Too flat to surf;

FAT enough to ride (on the beach)!

Surly Moonlander with some up-spec'd components, running 5psi in the tyres.

SSSimon said..


Surly Moonlander with some up-spec'd components, running 5psi in the tyres.

Nice..

I've made a few mods to my Moonlander..

DJ

Apart from the clear advantages in soft surfaces, hoe does the fat bike compare to a normal mtg, or a 29er?

fat bike = floaty, ballooning ride where the tyres envelop the terrain, real soft-footprint stuff.

It's exciting because you can ride where no other bikes can go, like over soft sand that is even hard to walk over. Mud, snow, you name it.

The ride is heavy, blobby, spongy, & great fun! Fat bikes, especially the 5" wide tyre variety are still fairly rare & expensive. The bikes retail at about $3k - if you can find one, if you need spares, tyres are $180 a pop, tubes $20 each - some guys drill the valve stem hole out and run MC tubes as a cheaper option.

Although the rims are 26", and 100mm wide, the rolling diameter of the tyred-wheel is bigger than a 29er, so you get the feel that it will roll over anything with virtually unlimited traction! I did find a traction limit though when I nearly nutted myself riding up mossy rocks and managed to spin the back tyre. But other than that, unlimited traction!

Thanks for you comments & questions. Next time I get a chance I'll ride and post a 5 beach tour and work on getting some more interesting camera angles!

ssweet ride!

Hi Muzz65, sorry for the delayed response - been away.

Yes I rode all the way to the rocks at Merringo & back. I did take the tracks around the north side of Lake Coila, some deep ruts were 4WDs have churned it up. I invented the Binji $hit-farm loop ride, cause up in the forest and sand dunes, blow me down if there isn't a sewage treatment plant!

The ride was sweet, but for part of it, the smell wasn't.

Helmy, you'd be on a sinker. You need to ride an even fatter bike until you lose some ballast!