Spinner’s Fat Bike Birkie Experience Aboard the Panorama Cycles Chic Chocs 3

After the Fat Bike Birkie this year I sent Spinner a note to learn his thoughts about the Panorama Cycles Chic Chocs 3 fat-bike. Let’s have at it!

How did the Chic-Chocs compare to your Salsa Beargrease in terms of handling, weight, and overall performance on the course?

This was my first time riding a 27.5-inch fat bike. I could tell it was taller, but after a few minutes, I felt comfortable on it. I always run high-pressure tires, so balancing my weight between the wheels is crucial. Fortunately, I had no issues finding the sweet spots—for high-speed downhills, climbing, and relieving pressure on my hands and shoulders in the flat sections.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the race, and how did the Chic-Chocs help or hinder your ability to tackle them?

The biggest challenge? The shape I was in. Ha!

That aside, the most noticeable advantage I had over the racers around me was my ability to climb those nasty hills in the softening snow. I found the sweet spot—enough weight over the rear tire to maintain traction and enough over the front to keep the wheel on the ground and steer through the mashed-potato snow. That balance made a huge difference.

Fat Bike Birkie conditions can vary a lot—how did the course compare to previous years, and did the Chic-Chocs suit the conditions?

This year was better than most recent ones, simply because we were able to ride the full out-and-back course. You could tell the snow was fresh—the edges of the groomed track were super soft, and riders were wiping out when they came into corners too fast and had to steer to the outside.

You really had to keep your eyes up and pick your lines carefully this year if you wanted to stay upright.

If you could change one thing about the Chic-Chocs to make it a better race machine, what would it be?

I think it’s a great race machine for the casual racer. It handles well, comes with a dropper post, and has gears. If you’re looking to participate in a timed event, it’s a solid choice. But if you’re aiming to win or place at something like the Birkie, you’re going to need a much lighter bike—and a lighter wallet.

Would you consider racing the Chic-Chocs again, or did the experience make you appreciate your Beargrease even more?

I’d definitely race the Chic-Chocs again. I’d set it up a little differently if I’d had more than 20 minutes with it before the start, but it’s absolutely a capable bike. If I ever replace the Beargrease, I’d consider it.

You raced single speed for years but have switched to a geared setup more recently. How did that change your approach and overall experience at this year’s Fat Bike Birkie, especially on the Chic-Chocs?

I still ride like I’m single-speeding—speed is precious. I attack the downhills and carry as much momentum as I can into the next climb.

The moment I crest a hill, I’m scanning the trail ahead, looking for the best line—where the most tires have gone through, where someone has wiped out. I’m also watching for the guy who just hopped off and is hiking his bike up the climb, so I can pick a side and ride around him.

I definitely used the full range of gears this year!

Did you find yourself missing the simplicity of single speed, or did the geared setup help you manage effort better on the course?

I’ll always love the simplicity of a bike with no buttons on the bars and no shift bits to break. But as I get older and my legs lose a little more umph each year, I can appreciate a bike that helps me out on the climbs—especially on a course like the Birkie, where conditions are unpredictable and the hills are no joke.

You’ve raced the Fat Bike Birkie on everything from a single-speed to a geared bike—even a Surly Big Fat Dummy. How have these different setups shaped your experience and made certain years more or less memorable?

Bad decisions make great stories, and I’ve got a ton of them.

I don’t regret racing the Big Fat Dummy—other racers still bring it up every year at the Sawmill. That race was six laps around Telemark, a mix of mud and ice, with temps in the upper 40s.

I might single-speed again if my Pugsley frame holds up and the course is either all dirt or hard-frozen snow. But pushing a 2:1 gear when you can’t get traction on a big climb? That sucks.

This year was a good race. I got to ride a new bike for a day, and it ran well with no issues. It might not be the most memorable race, because nothing went wrong—but sometimes, a solid ride is all you need.