While the segment with the schizophrenic identity, known among other names as B-plus, Baby Fat, Mid-fat, 27.5, 650B, etc., may be getting a bunch of the fanfare during this year’s 25th Annual Sea Otter Classic, there is also a bunch of new fat-bike news. Let’s Check out what’s happening!
Sea Otter Classic Photo
Kids on fat-bikes! Gomez and I noticed many youths on high-end bicycles with quite a few riding smaller versions of our favorite platform, the fat-bike.
Trek has a fat-bike for junior!
Borealis’s 65mm tubeless-ready Turnagain Fat-bike Rim is coming soon while the company’s 80mm and 100mm tubeless-ready rims are already available at fatbike.com.
Alex had two new fat-bike rims – Square or Round cut-outs?
Blackburn is getting into the Bikepacking scene with the introduction of their affordable Outpost line of bags that currently include a Handlebar Roll, Top Tube Bag and Seat Pack.
The Outpost Seat Pack is a two piece system that includes the part that attaches to the seatpost/seat and a removable 10.5 liter capacity bag that is weather resistant and easily expandable or collapsable depending on your load. Retail is set at $99.95.
Blackburn’s Handlebar Roll is designed to carry rolled up stuff on your handlebar. Clever name, that! Said stuff could go in the included, weather resistant, 10 liter stuff bag or you can strap on your sleeping bag, small tent, hammock, etc. The quick-release attachment works on most handlebars and compression straps make sure your gear stays put. Look for a retail price of $74.99.
American Classic has every New Standard covered from 197 to 100 mm. Fat fans that love Ameican Classic hubs can now build the wheelset of their dreams!
AC has a patented hardened steel insert that solves the problem of cassette bodies gouging alloy freehub bodies.
We interviewed Brent Foes about the Mutz Dual Suspension Fat-Bike. Look for the video next week.
We got to see the 26 x 4 Bombolini from Vittoria! We even ate some bombolini at their booth! We’ll be testing these out soon.
Bombolini Tread Pattern
Durango Bike Company’s Hooey Fat-Bike
MRP was showing a new 150mm spaced thru axle fork
We ran into the folks from Trek just after they launched their new line. The new Farley with B++ (27.5 x 4) Wheels
Trek’s new Carbon Fatty, with Bontrager Carbon Wheels! This bike got me pretty excited!
FD Direct mount with a cool little cover if you run one by.
And another cap for the internal cable routing
Bonty Wampa B-Fat Carbon Rim
This little beauty was in the Kenda Booth with an homage to Johnny T. Kenda had fat-bike gold sprints set up in their tent, where Sven totally defeated me with a 9 second burst of speed.
We ended our day on a pair of Borealis Fatties, Sven on a Yampa and an Echo for me. We took them down to the beach and rode for a couple of hours till well after the sun set. It amazed Sven and I that fat-bike beach riding hasn’t really taken off here like it has around the Great Lakes and the Northeast.
We’ll have more for you coming up next week from sunny California!
I’m kinda curious about the Barbegazi tread and the rims on that Tomac (kinda look like un-holey Marge Lites…)