In the spring I want to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air. It was at this time that the girls began to think about how to quickly get in shape after a long winter. It is possible to combine the useful and the pleasant with the help of cycling - this way the muscles will find the necessary tone, and breathe plenty of fresh air. Therefore, with the onset of the first sunny days, more and more cyclists appear on the streets, who often put their iron friend for the winter with the appearance of ice. Do you want to ride a bike all year round? Do not laugh, it is possible. Only you need a special transport - a bike with wide tires. We’ll tell you about him.
Wide tire bike: general description
Each cyclist is proud of his transport and is ready to praise it all day, and real fans of this sport always have several stories in store about the incredible possibilities of an iron friend. Therefore, it is not surprising that a bicycle with wide tires accidentally met on a city street attracts attention and arouses curiosity.
What does this miracle look like? Outwardly, this bike is not much different from the usual one, with the exception of thick and wide tires, which increase its patency. Thanks to this, you can ride on it where you have to carry a regular bike. In addition, this design allows you to ride in the rain, in the snow and on any off-road. Therefore, a bicycle with wide tires is rightly called a real "jeep." After all, this is exactly what is called in the automotive industry a class of cars with high traffic.
The advent of new bicycles has significantly expanded the possibilities of fans and fans of outdoor activities. However, due to the high cost and the small amount of information about these two-wheel jeep models, they have not yet become widespread in Russia. We have collected all the known information about the bike with wide tires, reviews and comments of its owners. So, we proceed to a thorough study of this miracle of modern technology.
The story of the new bike
Bicycles with wide tires of large diameter (or fatbikes) appeared in Alaska. Everyone knows that the climate of these places is identical to our Siberian nature, which is why this model aroused great interest among Russians. The inventor of the fat bike, Mark Grunwald, used three inches wide tires for his first model and placed them on a rim that was three and a half inches in diameter.
Otherwise, this bike is ordinary - several speeds, shock absorbers and brakes. Although there are models where there is no cushioning fork at all. Many cyclists argue that you can ride on a fat bike without it, because soft and wide tires perfectly “absorb” all potholes, bumps and stones found on the road.
Fatbike Features
Since we have already clarified that a bike with wide tires is perfect for off-road driving, there is a natural curiosity: what makes it so successful to overcome all obstacles? What is the secret of a fat bike?
Naturally in his tires. They allow you to adjust the pressure depending on the coating. If you need to drive a few kilometers on sand or stones, then the pressure should be reduced. Grip on the surface will be greater and the tires will “absorb” all obstacles. Of course, moving around in this mode is quite difficult. But then you can drive anywhere without problems.
If you plan to ride on a regular asphalt road, then you need to bring the tire pressure to normal and ride for fun.
Note that a bike with wide tires (the photo of this miracle of technology we gave below) weighs a little more than its counterparts. But this is a very subjective opinion, because an ordinary mountain bike can be very difficult.
Usually the weight of a fat bike does not exceed seventeen kilograms, and rubber weighs about one and a half kilograms. Many fans of this vehicle note that, despite the manufacturers' assurances that the course of the fat bike is no different from a regular bike, they still had to slightly change their riding style. After all, you have to consider that acceleration is slower than usual, and entering into turns requires some skill.
Wings: Pros and Cons
If you plan to purchase a regular fat bike or a small bike with wide tires with wings, then we hasten to disappoint you - you will not find such a model. For some reason, manufacturers do not produce such bikes with wings; they are simply not included or sold as an additional accessory.
But how to ride if a fat bike was originally designed to overcome dirt and sand? There are two options:
- tolerate dirt on the back and wash clothes every time after riding;
- make wings yourself.
Some craftsmen advise sawing a regular wing and installing it on a stand.
The most famous wide tire bike manufacturers
It is not surprising that American manufacturers of fatbikes are recognized as the best among other companies. But European brands are gradually gaining popularity, so we decided to present you the TOP-5 brands that can boast of their wide-tire bike models:
- Surly This company is a leader in the production of fatbikes, it was the first in the United States to launch such equipment on the market. It is known that many companies buy parts for their models from Surly.
- Salsa ranks second in terms of the number of fatbikes released for sale. During the work, several types of aluminum frames and even one titanium were developed.
- Fatback. This manufacturer can boast of good quality products that have their own consumers.
- Fatbikes. The company is located in Alaska, where the model of bicycles with wide tires was born. Therefore, the manufacturer produces very high-quality products - light and durable.
- Sandman is the first European company to launch fatbikes. They have a sports bias and are in search of their consumer.
In general, each model of these companies deserves attention, but do not forget about the price of such bicycles. I want to say about it separately.
Cost of bicycles
The only significant drawback of overseas fatbikes is their price. Not every Russian can afford a bike with wide tires. The cost of a branded model in specialized sports stores starts from thirty-three thousand rubles. For most of our compatriots, especially from the provinces, this amount is more than ruinous for the family budget.
Even if you manage to save up for such a model, then in any case you will have to buy many more small things, without which it would be difficult to imagine comfortable riding a bicycle. How to be? Refuse the dream and be content with the usual two-wheeled friend? Not at all, we offer you a way out of the situation - a Chinese bike with wide tires. Let's find out how much the products of these manufacturers deserve the attention of the Russian consumer.
Chinese bikes: description
Perhaps the whole world knows that if a new product appeared somewhere, then in a few months a copy of it will be sold in China. Therefore, it is not surprising that Chinese manufacturers very actively offer various models of fatbikes on specialized websites at a very affordable price. For comparison, we can give the average price of a bicycle - it does not exceed seven thousand rubles. Of course, it is worth adding to this amount the cost of delivery to Russia. It will be approximately equal to the price of a bicycle. As a result, you will pay about fourteen thousand rubles and become the happy owner of a fat bike, which you can brag to your friends.
Of the many wide-tire bike companies, Danie and Sarma Bikes deserve attention. We will tell you about them in detail.
Danie wide tire bike from China: reviews
Like any equipment, this bike has its pros and cons. Let's start with the pleasant:
- judging by the reviews, the fat bike of this model is very high quality and reliable;
- It has a great design;
- good cross and stability;
- many Danie buyers ride it in the winter for several years and are very happy with their iron friend;
- most reviews contain information that the bike was unexpectedly fast.
Cons of this model are also present:
- Danie is heavy enough - about twenty kilograms;
- with increasing tire pressure, the bike gains speed for a long time;
- the absence of wings makes the model modify itself.
Summarizing all of the above, we can say that Danie is an excellent choice for those who ride a bicycle for their pleasure, have strong legs and are not ready to pay a large sum of money for a purchase.
Bicycles from Hong Kong
Sarma Bikes is a special company located in Hong Kong, but many of its specialists come from Russia. Therefore, each bike uses the latest technology, taken from the aircraft industry.
Feature of all Sarma Bikes fatbikes, noted by customers, is the ease of models. Usually the weight does not exceed fifteen kilograms, which is very important given the slow acceleration. In addition, such bikes have shock absorbers, for some buyers this is an essential fact.
Interestingly, Sarma Bikes is the first Chinese company to release a new model with an electric motor. Unfortunately, we were not able to find reviews of Russians about this model. Most likely, this new product has not yet received wide distribution in our country.
Should I buy such a bike: a brief summary
Of course, it’s hard to advise if it’s worth buying a fat bike if you do not plan to seriously engage in cycling. But after all, many serious victories, achievements and hobbies began only with an attempt to learn something new. And spring is the best time to start a new life. Dare, and the world will sparkle with new colors.