Happy Friday

"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker) 07/08/2016 at 12:32 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good

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Big tires=big fun.

Thanks for being Excellent, Oppo.

HammerheadFistpunch > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 12:40

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Still haven’t ridden a fat tire bike, my brother has one and has offered but I’ve never taken him up on it. I should.

OPPOsaurus WRX > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 12:43

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how wide are the tires? i was just thinking about going for a ride when i get home

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 12:51

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I’ve ridden one. I’ll keep my 29'er thanks. In fact I just texted a friend to see if he wants to ride up the mountain that’s in my back yard, after work.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/08/2016 at 12:54

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4" but it’ll accept 5". It’s a roadie friend’s fun bike, and was only $400ish from bikesdirect.com

OPPOsaurus WRX > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 12:58

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What’s the benefit? I would think those are only better for sand and snow

GTI Sprinks > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/08/2016 at 13:12

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While wide tires are great for loose surfaces, they also act as suspension for the bike, especially when ran at low pressure.

OPPOsaurus WRX > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 13:18

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i have a 29. I felt as if I lost a little agility going with wheels that big.

functionoverfashion > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/08/2016 at 13:24

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I felt that way at first, especially where most of my riding is lower-speed tight technical stuff. Mostly on old hiking trails, not made-for-biking stuff. But it’s a worthwhile trade, I think, for the increased ability to roll up and over stuff, on these extremely bumpy /rock/root filled trails I ride most of the time. There were a bunch of places I had to find a new way through, and a couple trees I had to cut to make things work with the new bike.

OPPOsaurus WRX > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 13:27

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thats mostly what I ride. I like that more than high speed down hill. there are lots of rocks and roots so the 29 works well with that.

The Ghost of Oppo > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 13:37

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Nice, I’ve yet to ride a fat bike on the trails, but that is definitely something I need to do.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/08/2016 at 13:38

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It’s a bit of a compromise bike. It’s not fast, it’s not light, but it goes anywhere. Sand, snow, underbrush, mud, granite rip rap, sea walls, single track, rocky ATV trails, etc. It’ll ride any terrain, climb any hill, and descend any line that you’d care to ride. It’s hands down the most fun I’ve ever had on two wheels, mostly because I have rather bad back problems, and on rooty, rocky single track, it rides like an 18x700c tire on fresh blacktop. Smoooooth.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > GTI Sprinks 07/08/2016 at 14:21

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I’m a 6-5" 200 lb gorilla, and I ran 8 psi today. It's like buttah.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 14:28

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The fat bike gives me a wheel OD roughly that of a 29er, but there are no suspension components to maintain or replace. I prefer rigid frames, and the issues with gyroscopic stabilization of the front wheel can be managed with practice. Lines don’t matter anymore- and as a result maintaining momentum becomes far easier on the moderately to highly technical stuff that I enjoy riding. Bomb away.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > The Ghost of Oppo 07/08/2016 at 14:35

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It's the most fun I've ever had on two wheels, with the possible exception of the time I rented a dh bike at a ski resort in the summer. Take the lift up, try not to die on the way down. Repeat.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > HammerheadFistpunch 07/08/2016 at 20:10

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I would also offer the following: give it some time before you make a call. It took me a several weeks of daily rides on a very wide variety of terrain to “figure out” the bike’s capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, and how to steer the damn thing. It’s not something I’d ever consider taking on a trials course, but dh, all mountain, snow, and sand? Hell yes. A fat bike isn’t about finesse. It’s a brute force weapon- you give it the watts and it will roll over absofuckinglutely anything.

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 21:50

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I gotta try one on my home trails to give it a fair shot. Lots of guys are going 27.5-plus now... interesting in any case

The Lurktastic Opponaught > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 21:57

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650 b+ in the 3" range are all the rage in my area. I would have no reservations buying one right now, except that I want my next bike to be a year-rounder. Most of the people I’ve talked to say that a 4"-5" low psi snow tire is required for winter use around here to achieve the necessary float. I’m willing to take compromises in other areas for the sake of only buying one new all mountain machine. My other bikes (Scott S5 and an old Trek 6500) slot in nicely for the things the fat bike doesn't do.

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:02

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For me I just want to ski in the winter, it’s too goddamm cold to bike and there are no packed trails nearby. I can xc ski right out my door though, on some of my bike trails...

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:03

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Also I think we’re a bit behind the curve here in NH. I’ve never even seen one of these 650+ contraptions

The Lurktastic Opponaught > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 22:07

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One of my parents used to work for a major ski manufacturer, and a childhood spent ski racing did in my chances of skiing and running as an adult. It’s the last form of exercise I can still get without resorting to a recumbent.

*hurk*

Also, I work in an area the turns the municipal golf courses into xc ski areas that are bike friendly. It’s a hell of a perk.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 22:09

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I’m over in southern Maine and the damn things are on top of every Audi in the area. But: $eacoast.

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:10

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Ah, yes I’m a lifetime skier and raced through college. I can still run but I’d rather not. I also crave the adrenaline of biking while I find running boring.

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:16

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Cool, my sister lived in Kennebunk for a while, nice area. Come to central NH and I’ll show you around our trails.... which are mostly hiking trails you can also bike on. But, nice views on top

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:24

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I also forgot to mention, you inspired me to go for a ride after work, which was clearly a great choice. A 45 minute ride (part way) up the mountain behind my house, good stuff. Still had time to stack some 2017-2018 firewood before getting the kids!

The Lurktastic Opponaught > functionoverfashion 07/08/2016 at 22:28

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I have a feeling the climbs would kick my ass. I need to put some serious time in my road saddle before I’ll be able to maintain that level of output.

functionoverfashion > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/08/2016 at 22:31

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Haha, yeah my favorite ride from home is about 45 minutes of continuous climbing, a nice loop on the summit then 15 minutes down.

The Ghost of Oppo > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/09/2016 at 11:16

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I just did that for the first time last week and rented because I figured my hardtail wouldn’t be able to handle some of the drops. Now I’m saving up for a full suspension. It pains me to think that even if I sell my motorcycle, it will only be enough to buy an entry level FS. Hell, the trade in I got on my Mk4 GTI would have only been enough for a mid level.