2024 MADE Bike Show Pre-Feature: Paul’s Meriwether x Oddity Touring Fat Bike

Reportage

2024 MADE Bike Show Pre-Feature: Paul’s Meriwether x Oddity Touring Fat Bike

John and Cari are en route to the 2024 MADE Bike Show and stopped along the way to see the Paul Component Engineering fam in Chico, California. While there, we checked out Paul’s Meriwether Cycles touring fat bike. This collaboration bike with Oddity Cycles is a three-year project, but if you’re like us, you’ll agree it was well worth the wait. Let’s check it out!

State Bicycle Co. 6061 Trail+ Fat Bike Review: Fat Bikes for All

Reportage

State Bicycle Co. 6061 Trail+ Fat Bike Review: Fat Bikes for All

This winter, Shaun Price took State’s 6061 Trail+ Fat Bike out around New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. It was his first time fat biking, making him the perfect test subject for this entry-level fat bike model from State. Today, Shaun reviews the 6061 Trail+’s riding characteristics, along with the impact of techy numbers, measurements, and geometry. As a first-time fat biker, he weighs in on the pros and cons of State’s accessible $999.99 ready-to-roll fat bike.

Our Favorite Fat Bike Reviews

Radar

Our Favorite Fat Bike Reviews

Fat bikes are strange birds in the cycling world, with their crazy-wide q-factors and monster clearances, but they are also extremely capable platforms that lend room for a lot of creativity. As an arctic blast sweeps across much of the US, and snow blankets our favorite Southwest trails, we’re taking a look back at our ten favorite fat-bike reviews from the last few years. You’ll see a few of the usual suspects from Surly, but we’re also resurrecting one-off creations from the archives and even a Readers’ Ride. Drop into the comments and let us know how you’re getting ‘Fat’ this winter!  

Four Seasons: Daniel and His Custom Black Sheep Titanium Fat Bike

Reportage

Four Seasons: Daniel and His Custom Black Sheep Titanium Fat Bike

Every bicycle has a story behind it, especially those that are dreamt up over a period of years and eventually brought to life and built from the ground up. This absolutely stunning titanium Black Sheep ‘Speedster’ fat bike is definitely no exception. One could argue it’s a bit of a stretch, but in this case, this bike’s story involves skateboarding and a decades-long journey from the East Coast to the West Coast, and finally the Southwest.

We Either Make It, or We Don’t: Traversing Iceland on Fat Bikes

Reportage

We Either Make It, or We Don’t: Traversing Iceland on Fat Bikes

Below are a series of stories from a trip Gus Morton took across Iceland during winter on a fat bike with his friends Chris Burkard and Rebecca Rusch. They are reflections of what he was thinking and feeling in a particular moment and by no means an accurate account of the reality of any situation. Reflections which, as those present will likely attest, were probably far less dramatic.

Why Cycles Big Iron Fat Bike Gets Updated

Radar

Why Cycles Big Iron Fat Bike Gets Updated

The Big Iron is Why Cycles’ flagship fat bike, built around 27.5×4.5” or 26×5” wheels and a titanium chassis. The newly-updated V2 sees some updates to a slightly more progressive geometry and a new UDH hanger to future-proof this bike even more. Named after the famous Marty Robbins song, the Big Iron was developed to take on everything from quick rips on the local groomed single track or an epic 1100 mile journey across Alaska. These new updates, along with a lifetime warranty really sweeten the Big Iron this winter! Head to Why Cycles for more.

More Than Just a Fat Bike: John Reviews the Otso Voytek

Reportage

More Than Just a Fat Bike: John Reviews the Otso Voytek

Fat bikes. They’re the cycling industry’s lost children. The forgotten ones. Remember when every brand under the sun had a fat bike in their catalog? Now there are only a few brands still putting in the PR&D required to make these bikes less cumbersome, less heavy, and more like a true-to-form mountain bike. One of those brands is Otso, whose Voytek is all of the above and more. I’ve held onto this bike for probably longer than they anticipated, cycling through the winter months, into the spring, and well into the summer. I’ve ridden it in its thicc 26″+ setup and now in its chonk 29+ form and have pulled together a comprehensive argument for why I hope that bikes like the Voytek will stay around for a while…

Kyle’s Sklar Touring Fat Bike in 29+ Mode

Reportage

Kyle’s Sklar Touring Fat Bike in 29+ Mode

With the snow melting and the season ripe for desert ramblings, Kyle Klain took his 2016 NAHBS-built Sklar fat bike and converted it to 29+. After spending all winter with fat-bike 26+ tires, this Sklar has undergone quite the transformation. This weekend while celebrating my 40th birthday in southeastern Utah, I documented Kyle’s stunning build in the morning sun. Check it out in detail below…

The Bearclaw Bicycle Co TŌWMAK is a Drop Bar Fat Bike

Radar

The Bearclaw Bicycle Co TŌWMAK is a Drop Bar Fat Bike

“Finally, a bicycle I can ride to the North Pole and back in a reasonable amount of time”
-Chet Bearclaw

Chet is onto something. Or on something rather! Whatever it is, it’s gotta be good though. The TŌWMAK has got to be the craziest looking bike of the year, yet I can assure you it’s not a photoshop composite. It’s a drop bar fat bike and an early production run of 20 are being made currently, so head to Bearclaw Bicycle Co to put a deposit down if you’re into this.

Specs:
-197x12mm thru-axle frame
-150x15mm Blitzen 468 Axle to Crown carbon or Ti fork (coming soon)
-Fits up to 27.5 x 4.5 or 26 x 5 tires
-3 triple boss mounts on the frame
-Rack Mounts
-Flat mount brake
-Ultradistance Gravel Friendly Geometry. (UGFG)
-100mm BSA Standard Bottom Bracket
-Internal cable routing
-3AL-2.5V double-butted titanium frame
-6AL-4V billet head tube, bb, dropouts, derailleur hanger, and chainstay plate

Win a Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike, a Alpacka Caribou Packraft, and a  UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System from Hyperlite

Radar

Win a Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike, a Alpacka Caribou Packraft, and a UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System from Hyperlite

Hyperlite Mountain Gear wants to outfit your future ventures with this massive giveaway:

The chassis off this giveaway is the ever-capable, long-hauler Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike. For shelter, you can win a UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System and then Inflate your Alpacka Caribou Packraft and explore that lake you’re on with a Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid Paddle. Then pack everything into the 4400 Porter.

Head to Hyperlite Mountain Gear to sign up for this giveaway. All you’ve got to do is enter your email.

Salsa Updates its Fat Bike Lineup

Radar

Salsa Updates its Fat Bike Lineup

It’s a little early to think about snow but if the pandemic taught us anything about bikes and availability, the name of the game is planning ahead! That means if you have any snow or sand excursions and rides planned for this winter, get on it now. What better time for Salsa to update their fat bike line with new colors and specs for 2021, starting at $1599 for a complete Mukluk Deore 11 model which is a deal when you consider the $1999 price of a Mukluk Carbon frame alone. There’s literally something for everyone’s taste and budget so head to Salsa to see all the specs.