Fat tire lust

[rmplum]

Also that RWB Ritchey P-29 from the original post was the 29er that I had been looking for (and to be honest, still am). Thought I had a first year medium lined up to buy and the seller completely ghosted me. This Niner popped up on craigslist and was too cheap to not buy.

[ides1056]

You scored.

[thollandpe]

...Niner BB was creaky...

My aluminum Air9 was creaky too. Yanked the plastic-shelled GXP bottom bracket and went with a Parlee unit made of metal. Quieted right down.



Funny thing is I offered to sell this very bike to Hollis the last time he was jonesing for an MTB. But I put drop bars on it so now it's my dirt road bike for dirt roads that aren't really roads.

[rmplum]

Hey Trod - more pics of this Niner drop bar setup please!

[thollandpe]

Hey Trod - more pics of this Niner drop bar setup please!

Seasonally appropriate, with studs on.


Summer vacation, barnstorming in deep central Maine.

Bars: Ritchey Venturemax. Shifters: Dura Ace 7800. Rear mech: XT M772 (I know it's a 9-speed unit but it shifts phenomenally). 2 x 10, 28/36 low gear.

[rmplum]

Seasonally appropriate, with studs on.


Summer vacation, barnstorming in deep central Maine.

Bars: Ritchey Venturemax. Shifters: Dura Ace 7800. Rear mech: XT M772 (I know it's a 9-speed unit but it shifts phenomenally). 2 x 10, 28/36 low gear.

Nice. If I'm honest with myself, 80+% of the time that would be 100% of the mtn bike I really need.

[doomridesout]

I could go for that. I'm eyeballing the Black Mountain Cycles La Cabra for similar "roads that are not roads" drop bar 29er duty but find myself wishing I could afford something lighter. I'm selling a more trail oriented titanium hardtail to make it happen. I considered a rigid carbon fork and drops on that, but something tells me a 30mm stem and drops is going to ride like shit.

[holliscx]

I didn't know Niner are out of Fort Collins. This is an interesting 853 with a 2.6 front / 2.4 rear.

[ides1056]

Todd, how often do you imagine you need a bigger tire than what you run on the 9iner? Even now in the snow? There must have been thirty or more cars with fatbikes at Hawley a week ago or so, and they only baked in the existing trail.

[thollandpe]

Todd, how often do you imagine you need a bigger tire than what you run on the 9iner? Even now in the snow? There must have been thirty or more cars with fatbikes at Hawley a week ago or so, and they only baked in the existing trail.

What’s funny is that I’ve always ridden in the snow and never had a tire wider than 2.2” before a few years ago. But also down here in the Connecticut River Valley the snow is crap. None left now, yet pictures I see from your area, only 50 miles away and 100 feet above, and it’s enough snow to ski.

Here, I have not been tempted to use studs this winter (but they’re ready to go). Maybe one or two rides where soft, fresh snow favored a fat bike over a 29er.

That said, I’m sold on the mid-fat (650b x 3”). Absolutely the best mix of cush and grip and speed I’ve ever experienced. I have been on Strava for years, mostly to see where I’ve been. When I got the mid-fat 44, every ride for months came back with a PR, even though I was not riding for speed. It was just effortless.

And I think it was simply that the extra volume of the 3” tire allowed me to ride the tire pressures I had always ridden (and needed for traction on the rocks and roots) but gave me the security to ride without worrying about pinch flats. That mid-fat is magic.

But now I’m into the full on fat (26 x 4.8”) which is a ball. Traction porn. Screw up and target fixate and nail that thing you wanted to go around? That 4.8” tire ain’t bottoming. But yeah that’s a whole lotta rubber to get turning. So when I get on the mid-fat after riding the big fat, it’s like hitting the same trail in running shoes instead of hiking boots. But slower is more secure, and maybe more fun because you’re not always in the mood to run.

Mid-fat is where it’s at.

[bigbill]

Not fat tire lust, but my steel hardtail (Coconino) was built to clear at least a 29X2.5 for AZ riding. My rides usually have several desert washes with ankle-deep loose stuff, but if I hit it at speed with the 2.5's, I can roll over it. I use WTB Vigilantes which are a lot like a motorcycle tire with tough sidewalls for all the cholla.

[nmrt]

Interesting to read about your experince with your mid fat (650b X 3.0). I too have a similar setup (650b X 2.8). This bike is the most playful, fun, agile mtb I have ever ridden.
However, in terms of PRs and speed: this bike has never been fast on any type of trail (flowy singletrack, fireroads, deep rutted, rocky gnarly trails etc) compared to my full suspension 29er.

What’s funny is that I’ve always ridden in the snow and never had a tire wider than 2.2” before a few years ago. But also down here in the Connecticut River Valley the snow is crap. None left now, yet pictures I see from your area, only 50 miles away and 100 feet above, and it’s enough snow to ski.

Here, I have not been tempted to use studs this winter (but they’re ready to go). Maybe one or two rides where soft, fresh snow favored a fat bike over a 29er.

That said, I’m sold on the mid-fat (650b x 3”). Absolutely the best mix of cush and grip and speed I’ve ever experienced. I have been on Strava for years, mostly to see where I’ve been. When I got the mid-fat 44, every ride for months came back with a PR, even though I was not riding for speed. It was just effortless.

And I think it was simply that the extra volume of the 3” tire allowed me to ride the tire pressures I had always ridden (and needed for traction on the rocks and roots) but gave me the security to ride without worrying about pinch flats. That mid-fat is magic.




But now I’m into the full on fat (26 x 4.8”) which is a ball. Traction porn. Screw up and target fixate and nail that thing you wanted to go around? That 4.8” tire ain’t bottoming. But yeah that’s a whole lotta rubber to get turning. So when I get on the mid-fat after riding the big fat, it’s like hitting the same trail in running shoes instead of hiking boots. But slower is more secure, and maybe more fun because you’re not always in the mood to run.

Mid-fat is where it’s at.

[holliscx]

yes, please

[sk_tle]

On the other hand, the Orbea Alma you posted in the first page is also a looker.

[mack_turtle]

I ride with a guy who put a long carbon rigid fork on his Chumba Sendero. not sure how fat a tire you want, but it can potentially fit 29x2.8 with the axle shoved back a bit or 27.5x2.8 with the axle slammed forward.

Esker has some options that might work.

I tried a 29x2.6 in the front of my Karate Monkey and, try as I might, I could not enjoy the bigger tires at any pressure, with an appropriately wide rim. I could not get it to dig in on corners and it just skated across loose surfaces no matter what I did. went back to a 29x2.3 tire and everything hooks up perfectly. there's no snow to speak of in Texas, so I can't comment on that kind of terrain.

[holliscx]

Guys any thoughts on going this route: Gunnar Rock Hound custom with boost rear spacing so the setup would be 2.8 front with 2.6 rear if I went 29+ or I could probably just rock a stock with 2.4s. I believe the frame would be suspension corrected for the rigid fork.

Does anyone know would a Gunnar be like 853 quality steel or something a little lower quality? I assume it's a step up from a Surly or Soma



http://gunnarbikes.com/site/bikes/

http://gunnarbikes.com/site/bikes/rock-hound/

You don't see a lot of Gunnars but it seems like it could be a decent frame for what I'm looking for.

I guess the Ritchey would be cheaper and achieve almost everything. Gunnar would only make sense if I went 29+

My only hesitation is after riding awhile what if I prefer 2.4 over 2.8/2.6 but I wouldn't know that until a year or two riding that's why I lean on this crowd for your opinions

I'm a classic roadie / cx type dipping into mtb and will ride off-road with that mentality and mindset. I'm not going to be bombing rock gardens or even a lot of singletrack, some, but mostly fire road just getting off-road and having fun on dirt that's my primary goal. l would like the bike to be a good climber and be agile. I'd like to avoid a tank if possible. Does this route above what I describe sound like a good plan? I looked into Gunnar on a whim. What about the geometry can someone comment, is it ok?