real super compact ones out there that I also use for backcountry skiing) will keep you warm while you are resting/snacking. Layering is everything. In real cold weather , pogies change everything for your hand. Electric socks can help for your boots (another huge investment for socks and boots...ugggggghhhhhhh) and you might want to buy a bigger fatbike boot and use several layers of socks. I have gone fatbiking at -35 celsuis so face coverings and goggles are a must at -20 or less. In fact , the most painful part of my trips have been with ''Willy''. It might be beause I am also starting to ''drip'' a bit at my age but there are special underwear out there and I am still experimenting with the idea of some kind of ''shield'' as the wind chill and moistness make for painful enemies at -25 and below. As for skills and technique, I find that Fatbiking is less forgiving than mountain biking in the sense that you have to have the right technique. An obvious example is braking through a turn. However, just keeping general balance at slow speeds is another one as sometimes if you lose ''it'', you will put your foot down into 2 or 3 feet of soft snow beside a very narrow fatbike packed trail. Falls are brutal for the ego but as mentionned, it is almost pleasant compared to falling in the summer. I'm convinced that Fatbiking, in some ways, takes us back to the basics, and makes us better bikers in the summer. It makes us a better biker period. And finally there is something magic about floating through a snow covered forest. And when it snows too much!....put away your fatbike stupid and go skiing. LOL. In other words, Fatbiking is a great alternative when it is to icy or cold to ski. If one looks at the weight to ground contact ratio, I feel more comfortable and more grippy on ice with a Fat than I do with a car or just walking. FAT IS FUN.
Awesome comment Peter, I'm going to pin it to the top of the comments section as I think a lot of people will benefit from your tips that you mentioned. I completely agree that fat biking is a lot less forgiving than normal mountain biking and your technique really needs to be on point or you'll end up sliding off the trail or worse! It forces you to learn how to do things properly :)
@@RamsayRides Sometimes I worry about comments and I was a little worried about posting it after the fact. I just wanted to add some of my own personal experience to a great video.
@@pstolee Well I'm glad you did!
Great video! I love the simplicity of my fat bike, 11 speeds, no suspension. Whenever I'm out riding I feel like I am on an adventure, like being a kid again.
Thanks Mike! Yeah definitely it's nice. Low maintenance and not much to think about bike-wise while riding, just focusing on the terrain and finding the best line really keeps you in the flow-state and having a good time! :)
That was such a great video! So informative ! I learned a lot and you’re super interesting to listen to ! Thanks Gabe! 🙌🏻
haha thanks!
Nice and informative and you got that "old man" part right! Riding on studs the next week was like night and day. Was able to fly (relatively) and had way more confidence. The groomed trails at Oka are calling!
Glad to hear it!
Neat to see some fatbiking footage, looks cold though haha
Was actually pretty warm that day!
$600 for a tire, WTFF??? I can build you a tire for half that. All you need is carriage bolts, a file and a drill in order to shape the spike portion. You can go from minimalist to down right shredder with the pattern. There are several videos here on YT showing the process. Or search for motorcycle on ice and you will find several variations. 🥶🌬️❄️
No $600 for a pair! But yeah it's still crazy. Had never heard of making your own tires, I'll check it out thanks!
These are the tires in question but they're all about this price www.bicyclesquilicot.com/en/pneu-a-clous-45nrth-dillinger-5-26-x-4-6-120-tpi-tr-tr4656