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 […]
Archive | Apparel
Helmet Review: Lazer Bullet 2.0 – by Aristotle Peters
A helmet isn’t something that you generally get too excited about or play around with much out of the box. You usually buy your helmet, put it on, turn a dial, and ride. The Bullet 2.0 was a new experience for me in a helmet. I found myself playing with it for over 30 minutes […]
GORE Wear C7 Bib Shorts
When I was informed by Fat-Bike HQ that I’ll be reviewing a pair of bib shorts I was a little confused. Personally, I thought fat bikes and bib shorts didn’t go together as well as bullets and guns! However the new GORE Wear Vent C7 Bib Shorts soon put that thought out of my head. […]
The Weekly Dose of Fat – Summer Solstice Special Edition
509 Jabit III 27.5+ at Hartmans Creek State Park (WI) Photo by Kurt Geiger Welcome to Summer 2019! We thought that it would be nice to celebrate the first day of Summer with an old school WDoF post like we used to do before we started the podcast with the same name. I’m headed to […]
Kitsbow Wind Vest: First Look – by Greg Gentle
Next month I’m racing my bike across Michigan’s U.P. from Copper Harbor to Marquette on “enhanced” gravel roads. It’s a 230-mile death march across the Keweenaw Peninsula and will require some special gear. In fact, there’s a required gear list that includes a jacket or vest. My NBFs at Kitsbow recently sent me a Wind […]
Product Review: Chamonix Collection Cycling Gear
The Chamonix Collection Cyling Gear is well-constructed and top notch. With snow-filled winters, that range from sub-zero temps to days where the sun shines, at a mild 30 degrees, here in Teton Valley, I tested the Seeley 3L Jacket and Esker Bibs in a variety of winter conditions. The product specifications for both these products can […]
2019 Sea Otter Classic SITREP
The 2019 Sea Otter Classic has become the best bike show in the US and they just announced expansion plans for Sea Otter Europe. The US version of the Sea Otter Classic is held at the Laguna Seca Race Track out near Monterrey, California about an hour drive from Silicon Valley. It’s quite beautiful there. […]
Mission Workshop Advanced Projects: Seamless Base Layer Review
This winter I have been testing the Mission Workshop Advanced Projects: Seamless Base Layers. The product specifications for this one of a kind base layer can be found in here on fat-bike.com. I am 6′ 3″ and very slim. I ordered a size large for both the shirt and bottoms for the Seamless Base Layers. […]
Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV XTM Omni-Heat (His & Hers) Winter Boot Review
Way back in August of 2018 I ordered a new pair of Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV XTM Omni-Heat Winter Boots after wearing out a pair of Keen boots that I wore during the previous two winters. You can check out all of the spec’s and look at what they looked like when they were new […]
Product Spotlight: Chamonix Collection Cycling Gear
The Chamonix Collection is based out of St. Paul, Minnesota. It is described as, “A collection of affordable performance apparel and gear inspired by the vibrancy and personality of Chamonix, France.” They specialize in snowboards, snowboard apparel, and winter cycling apparel. I recently received two pieces of Chamonix Collection winter cycling-specific apparel. The first […]
45nrth Ragnarok Boots and Torvald Jacket Review
Over the past couple of months, before the snow arrived, I had the opportunity to test the new 45nrth Ragnarok Boots and Torvald Jacket. These items are part of 45nrth’s transition season gear. I tested both pieces in various conditions from colder days around 25 degrees Fahrenheit to the rare warm fall day that […]
2018 Holiday Gift Guide by – Tio Gomez
We’ve done a few of these holiday gift guides over the years. In the past, we’ve had our testers chime in with what they wanted as gifts and we’ve done the ‘what’s the hottest new bike’ thing, so this year you get what a grumpy old gomez thinks the fat-biker on your gift list […]
Product Spotlight: Mission Workshop Advanced Projects Seamless Baselayers
Mission Workshop Advanced Project: Seamless Base Layers (MWAP/SBL) [em-wap’-say-bul] are truly one of a kind, with their technological and futuristic appearance, paired with high-performance specifications. I had never heard of this San Francisco based bag and apparel manufacturer previous to when I was asked to test the MWAP/SBL. Mission Workshop is a company that strives to […]
Oregon Timber Trail Gear List
People like to geek out on gear lists. I am one of those people. I always get ideas by seeing how other people roll. To give back to the bike packing community, here is my addition to the gear list cannon. This is what I used for 18 days and around 800 miles of riding […]
Product Spotlights: 45nrth Ragnarok boots and Torvald Jacket
The seasons are changing, and 45nrth, recently released their new transition season gear. Included in this new transition gear are the Rangarok Reflective boots and Torvald Jacket. The Ragnarok Reflective Boots: The Ragnarok Reflective Boots are designed to endure the cool and wet weather, that comes with the seasons shifting into fall. These water-resistant, moisture […]
First Look – Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV XTM Omni-Heat Winter Boot
I always wanted to do a parody of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a Redneck” stand-up comedy on the Dose of Fat. I even went as far as writing some of it down. Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to open Mic night at the Capybara Improv Theater. First up we have three hipsters that call themselves […]
Mid-Term Review of the Lake MXZ400 Boots
For those not familiar with the Lake MXZ400 it is Lake’s “winter extreme” cycling boot. It takes almost every aspect of Lake’s classic MXZ300 series boots and adds features that increase the warmth of the boot. In my “out of the box” write up I detail a lot of these features if you are interested […]
Lake MXZ 400 Out of the Box
A pair of Lake MXZ 400 boots, size 50 recently arrived on my doorstep. Many fat bikers are familiar with their MXZ 300 line (the current version is the MXZ 303) because it has been the go to winter cycling boot for as long as I can remember (well over a decade now). The MXZ […]
2017 Fat-Bike Holiday Gift Guide
This year we polled the folks that write the reviews and produce the podcasts, that we publish here at fat dash bike dot com. It stands to reason, that they’re all experienced fat-bikers and our group has a wide variety of riding styles and habits, so I think what they may want….could be what you […]
Review of Five Ten Freerider EPS High – By Tony Grande
I started winter riding on a 1996 Specialized Rockhopper A1 with stock 2.1 & 1.95 F/R tires and Shimano M636 pedals. My feet were rocking Shimano M055 shoes and, after a few very cold and wet rides, a pair of Rocky Gore-Tex oversocks. Not long after that I got a trainer and my winter […]
Cuero Gloves Review – by Euan Pennington
Cuero Cycling Gloves – retro for the modern world. One could be forgiven for thinking the modern world is becoming more disposable, and even in cycling, bikes, clothing and componentry can feel like it’s made to be faster, lighter, cheaper but also less durable. Compared to the (weighty) steel path racers of our […]
TASCO GLOVES/ SOCK COMBO PACK by K8
Ready, Get Set, BE BLOWN AWAY ! Be ready to be the fashion plate of fat biking! TASCO refers to their Double Digit mini kit as the perfect combination of coordinating gloves and socks. I would certainly concur. Let us start out with colors… These are well thought out. They look great in the parking […]
The Synapse from Tifosi – by Netto
There are sunglasses and sunglasses. Fashion statements that mostly everyone who wants to be cool wears. Aviators, big bug looking ones, trendy, purposeful, etc., the list goes on and on. For one, I was given the amazing opportunity to get a package delivered by pigeon here in the beautiful city of Chicago. Gomez knows how […]
Bontrager Apparel Product Spotlight: by K8
The Bontrager Old Man Winter Shoe: Very well thought out winter riding shoe. Retail $299.99 – OMW Shoe A high-performance inForm Tundra last fit opens up the toe box for thicker socks. Water resistant main zipper with 2-strap hook and loop closure system Vibram outsole for sure-footed traction and long-wearing durability Fleece-lined, removable inner bootie with 200g […]
Showers Pass Torch Jacket
We gave tester Chris Zito a Showers Pass Torch Jacket to test a while back. Chris is an avid fat-biker and also a messenger riding daily and year ’round in Milwaukee so let’s check out his report on the Torch! I’m assuming that I was gifted this assignment because of the nature of my current […]
The Weekly Dose of Fat Show #121 with National Champions Cole House and Ami Stuart
Show # 121 was recorded in the Cloud Factory Studios, where Tio Gomez was joined by Evan Larsson, Chris Daisy and features David Glover. This week’s Special Guests are the winners of the Pro Elite USA Cycling Fat-Bike National Championships, Ami Stuart & Cole House. Tonight’s Wardrobe was Provided by sPACYcLOUD Hemp Onesie Grab grandma’s […]
Qloom Winter Apparel Review by K8
Winter riding just got a little sweeter while dressed in Qloom’s Cayley Pant and Jacket. It’s as if someone who really knew their shiznitz from cycling, sailing and skiing and put it all together in one product line… oh wait they did ! Success ! Its sealed nice and sweet so the elements stay […]
Product Spotlight – Qloom Cayley Winter Pant – by K8
Editor’s Note – Allow us to introduce you to our new Apparel Editor, K8! K8’s been riding a fat-bike as long as I can remember, and she’ll be sharing some apparel reviews with all of us this winter. Today we’re stoked to introduce her first look at some really sweet bibs from Qloom. As they say […]
Twin Six Green Wednesday!
Just in time for the holidays Minneapolis company Twin-Six is having a sale TODAY, Wednesday 11/23 on all of their gear with the idea that if you shop today you can ride your bike on Friday and escape the madness (and lines, and grandmas fist-fighting in the big-box stores)…doesn’t that sound nice? I would highly suggest […]
Tread Threads Search and State Riding Jacket Review
Greetings fellow Fat-Bikers, I hope you have been enjoying the summer heat. In Minneapolis it’s been a fun combination of suffocating heat and glorious light shows brought to us by some pretty crazy summer thunderstorms. What better time to test out a rain jacket, right? Seeing as it’s summer and whatnot, having a jacket that doesn’t […]
Fresh from the Show Floor – Interbike 2016
Direct from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, we have all of the freshest fat and plus bike hotness for y’all! I was going to try to separate the plus from the fat, but there’s a lot of cross-over. I saw fat-bikes that were designed to run plus and even one plus-bike that can run, […]
Gnome-Proof Gear – Sea to Summit X-Series Bowl – Ibex Shak Classic Merino Wool Jersey – RaceFace Next Carbon Cranks –
We’re back with another thrilling episode of Gnome-Proof Gear. I’m your host, Gomez Alejandro Santana de Lago, and on this episode of GPG, thee Spinner Ryerson shares a hydration system for our amigos, of the four legged variety, His Honor, the Mayor of GnomeFest 13, Steve Meurett, nominates the Ibex Shaq for GPG status and […]
Gnome-Proof Gear – Triple Aught Designs Artemis Hoodie – Voile Ski Straps – Lifeproof FRE Case
We launched our Gnome-Proof Gear series last month and this particular edition is a compilation from our Bike Black Ribbon Test Pilots of the female persuasion. The Gnome-Proof Seal of Approval is awarded to gear that our product testers, have found to be the ‘Best of the Best’ in field tested, fat-bike accessories. Triple Aught Designs […]
Gnome-Proof Gear – Geigerrig 3L Hydration Engine – Woolx Merino Wool Hoodie – Camelbak Podium Chill
This is the fourth in our Gnome-Proof Gear series of articles, that share our Bike Black Ribbon Test Pilot’s choices for the ‘best of the best’ in field tested fat-bike accessories. Check it out! Geigerrig 3L Hydration Engine ($97, as pictured) by Ian Nycloud About 2 years ago, while spec’-ing out my first bikepacking rig, […]
First Look– Shebeest Spring Line – by KitCat Montana
Hi Fat-bike.com readers! I’m bringing to you a sneak pre-view at Shebeest’s spring line up of women’s cycling wear. Shebeest is unique in that they only make women’s cycling gear and are dedicated to creating quality, proper fitting gear for the female athlete. Fellow women riders you know the frustration of finding women specific […]
Gnome-Proof Gear – Gore Bike Wear Fusion Trousers – Ibex Shak Wool Vest – Sven Saw
In this episode of Gnome-Proof Gear, we hear from Bike Black Ribbon Test Pilot, Jeff Price, about his recipient of the GPG Seal of Approval. Jeff shares his thoughts on some Gore Bike Wear Trousers (slacks, britches, dungarees, pantaloons, or as some have come to call, pants). After that, it’s back to the world according to Gomez with […]
Gnome-Proof Gear – Keen Neve Polar Boots – Outdoor Research Foray Jacket – Surly Wool Jersey
This is the first installment of Gnome-Proof Gear (GPG). GPG will feature gear that any/all of our testing staff have used and abused and came out shining. The products that we’ll feature will earn the GPG – seal of approval, which means that they’ve gone through a full season of rides, campouts, bonfires, and adventures. Some of […]
Tread Threads returns! First Look: Search and State Riding Jacket
Howdy good Fat Bike friends, hope you’re all staying dry and getting rad. It’s been pretty wet and muggy here in Minneapolis so what better time than to get testing some new outerwear? I had the extreme pleasure of reaching out to the folks at Search and State recently and they sent me one […]
NRS Workboot Wetshoe
Sven and I have had a long running search for the ultimate shoe for riding on the beach. Once the weather gets above freezing and we enter the spring beach season, getting your feet wet, is an inevitable part of almost every beach ride. Swollen creeks and blustery waves will eventually submerge your boots or […]
Tread Threads Pearl Izumi review
Hey folks, a while ago I did an intro to some of the new Pearl Izumi gear and I’m back with a full report! I had high hopes for them, as I’ve had good experience with their stuff in the past and they seem to have come through for me again. Let’s begin with base […]
Bontrager Old Man Mountain Boot Review by Andrea Cohen
The Bontrager Old Man Winter boot. What a boot. While it took a while for winter to show up in Iowa I knew it was right around the corner, and I would be prepared! One of the most important things about winter boots for me is how easy they are to get off and on. […]
Bontrager Winter Boots & Apparel Review by Scott Peterson
Fat-bike.com readers and riders…I’m on a mission from Bontrager this month. Gomez has handed me the motherlode of winter gear for testing, and I have been putting it through the ringer to find the cream of the Fat-bike crop for you. First up we have the all important base layers. The Bontrager B2 Short […]
Tread Threads First Look: Hillsound Gaiters by Siri
Letter from the editor: I’m pleased to introduce our guest contribu-tester Siri! This amazing woman got her first fat bike this year and was instantly hooked. We spent some time this summer ridding fatties on the trails and drinking beers by the fire with friends. She was also New Belgium’s Tour de Fat car trader winner […]
Tread Threads First Look : Sock Guy
Hey good Fat-Bike friends! Tis the season for stuffing your stocking, or how about stocking your stockings with stockings?! As you can see all of the holiday music piping through every speaker in the land has clearly been getting to my head. Minneapolis is currently lacking in our signature winter weather (it’s been dry and […]