Old Man Winter is almost here! Fatbike time?

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
Winter is coming fast! I ordered a 2021 Norco Bigfoot VLT2. Will need a few upgrades but at least I will get out a bunch more this winter. I love fat biking in the snow. Anyone else?
 

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
Our trail in Denver eventually get buried. Many are groomed by special machines for fat biking, but it is mostly sunny all winter. We also get up higher into the mountains where the trails are even more stellar. Grooming machines are used in many of those towns too. Fatbiking is amazing.
 

Jurassic

Active member
Subscriber
Jul 22, 2022
220
234
Helensburgh, Scotland.
We sometimes get snow here in Scotland and I always try to get out for some snow riding on my fat bike. This year I have a new one to try but it's not an eeb, just a ti framed beauty! I've wondered about Bafanging my old alu fat bike frame and building it up as a winter eeb but that will probably be a project for next year (if at all). I do love fat biking though and am surprised that more folks don't ride them as winter bikes to save the linkages on their full sus bikes.
 

Mabman

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Feb 28, 2018
1,048
1,735
Oregon USA
Fat bikes or skinny skiis......I'll take the skiis.

That said I have ridden miles of snow mobile track with 2.2 tires aired down.
 

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
I gave yup skiing and took up snowboarding but prefer fat biking at times...more solitary too This year, I may go back to skiing. I was on a Trek Farley and it is a great fatbike. However, I think the e-fattie will get me out more and keep my HR lower. I should have it tomorrow.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
2,939
4,156
Coquitlam, BC
Winter is coming fast! I ordered a 2021 Norco Bigfoot VLT2. Will need a few upgrades but at least I will get out a bunch more this winter. I love fat biking in the snow. Anyone else?
Can’t wait!
No snow yet but I’ve added a few upgrades for this season of freezing fun. Besides the winter clothing (belaclava, gortex gloves, winter clipless boots, goggles, heavy jacket, waterproof pants etc.) I’ve changed up the wheels. 2.6 Assigia f/r, 35mm rims, CushCore and drop the psi.

Not too many bikes go out in the snow conditions and snowshoer’s are just another obstacle but snowmobiles pack down a decent trail. It’s not like night riding. It’s really frikken quiet. 665F3AA8-3F6F-4FCC-AFE3-630358C67EF3.jpeg AFFBD0F8-4749-46FD-B0E9-7762BF6C8CD9.jpeg
Used snowmobile tracks until a snowshoer (with ear-buds) stopped my momentum.
C6C3EE37-2874-43AF-A1D5-89C4547C7C10.jpeg
Removed this fender. Snow just packed between the fender and tire. Show-Stopper.
95C4659B-0480-41D9-8E8D-C6D7224FD302.jpeg
Apparently there’s rocks under the snow.
040C8954-4056-48A6-BE92-A1F1C37E4F99.jpeg E48B252B-7749-4F41-A999-6C17BA6B2DC1.jpeg AC4A3664-BCB6-49F6-9B1F-67035C03366A.jpeg 9CFBDFBD-3E43-44A9-9736-4247484DA728.jpeg 4DED283D-A26B-4C28-949C-DE5321A046C7.jpeg
 

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
We usually will not see a skinny-tire MTB out unless the snow has been packed down super well. Usually, it is the 4"+ crowd and there are a few groups too. Still, trails only see 10% of summertime traffic at best and YES, it is incredibly quiet!!! I love that. I have been fat biking for maybe ten years. This is my first E-fattie. Steeps climbs on a regular fatbike are a chore and I'm in my 50s now. The e-bike will be just what the doctor ordered! I actually have a 3-year-old so I can't just go get a heart attack on the trail. :D
 

DirtFarmer

Member
Dec 12, 2021
28
20
Lethbridge
Fat biking is very popular in the Rockies. There are groomed trail systems that we share with snowshoers and XC skiers. We can’t run anything less than 3.8” on the groomers though, skinny tires trash the trail.
Love my 2017 Specialized
699E3478-3ECE-4EEF-A646-61B4C1058886.jpeg
.
 

Jurassic

Active member
Subscriber
Jul 22, 2022
220
234
Helensburgh, Scotland.
When you think about it a fat ebike makes a lot of sense really. The usual criticism (from mainstream mountain bikers) regarding fat bikes are that they're heavy and hard work to pedal on roads and forest roads but if you add a motor the weight issue becomes irrelevant and the hard to pedal issue is largely mitigated by having a motor to help you out!
 

Petrex

Member
Jul 20, 2022
18
15
UK
@BAMBAMODA
Wow ! Germany looks well sorted for bike trails. Signposts, lookouts, hostels and eateries, great countryside, and snow
👍

Somewhere South West of Stuttgart ?
 

Will I Am

Member
Mar 3, 2022
9
2
BC
Never tried it before but hoping & expecting the 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT1 shows up in the next few weeks. Thinking I’ll go with the 900Wh battery Not knowing what ride gear I’ll be needing….any suggestions on proper boots, gloves, and other stuff welcomed.
5047BFDA-67F0-47CF-ACF1-2C2285215A8E.jpeg
 

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
Never tried it before but hoping & expecting the 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT1 shows up in the next few weeks. Thinking I’ll go with the 900Wh battery Not knowing what ride gear I’ll be needing….any suggestions on proper boots, gloves, and other stuff welcomed. View attachment 100864

I have several diff gloves but thin liners are a MUST. If you really want to be warm, get some 45NRTH Cobrafist pogies. Trust me- you can ride in single digits and be warm. I use layers. I have merino and synthetic layers. Then if really cold, I'll wear a breathable shell. Always layer or you will overheat. Start the ride cool and you will be warm. Start warm and you will overheat (here in Colorado anyway). Boots- I wear hiking boots and flat pedals now. Cleats get clogged with snow. I also wear synthetic legging layer...very thin and then stretchy pants on top. Trial and error is it. I can ride in temps down to 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) comfortably though I prefer 20-40.
 

Will I Am

Member
Mar 3, 2022
9
2
BC
Awesome news today my long awaited 2023 Bigfoot VLT1 is at my LBS….unfortunately they didn’t have stock on the bigger 900Wh battery so still waiting for another week or so I guess. Go big or go home as they say, and not going to settle for the 720 as I figure I’ll need all the juice I can get to haul my butt up the local mountainside. It’s only 1.5# heavier….but comes in at $200/pound more. Ouch.
 

Will I Am

Member
Mar 3, 2022
9
2
BC
That is awesome! I got the VLT2 so am upgrading. The wheel upgrade situation is problematic but I'll figure it out.
School me mate I got lots to learn. I backordered a couple of Vee Avalanche 27.5x4.5 today. I plan on taking some local advice and going to use SS panhead screws for studs, and a Tuffy liner as have been told that this is way better route as traditional studs eject and are problematic.
 

F4Flyer

Member
Sep 30, 2020
113
54
Denver
Traditional studs are fine and probably the best way. You just need to make sure they are seated well when new. Use the install tool and spray with alcohol to seat them nicely. The alcohol will dry (isopropyl). Been using them for many years. The 45NRTH XL studs are very long so maybe use one step down- the Larges. I have used several types.
 

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