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Fat Tired Track Bikes
I've recently become a fan of 26" wheels, and fat tires. I do most of
my riding on city streets, and between the crumbling asphalt, subway grates, and street-car tracks, fat tires are almost a necessity. I don't doubt that skinny wheels roll faster, but I do doubt that they roll so much faster as to make their tendency to dent rims, and get flats worth it. So run fat tires, what's the problem? All the bikes that have chainstays wide enough to accept fat meats are mountain bike or BMX style frames which also happen to feature sloping top tubes so you can put the seat really low since most of the serious pedaling in those sports is done out of saddle. I want my top tube flat, and my seat stays tall because I keep my seat high so that my legs are fully extended when I'm in the saddle. A long seat post would get me up high, but that combined with the higher BB of most dirt bikes makes me feel like I'm riding a folding bike. Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? |
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#2
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:45:57 -0800 (PST), Pilgrim
wrote: I've recently become a fan of 26" wheels, and fat tires. I do most of my riding on city streets, and between the crumbling asphalt, subway grates, and street-car tracks, fat tires are almost a necessity. I don't doubt that skinny wheels roll faster, All things being equal, fat tyres are faster up to the point where their increased aerodynamic drag outweighs their lower rolling resistance. Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". There are plenty of wide 700c tyres now; I'd at least look at a cyclo cross frame, some of them will take 700x42s. There are also 700c hybrids to consider, with more conventional frame shapes than current MTBs, and of course old school rigid MTBs had horizontal top tubes. You don't say what you want it for, besides urban assaults. If it's a beater, a 1980s rigid MTB would do. If you are stuck with the terrain but want a no expense spared play bike, a custom frame in 853 or even 953 could be built around your favourite tyre and selected riding position Kinky Cowboy* *Batteries not included May contain traces of nuts Your milage may vary |
#3
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
On 2007-12-14, Pilgrim wrote:
So run fat tires, what's the problem? All the bikes that have chainstays wide enough to accept fat meats are mountain bike or BMX style frames which also happen to feature sloping top tubes so you can put the seat really low since most of the serious pedaling in those sports is done out of saddle. The sloping top tube on mountain bikes is to provide adequate standover despite the tall front end. Not many people would be tall enough to ride a bike with a long travel fork and a level top tube. Mountain bikes come with long seatposts so that the saddle can be set at a normal height. Every recreational mountain biker I've encountered did the vast majority of their pedaling seated. I want my top tube flat, and my seat stays tall because I keep my seat high so that my legs are fully extended when I'm in the saddle. A long seat post would get me up high, but that combined with the higher BB of most dirt bikes makes me feel like I'm riding a folding bike. If sloping top tubes turn you off aesthetically or you have other reasons for avoiding mountain bikes, that's one thing. But don't reject mountain bikes because you think they're not supposed to be set up for full leg extension. They are. Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? I'm not sure about that, but a Steamroller with some fat 700c tires seems like it would do the job nicely. Something like the Schwalbe Big Apple in 50mm or 60mm should be cushier than any 26" slick tire. |
#4
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
In article
, Pilgrim wrote: Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? http://www.mariposabicycles.com/fixed-650b.html http://www.rawlandcycles.com/store/i...tem_detail&int ItemID=3420 Or just put fat tires on the Steamroller, you can probably run Schwalbe Big Apples if you want. If those aren't fat enough, it's time to move somewhere else. |
#5
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
Pilgrim wrote:
Snip Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? Give some thought to a Surley Pugsley.. Seriously FAT tires Steve |
#6
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
Steve Wrote: Pilgrim wrote: Snip Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? Give some thought to a Surley Pugsley.. Seriously FAT tires Steve Sure, if most of your riding is in soft sand. -- Dan Burkhart |
#7
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
"Tim McNamara" wrote in message ... In article , Pilgrim wrote: Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? http://www.mariposabicycles.com/fixed-650b.html Nice! I still enjoy looking at them...smile -tom |
#8
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
On Dec 14, 12:03 am, Tim McNamara wrote:
In article , Pilgrim wrote: Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? http://www.mariposabicycles.com/fixed-650b.html http://www.rawlandcycles.com/store/i...on=item_detail... ItemID=3420 Or just put fat tires on the Steamroller, you can probably run Schwalbe Big Apples if you want. If those aren't fat enough, it's time to move somewhere else. Those Mariposas are beautiful. The Porteur bike, especially. Drum brakes are a nice surprise. Looks like they're closing their store and likely their shop though.... /s |
#9
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
"Scott Gordo" wrote in message ... On Dec 14, 12:03 am, Tim McNamara wrote: In article , Pilgrim wrote: Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? http://www.mariposabicycles.com/fixed-650b.html http://www.rawlandcycles.com/store/i...on=item_detail... ItemID=3420 Or just put fat tires on the Steamroller, you can probably run Schwalbe Big Apples if you want. If those aren't fat enough, it's time to move somewhere else. Those Mariposas are beautiful. The Porteur bike, especially. Drum brakes are a nice surprise. Looks like they're closing their store and likely their shop though.... /s Saw that too, the Shimano Nexave "Roller Brake" is a drum brake? -tom |
#10
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Fat Tired Track Bikes
Pilgrim wrote:
I've recently become a fan of 26" wheels, and fat tires. I do most of my riding on city streets, and between the crumbling asphalt, subway grates, and street-car tracks, fat tires are almost a necessity. I don't doubt that skinny wheels roll faster, but I do doubt that they roll so much faster as to make their tendency to dent rims, and get flats worth it. So run fat tires, what's the problem? All the bikes that have chainstays wide enough to accept fat meats are mountain bike or BMX style frames which also happen to feature sloping top tubes so you can put the seat really low since most of the serious pedaling in those sports is done out of saddle. I want my top tube flat, and my seat stays tall because I keep my seat high so that my legs are fully extended when I'm in the saddle. A long seat post would get me up high, but that combined with the higher BB of most dirt bikes makes me feel like I'm riding a folding bike. Basically, I want a frame with road geometry, and fat 26" tires. Maybe something like a Surly Steamroller since it's chainstays say "Fatties Fit Fine". Assuming I use shorter cranks to compensate for the lowered BB, would a rig like that be a good idea? I found an old MTB from the pre-compact days to make an urban fixer for my son. He loves it. |
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