How and what to choose bicycle tires. Fatbike: why do we need such wheels? Which type is better

A new trend has recently appeared on the sports equipment market - a bicycle with wide wheels. This vehicle is designed for off-road travel, as it has all the necessary components for this. Among cyclists, this attribute is called a fatbike, which fully characterizes it as a bike with huge tires. What is special about a fatbike and which option is better to choose? Let's look at these questions in more detail so as not to make a mistake in choosing.

Characteristic features of a fatbike

In general, the design of a bicycle with wide wheels does not differ much from traditional ones. There are attachments in the form of gear shifting, a braking system, etc. The main distinguishing characteristic of this product is its versatility and cross-country ability.

These factors are achieved through the use of tires with different pressure levels from 5 to 30 PSI. With reduced pressure, the wheel setup absorbs vibrations that are transmitted from driving on uneven road surfaces. In this case, the cyclist will need to put more effort into moving, and turns will also become more difficult.

As the pressure level increases, the bicycle will behave on the road in the same way as a traditional bicycle. The products weigh approximately over 14 kg, with large tires accounting for most of the weight:

• tires - 1400-1600 gr.;
• rims - 1000 gr.;
• chamber - 500 g;
• rim tape - 150 gr.

Taking into account the hub and spokes, one unit comes out to more than 3.5 kg. Despite the fact that all-terrain bikes with wide, large-diameter tires have increased weight, their ride is practically no different from standard bikes. Thanks to an identical transmission, the user will be able to select the most suitable driving mode for comfortable movement.

The best bicycles with wide wheels under 30,000 rubles

The budget version has decent performance characteristics when driving on snow, smooth road surfaces or mountainous terrain. Due to the chassis width of 4 inches, the bicycle will completely ignore various branches, bumps, and potholes on the roads while driving. In addition, the model drives excellently through snowdrifts, which even some expensive variations cannot do.

Stalker weighs 19 kg, it has a shock-absorbing fork that absorbs vibrations when moving. As for the braking system, the thick-wheeled Wind is equipped with Shinamo brand disc mechanical devices. Front and rear clearance increases the level of operational safety.

Wind Stalker 4.0 for off-road driving is available in two original colors - bright blue and green. The cost of models varies between 26,000-27,000 rubles.

The all-terrain bicycle, despite its aggressive appearance and design, weighs relatively little - 18 kg. It has a speed setting with 8 riding modes. This allows you to select the most optimal mode for comfortable cycling under different conditions. The Shimano RD-M310 (ALTUS) brand rear shift system is used here.

In addition, the design includes a rigid fork, since it is the large tires that absorb most of the vibrations. This part is unpretentious in operation, since it does not require additional maintenance or careful handling. It uses a wheel setup with a large running width of 4.8 inches. Thanks to this wheelbase, the model is truly capable of driving through any obstacles without compromising the comfort of the cyclist.

Separately, it should be noted that the tires in the Nord 4.8 are 0.8 inches larger than the standard variations. The fatbike is equipped with Promax mechanical disc brakes. They work well in winter and summer.

The cost of the model on the sports equipment market is 27,500 rubles.

Fatbike Chreal

A Chinese representative of the bicycle industry, who, however, confidently refutes the attitude towards products from the Middle Kingdom. High-quality working components, low weight, good tire material, rigid fork - in a word, all the components of a successful all-terrain vehicle are there.

Specifications:

Optionally, the kit also includes a running board, plastic fenders, anti-theft, LED brake light, pump, repair kit, chain guard and compass. The price of the model is 24,500 rubles.

VIDEO: What to expect from a cheap fat bike

The best bicycles with wide wheels under 100,000 rubles

For lovers of variety who can afford an expensive bike, a fat bike will provide a unique riding experience on any surface and in any season. Originally invented for traveling around North America, fat bikes literally became very popular in just a couple of years, even in hot countries. With very similar characteristics, in budget versions the frame is made of chrome-molybdenum steel, in the mid-price segment - from aluminum, in expensive versions - from carbon fiber.

INO Traveler SON 2.0

A fatbike has increased cross-country ability, due to which it is used for trips in the winter season. It weighs 16 kg, which is a big advantage. The design has a rigid fork, since the function of shock absorbers is performed by large wheels. In addition, a rigid fork is considered less demanding to maintain, which significantly increases its service life.

Thanks to tires with a size of 26"x4.9, the all-terrain bike can easily move both around the city and in forested areas. The tubes can be inflated from 0.2 to 2 atm. The kit includes a Shimano M355 braking system, which instantly responds to the incoming task as in both hot and cold seasons.

The main technical characteristics of the INO Traveler SON 2.0 bicycle transport are the following parameters:

An all-terrain bike with wide tires of this brand costs 45,000 rubles.

This representative has a durable cockpit, improved compared to the previous version 1.0, thanks to which it is easier to control the road and overcome obstacle courses more easily. The frame and fork are made of aluminum alloy. Initially designed for driving in snowy areas, but with equal ease it overcomes gravel, crushed stone, and sand.

The advantages of the model are knot strength, durability, and low weight. Disadvantages according to reviews - it is inconvenient to ride for a long time for people less than 165 cm tall, the shortened body and the fact that there is only one mount for the bottle also cause inconvenience.

Price 60,900 rub.

Among the interesting features, it is worth highlighting the world's first and so far only 10 cm eccentric carriage and a modular lock on cable guides - this idea was first used for a gear derailleur on single-gear bicycles. The distance between the axles at the rear is 17 cm, at the front - 13.5 cm. The wheel clearance is 4.8 and 4.9 inches. The seatpost is 2.7 cm.

VIDEO: Why you need a fatbike (a bicycle with wide wheels)

I’m not much of a rider in the summer either, but in the winter it’s probably cool?

What kind of bikes are these, read under the cut...

The cross-country ability of a mountain bike is very high: dirt, mountains, snow, swamps, fords - it doesn’t care about anything. But alas, it is not endless, and one of the limiting factors is the pressure exerted on the ground. Every biker is familiar with the situation when a bicycle gets stuck in mud or snow and refuses to move forward, or when riding in such conditions takes more effort and time than walking.

It is known that ground pressure directly depends on the area of ​​the tire contact patch with the road. The first way to increase the contact patch is to increase the wheel diameter, which is how 2iners and mountain bikes with a rim diameter came about? 622 mm instead of the usual 559 mm and the traditional “off-road” tire thickness of 50-60 mm. A much more effective way is to keep the 26” wheels, but radically increase the thickness of the tires? to almost 100 mm (more precisely, 26x3.7-4.7”), which implies an increase in the width of the rims from approximately 25 to 60-100 mm. Bicycles with such tires were called fat bikes.

Design Features

A fat bike is a fairly rare type of bicycle; more or less mass-produced models can be counted on one hand. Therefore, the design of different samples can vary quite noticeably. In any case, a fat bike is significantly different from a regular mountain bike, with all the differences aimed at “servicing” fat tires.

To ensure that the tire does not touch the chain, and the system does not touch the frame, it is necessary to move the system to the right, increasing the chainline (the distance from the plane of the bicycle to the center of the system’s sprocket block). Therefore, fat bikes use a bottom bracket with an axle length of about 145 mm (versus the typical 110-120 mm) and a body width of 100 mm (versus 68-73 mm). When using even wider rims and tires, the chainline will need to be increased even further, for this purpose specially designed dual systems are used. If a triple system is used, then with wheels wider than 3.7” / 80 mm (hereinafter the slash is the width of the rim), it is already possible for the chain to hit the tire.

To eliminate the chain skew that occurs when the chainline is increased, it is also necessary to move the cassette to the right. There are two possible options here. In the simplest case, a conventional rear hub with a width of 135 mm is shifted to the right (English offset) by 17.5-28 mm due to the special design of the rear triangle of the frame. In order for the wheel itself to remain in the plane of the bicycle, the rim is accordingly shifted to the left relative to the hub (its width allows the holes for the spokes to be shifted relative to the plane of symmetry). A more “correct” option is to use a special rear hub with a width of 170 mm, in which case the wheel is assembled in the traditional way (often the rims have 2 rows of holes for the spokes, allowing the wheel to be assembled in both ways). But the offset option also has advantages - the ability to install a planetary hub; in addition, by changing the offset value, the manufacturer can adapt the bike to thicker tires.

The bike's fork, like the rear triangle of the frame, also needs to be widened to accommodate a fat tire. There are three possible design options here. Sometimes a conventional wide-legged 29" rigid fork (e.g. carbon crown) is used under a standard 100mm wide hub, in which case the width of tires and rims supported is limited. Another possible option is to use a 135mm wide rear (or special front) hub on the front wheel, in this case it will support wider tires. Moreover, depending on the design of the fork, the front wheel can be assembled either with a rim offset (this can ensure interchangeability with the rear wheel) or without it.

An interesting observation is that the geometry of a fat bike (including the outer diameter of the wheels) is very similar to that of a 22 bike. Therefore, if desired, fat bike wheels can be replaced with Niner wheels with traditional “thin” tires. There is a caveat here with using 135mm offset hubs on some fat bikes - a regular wheel on that frame or fork will be offset to the side. Since on regular rims there is no such displacement of the holes as on wide ones, then in order to maintain the geometry of the wheel you will have to make a pronounced “umbrella” with very different lengths and tension force of the spokes, which is undesirable. Thus, fat bikes that have offset wheels (for example, all Surly ones) are of little use for installing regular wheels. If a 170mm bushing without offset is used, then there are no problems.

Ride quality

Manufacturers recommend setting tire pressure in the range of 0.5…2 atm. At minimum pressure, the contact patch spreads to large sizes, the tire practically turns into a caterpillar. Of course, reducing ground pressure radically improves maneuverability on sticky and loose surfaces: impassable mud, snow, swampy soil, sand. Since the ground pressure is low, the tire does not push through a deep ditch, braking the bike and wasting the biker’s strength, but rolls on top, due to which the capabilities of the bike are significantly expanded.

Note that there is an alternative way to deal with mud - using the narrowest tires (about 30-40 mm) with an aggressive tread pattern - they easily cut through the mud to a hard substrate and also do not create resistance. But such tires are powerless on loose surfaces (snow, sand).

It has been noticed that the more difficult the riding conditions, the better the advantages of a fat bike are manifested: if on asphalt or dense soil it is inferior to a regular MTB, then on a bumpy and rocky road they will be approximately equal (since soft tires lick bumps better), and when If it gets into mud or snow, the fat bike will jump forward. There is an opinion that a fat bike is an almost ideal winter bike. On the other hand, even the thickest tires are still far from the contact patch area of ​​the skis, so in really deep snow you can’t expect miracles. You should also not abuse long-term driving at minimum pressure - any tire wears out quite quickly during such use. Therefore, when driving onto a hard surface, it is advisable to increase the pressure to 1.5-2 atm.

According to reviews from owners, fat bikes generally roll well, although the tire, tube and rim in total weigh more than 2500 g (this is about twice or even three times more than a regular MTB). Once such a heavy wheel has spun, it is difficult to stop it. Typical fat bike tires are huge semi-slick tires, so they don't pose much of a problem on hard surfaces. Well, the impossibility of “ragged” aggressive driving with sharp acceleration and braking remains to be taken for granted.

Fat bikes, even with standard non-studded tires, behave relatively well on ice due to the large contact area. Of course, miracles don’t happen, and in difficult ice conditions, especially on public roads, studs are still necessary. The only option here so far is the 45NRTH Dillinger 26×4.0 with 240 studs (price 150 euros). You can save a little by buying a studless version for 110 euros and studding the tire yourself according to the desired pattern (using Schwalbe kits with 50 studs and tools). Fat bikers also sometimes use 26x2.35″ tires from Nokian and Schwalbe. When installing it on wide rims (they talked about 65 mm), the thickness of the tire is enough to prevent it from puncturing, and the contact patch is much larger than that of traditional bicycles.

Of course, a fat bike is a very specific bike, good in some situations and mediocre in others. But this does not mean that it fundamentally cannot be the only bicycle. A number of models (those with non-offset wheels) can be quickly converted to 2iners for use on hard surfaces. It is enough to replace the wheels with 29-inch ones and install a Niner suspension fork to suit your taste - now you can even go on an asphalt bike ride!

But in this matter, the main thing is not to overdo it :-)

source - http://velopiter.spb.ru/tech/fat/

taken

The classic version of a two-wheeled vehicle does not allow you to move quickly and comfortably through liquid mud, off-road conditions and sand. Bicycles with wide wheels, which can be used even in fairly harsh climatic conditions, solve this problem. At the same time, you need to know what a fatbike is. Also special is what a fatbike is for. Appropriate equipment, a reliable bicycle and knowledge of some of the operating features of equipment will ensure comfortable movement off-road, in harsh conditions and in bad weather.

Purpose and design features

Conventional classic bicycle models of any type do not allow efficient travel in difficult conditions. Therefore, manufacturers have released a fatbike, which is distinguished by wide and large wheels and practicality. Before choosing a specific model, you should know what a fatbike is, its types and characteristics, as well as what a fatbike is needed for. This approach allows you to choose the best option for a bicycle that will ensure safety and comfort while traveling on any road.

Many people who want to know what a fatbike is, highly appreciate the practicality of this vehicle. This is due to the fact that the design of the bicycle has a well-thought-out shape. Thus, we can highlight the following design features of this bicycle model:

• The main distinguishing detail of a fatbike is the wheels and the pressure in them. They are wider than other bikes;
• The rim width of the vehicle is also larger than that of mountain models or electric bicycles;
• The bike has wide and thick tires that provide high efficiency when riding on various trails;
• There are holes on the rims that are necessary to reduce the weight of the product, because massive tires and large width make the vehicle heavy;
• Fat bikes can be equipped with both hydraulic and disc brakes. There is also an electric bicycle with wide wheels.

A bicycle with wide and large wheels is optimal for off-roading, riding on loose snow or liquid mud and other similar routes. This practicality of the technology is due to the carefully thought-out tire width. In this case, it is possible to regulate the pressure inside these parts, if necessary, increasing or decreasing the traction area with the road. That is why a bicycle with large wheels is a tool whose popularity is quite high.

The design does not provide shock absorbers, but their absence is compensated by large wheels. With the help of such elements, the vehicle can easily overcome various obstacles in the form of stones, potholes in the road and other areas. Such cross-country ability is not typical for a regular bicycle of any type. In this case, the pressure inside the tire of each wheel is about 0.5-1.5 atm. The usual version of the equipment has tires whose pressure is from 2 to 3.5 atm. Thus, the efficiency of adhesion of large wheels to the ground and the maneuverability of the vehicle increases, which provides pressure.

The main design differences that a fatbike has relate to the wheels and motor wheel. The remaining parts are slightly different from those of a classic bicycle. For example, the bushings are more durable, especially the rear one. Fat bikes also have spokes, which can be of variable or constant cross-section. The strong and reliable frame ensures the bike's durability in a variety of harsh conditions.

The bike with unusual wide wheels is also very versatile. Such a vehicle can be easily transformed into both a winter and summer version. To do this, you need to purchase two pairs of wheels: one standard type, and the other large. In the first case, the equipment will resemble a mountain bike, and in the second, a fat bike will provide comfortable movement in difficult conditions, on snow or mud, rocks or off-road. It is worth considering that tires and wheels must be of high quality, and the pressure in them must be optimal.

Brake system

Comfortable and reliable fat bikes are produced by only a few major manufacturers. Each company also provides all the necessary parts for this equipment, for example, a motor wheel. A company such as SURLY is especially well known, but the models produced by FATBIKES are also practical. In any case, each model of popular equipment most often has hydraulic disc brakes. At the same time, on a fat bike with wide and large wheels, you can install a motor wheel and make an electric bicycle, which is very popular. This approach allows us to significantly improve the model of equipment produced by any company.

The range of popular manufacturers includes bicycles with hydraulic disc brakes, but you can also purchase an electric bicycle. This model has a motor wheel, and the pressure in it ensures easy movement. Before choosing an electric bicycle, it is worth determining what a fat bike is and what motor wheels are needed for. The terrain on which you plan to ride, the features of operation, the cost and characteristics of the motor wheel of the electric bicycle are taken into account. Various options for popular types of electric bicycles and any motorized wheel have the following features:

• The well-thought-out design of the bike ensures comfortable operation of the equipment;
• An electric bicycle and motor wheels can have different parameters and battery configurations, and if necessary, hydraulic disc brakes can be installed;
• High-quality bicycles and motor wheels produced by any well-known company can have either an aluminum or steel frame;
• The motor wheel, which has a bicycle with large tires, can be installed either in front or behind.

Various models of this equipment are practical and convenient to use. A reliable electric bicycle or regular fat bike is distinguished by large wheels, good maneuverability in various conditions and easy maintenance. These advantages are responsible for the high popularity of both the electric bicycle and the simple model.

Practical fat bikes with motor wheels are a reliable means of transportation, but the technology does not allow driving through large snowdrifts and swamps. A fatbike or electric bicycle will provide a comfortable ride in conditions in which the classic type of two-wheeled transport without a motor wheel will not travel even a short distance. At the same time, it is important to choose high-quality and durable brakes, large tires, and also monitor the technical condition of the electric bicycle or bike.

Over the past two years, fatbikes - or wide-wheeled bicycles - have become increasingly popular. Their homeland is the USA. The fashion for fat bikes reached Russia and other countries of Eastern Europe not so long ago. But it is here, in areas with long winters and a lot of snow, that these devices have every chance of becoming as popular as in their homeland.

History of origin

Appearance in the 1970s. bicycles with a large number of gears, a powerful braking system, shock absorption, wide tires, lightweight and durable parts made it possible to significantly expand the geography of trips. Those devices were all-terrain in their own way, but they found their main application on mountain routes, which is why they received the name “mountain”. Their mass production took place in the early 1980s. By 1986, mountainbuck sales outpaced city, touring, and road bikes. Cyclists appreciated all the advantages of all-terrain two-wheeled transport.

It was easy to drive on country roads, rough terrain, and rocky soils. But limitations remain: soft surfaces and steep slopes are difficult to pass by mountain bikes. Their production technology was improved: new, lighter materials were used, work was done on the suspension, and efforts were made to improve external characteristics. This improvement was aimed at increasing speed and improving rough terrain. On surfaces such as sand, mud and snow, the mining apparatus remained ineffective.

Further transformation of the mountain bike took place in the late 1980s. in two areas of North America - Alaska and Mexico. Alaska annually hosts winter competitions to overcome long distances. Participants themselves work to improve their vehicles, coming up with various design additions to them. Obviously, driving on snow requires a large area of ​​contact with the rubber surface. This was the main direction of improvement: amateur engineering thought gave birth to bizarre devices, for example, with three rims on one wheel.

At the same time, in Mexico, a man named Ray Molina, who loved to ride on sand and ravines, made an 82 mm rim, on which he put a specially made 3.5-inch (8.9 mm) tube. A test ride through the sand dunes of Chihuahua showed that the resulting bike copes well with the task. Alaskan Mark Gronweld noticed Molina's invention at one of the international bicycle exhibitions in 1999. Having made minor changes to the design, he got what is now called a fat bike.

In 2000, Alaskan winter competitor Mike Kuriak won the incredible race over 1,500 km, becoming the first to complete the distance in 15 days. His fatbike was made based on the ideas that the Mexican Molina had previously implemented.

Mass production of devices on wheels of increased width began in 2005 by the American company Surly under the Pugsley brand. The first fatbike was made in purple with a 65 mm rim and wide 3.7-inch tires. By 2007, a dozen, mostly American, companies began producing fat bikes.

Advantages

1. A fatbike is an all-terrain two-wheeled vehicle.It is effective on surfaces such as:

• snow and ice;
• stones and gravel;
• sand;
• dirt;
• off-road (including forest).

1. Suitable for winter.

While a vehicle with extra-wide wheels can cope well with any challenging surfaces, its greatest value in regions with long winters is, of course, its snowmobile ability. In our latitudes, an ordinary bike can be used for a limited period of time a year.

For many, this is a problem, because they have the habit of riding, but it is impossible to implement it. One of the winter options for keeping fit are exercise bikes. Fat bikes open up new horizons in this regard and allow you to ski in winter even in the forest - where others go skiing.

1. Ideal shock absorption.

Bumps, sticks, small logs and tree trunks, and other surface irregularities are not a problem for a wide-wheeled bicycle. Thanks to slightly inflated chambers and design features, the fatbike has the ability to move up to 7 cm of vertical travel without any discomfort for the rider.

1. Saves energy.

On difficult surfaces, the fat bike has an easy roll. Where fatigue sets in after several kilometers of mountain biking, a fat bike continues to move at ease.

1. Can be transformed into a regular bicycle.

An extra pair of wheels 2-2.5 cm wide and 29’’ in diameter will allow you to turn a fat bike into a regular mountain bike. This requires the frame to be offset. Frame offset is a displacement of the stays to the side by 1.75 or 2.8 cm. In this case, the axis of the bushing becomes offset relative to the axis of the frame. Rim offset is the displacement of the spoke holes on the rim relative to the plane of the rim. The offset frame allows the use of standard mountain bike hubs with a width of 13.5 cm, with rims up to 10 cm wide and tires up to 4.8’’.

Most well-known manufacturers produce fatbikes with offset frames.

• Bicycles with increased wheel widths require low pressure in the chambers. The fatbike exhibits its best qualities in overcoming sticky soils, sand and snow at a pressure of about 5 PSI.

• Do not hurry. A fatbike is not designed for fast riding. He starts hard, is inert, but is always stable.

• Often 7-17 PSI is optimal. It allows you to both drive on prepared trails and overcome light off-road conditions.

• On hard surfaces with tire pressure below 15 PSI, the device is difficult to control.

• At pressures above 20 PSI, the behavior of a fat bike on hard surfaces is no different from a mountain bike. However, on uneven surfaces, severe shaking and difficult control are ensured.

• Fat bikes are not studded tires. Despite the fact that they cope well with overcoming icy surfaces, you should be careful, do not drive faster than 15 km/h, maintain balance, and do not make sharp turns.

• For any icy incline, it is recommended to get off the bike and climb it under your own power.

Manufacturers and prices

The main manufacturers of wide-wheeled bicycles are located in the USA. The cost ranges from $1000 to $5500.