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Reader’s Ride(s) – Ken’s Wooden Fat Bike!

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Ken sent us this story about a unique wooden fat-bike he built and how the design progressed to what you see here. Very creative, Ken! Thanks for the insight into your project.

Here are some close ups and general photos of my wood fat-bike project. It originally started out with a cantilevered seat but it rode badly and broke off on the first ride, so this is the the MK2 version with a more conventional layout and seat post. The fame is built from hickory and nearly everything is laminated from thin veneers in or around some sort of mold. The frame weighs around 7lbs with the main beam being the same design as my road bike and very stiff torsionally. It could be reduced in size and weight if I was building another bike but for now it does the job very well. I used carbon fiber for the rear dropouts,headtube,seatpost and seatpost brace.

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I have probably over a 100 hrs in the frame as it is now. To build another frame would run around the $4500-$5000 range. No computers or CNC machines were harmed in the making of this bike….its all hand built the old fashioned way with hand tools and a careful eye.

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Some of the specs and components:

  • Wheelbase is adjustable from 44”-45 1/2” using Cane Creek adjustable headset and Paragon Machine sliding dropouts with rear thru axle.
  • Fat Lefty conversion by Mendon Cycle smith.
  • Surly Rolling Darryl rims laced onto Cannondale Lefty front hub and Salsa rear hub.
  • 45 North Vanhelga tires.
  • Hope floating discs, 203 front, 180 rear. Hope four pot caliper and levers.
  • Shimano cassette, XTR deraullier, XT Integrated shifters.
  • One Up Components low gear and shifter cage.
  • Race face Turbine cranks, seatpost, bars, grips and stem.

That’s about all I can think of for now…. Cheers! Ken.

3 Responses to Reader’s Ride(s) – Ken’s Wooden Fat Bike!

  1. thub April 5, 2016 at 11:14 am #

    Great bike! Exceptional craftsmanship.

  2. Zachary Brown April 5, 2016 at 5:06 pm #

    Awesome man. It always makes me so happy when I see people with passion create something by hand. It is fast becoming a lost art form in this country. NAHBS would be lucky to have you next year.

  3. Steak Knives May 11, 2016 at 9:55 am #

    Meanwhile… Here’s a sharp stick I whittled with my limited edition Fat-Bike.com Steak Knives…

    This is an awe-inspiring ride for sure man… damn.

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