How to choose a fat bike

February 11, 2022 Erica TIngey

Quick tips for choosing a fat-tire bike

You get what you pay for. As with all bikes, your safety and enjoyment will depend in large part on the quality of your bike’s frame and components. In other words, we don’t recommend buying bikes at the same store from which you buy paper towels and dog food. Look for good brands with solid components.

Size is critical. As with any other bike, a properly fitting winter bike is necessary to obtain maximum spoke stoke. You’ll not only be able to travel more efficiently on a well-fitting bike, but you’ll also reduce the risk of injury.

Shocks are less important with winter biking. While we generally recommend dual-suspension mountain bikes for dry-weather mountain biking, hardtail and rigid winter bikes are very common and sufficient for most winter biking paths. Snow-covered rock gardens allow for smoother rides, and the increased width and decreased pressure of fat tires absorb impacts better than regular tires.

Make sure your rack is fat-tire compatible. You might need a different transport rack for your fat-tire bike. We highly recommend the Kuat N.V. 2.0 rack, which can accommodate all standard and fat-tire mountain bikes.

Chat with your favorite local bike shop. Most bike shops have lower-than-usual inventory at the moment, but there is more flux than you might think. Your bike shop friends can tell you if they’re expecting any winter bikes, and many will reserve a bike for future purchase with a deposit.

Check your local classified sections! Browsing classified ads (KSL, Craigslist, etc.) as well as used-bike shops (PinkBike, Bike Blue Book, The Pro’s Closet, etc.) can get you a great deal! Just be sure you do your homework first.

Here are some great fat-tire bikes to consider (that are in stock) as of 2/7/22!

Places to rent a fat-tire winter bike

If you’ve never been winter biking, it’s reasonable to try it before you buy it. There are increasing numbers of adventure shops that have added fat-tire bikes to their winter-fun inventory. If you’re new to winter biking or unfamiliar with the terrain in a given area, it might be a good idea to sign up for a guided tour with your rental. Here are some options for fat-tire rentals and/or guided trips in popular winter vacation spots:

Park City, UT:

All Seasons Adventures
White Pine Touring
Storm Cycles
Jans Mountain Outfitters

Driggs, Idaho
Grand Targhee Resort
Teton Springs Lodge and Spa

Jackson, Wyoming
Teton Mountain Bike Tours
Turpin Meadows Ranch

Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish Bike Retreat
Glacier Cyclery and Nordic

Lake Tahoe, California
Bike Truckee
Northstar California Resort

Steamboat, CO
Wheels Bike Shop

Vermont
Catamount
Stratton Mountain Resort

Maine
Pineland Farms
Rangely Lakes

Stay warm my friends and let me know if you try fat-tire biking this winter!

The one piece of equipment that changed my riding

October 19, 2021 Erica TIngey

There is one piece of equipment that absolutely changed my riding.

It was the difference between being terrified on every descent to…

Seeking out technical downhills.

Lowering my center of mass while riding truly made all the difference in what I was able to ride.

Still, to this day, I credit my seat dropper post for being able to ride so confidently.

Here is the crazy part of the story.

I was the very first professional cross country racer to race a World Cup with a seat post dropper on my bike in 2013.

But that first year, I had more than one mechanic make fun of me for using a dropper.

Droppers were for downhill racers only. Not cross country racers.

At first, I was ashamed and then I decided I didn’t care because it made all the difference for my riding.

Fast forward to 2021, every single cross country rider at the World Cups race with a dropper.

That’s why I tell my clients there is no wiggle room on this point, they must have a seat dropper on their mountain bikes.

So why are they so important?

#1) Dropper posts make riding mountain bikes safer

When you’re descending, it’s important to lower your body and shift back in order to keep your center of mass above the center of your bike. This helps maintain equal pressure on your front and rear wheels. Being in a lower position gives you considerably increased control, is more stable, and significantly decreases the probability of a fall. Without a dropper post, it can be tempting to tackle downhill sections and rock gardens with your seat up high, which is much less safe. You are less safe because your center of mass is higher. Think about a table and a lamp. Which is easier to tip over? A lamp, because its center of mass is higher. A table on the other hand, is stable and very difficult to tip over.

#2) Dropper posts help you ride faster

Especially on trails with a lot of rolling hills and features. Dropper posts allow you to transition in a fraction of a second and keep up with your companions. Being able to adjust your saddle height every few seconds (if needed) helps you keep your center of body mass where it needs to be. This added safety will allow you to ride faster, and let’s face it: riding faster is more fun.

#3) Dropper posts allow you to ride stepper terrain

With a dropper, you can get your seat out of the way. Then you can lower your center of mass to within a centimeter of the seat, thus allowing you to rider super steep terrain while staying balanced over the center of your bike.

Next week, I’ll give you some specifications so you know how to choose the right dropper for your bike.

Keep up your happy pedaling my friends (with your dropper post of course).