For me, sunglasses fall into the same category as helmets – mandatory. Too many things to take out your eyeballs while on a ride to not shield them in some fashion. Over the years, I’ve donned a bunch of different brands, styles, and lens colors. Some cheap. Some spendy. Over those years, I’ve rocked a […]
Sometimes being the Front Range Chief Correspondent for Fat-Bike.com has its perks and the day Gomez asked if I wanted to go to the Outdoor Retailer show in Denver last week was one of those days. I mean, who doesn’t want to walk about and look at a bunch of gear?! Outdoor Retailer (or OR) […]
With my mission of relocating to the Front Range of Colorado complete, I was the logical (and all too willing) choice when the call came out to test the fresh from the Front Range, newly redesigned 2020 REEB Donkadonk (from here on out just Donk). If you don’t know, REEB is the bike brand started […]
As owner of a new garage (and house), I’ve been trying to sort out the bike storage situation. I figured I should get it right the first time instead of the hodgepodge that inevitably comes to the surface. In the past, I’ve used the ubiquitous garage utility hooks, Gladiator bike hooks, and Delta Cycles hanger. […]
Over the years I’ve owned lots of helmets – Giro, Lazer, Bell, Specialized . . . I currently strap a Smith Overtake (gravel), Forefront (MTB), and Vantage (snow/cold) to my skull when venturing out on two wheels. I’ve been riding Smith helmets for several years now and I love the way the Smith helmets fit […]
Way back in December I wrote an introduction to a new wheelset and fork from the carbon fiber maestros over at ENVE. This was big news given that one of the biggest names in carbon fiber was (finally) getting into the fat game. You can read all about the M685 wheels and Fat Fork here […]
As I was loading up the super blingy Why Cycles Big Iron outfitted with Enve Fat Fork and M685 Wheels for testing (First Look here), Uncle Gomez says “Here – try these out while you’re at it and tell me what you think . . .” as he shoves two folded up 27.5×4.0 45NRTH Dillingers […]
While there are currently a quite a few rim/wheel options out there in the fat-bike universe, one major player in the high-end carbon market has been noticeably absent – ENVE Composites. The same can be said for fork offerings … lots of choices but no ENVE. Well, that’s now changed with the launch of the […]
Way back in November, when it was still warm and snow-free here in the midwest, Gomez gave you a rundown of the Specialized Fatboy Expert that had recently landed on the doorstep of Fat-Bike.Com World HQ. He rode if for a couple weeks, gave some first impressions and then decided to hand it off […]
Last time we spoke, I had just taken possession of one very green 509 Cycles Jabit III. This particular Jabit was decked out a la fat-bike in Plus bike clothes. My initial impressions were good. The Jabit was a good-looking bike that had an equally nice ride (steel and curved seatstays will do that). Fast […]
Recently the Pangalactic Test Hanger Bay at Fat-Bike dot com World HQ was informed of the incoming arrival of a steel 509 Cycles Jabit III clad in its 29+ configuration. As a lover of steel 29+ goodness (as covered here), I was excited to get the call to throw a leg over this bike and […]
Back in January, a Framed Wolftrax Carbon Custom landed in the Fat-Bike.com Bike Black Ribbon Test Pilot hanger bay. You can read the initial product spotlight with all the details of the build and other minutia here. Over the next two plus months, I’ve proceeded to put the Wolftrax Carbon through its paces. To say that […]
The testing lab at Fat-Bike.com was recently offered up a Framed Wolftrax Carbon fatbike to put through its paces. Gomez reached out to see if I was interested, and after a little coordination with the brown Santa, I soon had the Wolftrax in my possession, assembled, and out on the trail in quick order. Framed got […]
RAD Bicycle Company is a small, one-man (Matt Craig) frame builder operation out of SE Michigan. RAD’s stated mission is “I want to put people on a USA made product with above over-seas quality at a fair competitive price. Something an Average Joe can afford and ride. Something light enough and strong enough for […]
Sarma first came onto the scene with the carbon Shaman, a fat-bike (as seen right here on FatdashBikedotCom) followed by several carbon rim offerings. Now Sarma (a company with roots in Siberia and manufacturing ties in Taiwan) has introduced the aluminum Vortex to their line. The Vortex is available as a complete bike (starting at […]
I love music. I usually have it playing most of the time from when I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed. Except when I ride. I hate riding with headphones. I’ve tried but whether it’s the sound of the woods or gravel under my tires, cutting off the outside […]
Luckily for those of us with 29+ bikes, new tire offereings continue to trickle in. This year at FrostBike, Vittoria joined the 29+ club and unveiled a new 29×3.0 tire called the Bomboloni (Italian for filled doughnut). Vittoria? Mountain bike tires? Yep. Vittoria, the parent company of Geax, has decided to consolidate their MTB line under […]
The original Wisconsin team snowbike race is back for yet another year!! Click on the flyer above to go to the FaceBook page or see below (or both!!) for more details. You don’t want to miss the good times that are – the Team SnowBike Enduro!! The Team SnowBike Enduro –The first and always […]
Sarma is newer company to the fat-bike scene but they bring to the table many years of aerospace composite experience along with a strong interest in fat-bikes. In addition to a fat-bikes frame (the Shaman), they also have a line of fat-bike rims called the Naran. The 100mm Naran was the first 100mm carbon rim on the […]
Back in mid-November, Fat-Bike.com majordomo Gomez sent a smoke signal my way and asked if I wanted to put some time in on the Specialized Fatboy Expert he had been riding (and has hence told you all about). Not one to miss the opportunity to throw my leg over a new bike, I gladly agreed. […]
As the fatbike tire market continues to grow, more and more big name tire makers are getting into the game. This past summer, Maxxis threw its hat into the ring and unveiled their new fatbike tire, the Maxxis Mammoth (along with a 29+ tire, the Chronicle, which was covered here). Gomez gave you a first […]
A few years back I had kicked around the idea of getting a custom 29er frame built. I even went to NAHBS (with mi hombres Gomez and Ernesto From Wisconsin at that!) when it was in Indianapolis and talked to several builders, including Curtis at Retrotec. That eventually kind of fell off the radar. Enter […]
With a frame and fork that predates 100mm rims and the fattest of fat tires (>4.7”), I’m limited to how fat I can get. Normally, this isn’t that big of a deal and I don’t give it much thought. However, with record snow levels and the prevalent conditions being on the dry and fluffy side […]
Temps are dropping – here’s a review that’s been rattling around our files since last spring, just waiting for the gales of November! Along with recently testing Platypus Hydrations’s new Duthie 12 hydration pack, I also got my hands on their Bite Valve and Drink Tube Insulator. As anyone that rides with a hydration […]
Platypus has recently revamped their hydration pack lineup, which now includes five packs (3 classified as XC and 2 classified as AM). The Duthie AM 12 is the second largest pack that Platypus makes (the 12 designation an indicator of its total volume – 12 liters). It has a bladder capacity of 3 liters and […]
For the last couple of seasons, I’ve been looking for something to wear over my winter tights when the temps/wind chill takes an extra nasty turn. Everything I found either ended up being too bulky, especially in the lower leg/ankle area, or they were too warm (i.e., snow pants). Earlier this winter I got an […]
With a fat bike added to my stable last year, I knew I was going to be doing a whole lot more cold weather riding. Not only more, but in much colder conditions. Last winter, after a couple of longish rides in the low teens I finally came to accept the shortcomings of riding with […]
The Illinois Riviera – Written and Photographed by Julio Like most cyclists, I enjoy a mid-week evening group ride. On a recent Wednesday night, rain appeared eminent and the night’s ride looked like it was a wash. Normally when this happens, I either look to fit in a quick, impromptu road/gravel ride from home or […]
You normally don’t think too much about your chain until it’s giving you problems. And of course, nothing kills a ride quicker than a broken chain and the long walk back to the lot that follows. However, a good, reliable chain buys you piece of mind. I’ve been putting the Wippermann Connex 1R8 through its […]
Now that I’ve given you an overview and a detailed install of the MK Fat-bike Fenders, the lingering question still remains – How do they perform? Obviously full coverage fenders provide just that – full coverage. This winter has been a perfect time to test these black beauties out. Not one to let a dirty […]
In the last installment I talked about the drool worthiness of these MK Fat-bike Fenders. There is no doubt about it, these fenders look fantastic. However, no matter how good they look, the ultimate question is how do they perform? Well, before we get to that, there’s the install. These fenders install similar to other […]
Fenders . . . What can you really say? When there’s a need, there’s a need. They keep you and your bike clean. They’re there. Glamorous? Bling? These are not terms normally associated with fenders. Not so with the full wood beauties being turned out over at MK Fenders (www.mkfenders.com). Both glamorous and bling worthy, […]
A new car situation earlier this year found me in the market for a hitch rack. While not the owner of a fat bike at the time, I knew one was in my future and this weighed in my decision as to which one to get. I immediately ruled out hanging type racks due to […]
With their growing popularity, there are now a number of choices for fat bike frames to be had. There is the quintessential Surly Pugsley and its cousin the Salsa Mukluk as well as other two popular choices, Speedway Cycles’ Fatback and Chain Reaction Cycles’ 907. Of course, there are several custom builders out there to […]
