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Due to the film being non-union, much of the cast, with the exception of Jermaine Hopkins, consisted of unknown actors appearing in their first feature film. Before Hopkins was cast in the role of Benny, Anthony Anderson had read for the part.Benny King, an overweight, self-conscious teen in Bakersfield, California, faces the prospect of a dismal summer when his father Carl pushes him to get a job at a hamburger joint. Carl wants Benny to develop a work ethic instead of sitting around the house all summer, writing and dreaming. Benny begrudgingly takes on the job, but continues to daydream about Candace, the girl of his dreams, and gets sidetracked by his hormonal friend Durrel Jackson.

The film was the directorial debut of Doug Ellin, who was offered the chance to direct by producer Cleveland O’Neal based on a short film he made titled The Waiter. O’Neal envisioned Phat Beach to be the first hip-hop beach movie.

The soundtrack album for the film was released on August 7, 1996, through TVT Records and consisted primarily of hip hop and R&B music. The album reached number 40 on the Top R&B Albums chart. Phat Beach received a wide theatrical release on August 2, 1996. It opened in the 22nd spot, grossing $658,614 on 408 screens. It ultimately grossed $1,383,553 domestically, making the low-budget film a financial success. Phat Beach is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Doug Ellin, which stars Jermaine ‘Huggy’ Hopkins, Coolio, Brian Hooks and Gregg Vance. The movie has been considered to be “one of the greatest (and perhaps only) hip-hop beach movies of all time.”Stephen Gaydos of Variety gave a more mixed review, writing, “Cooked up for young fans of the House Party comedies and the Wayans brothers’ raucous outings, Phat’s bite on the genre is too bland and its gags too warmed-over to satisfy the hunger of its targeted auds.” Gaydos appreciated that some of Durrel’s cruder attitudes about women “are counterbalanced by Benny’s constant criticism and belief in treating women with respect.” Though he felt Coolio’s appearance was too brief, he concluded, “First-time helmer Doug Ellin deserves credit for steering the sub-par script without resorting to MTV-style visual gimmicks, which only would have made the situation more derivative than it already is. His greatest strength is in the handling of the perfs of Hopkins, Hooks and Vance. Hopkins’ sweet vulnerability is wasted here and would be better placed in a pic with more substance, while Hooks and Vance are a winning pair of comedic newcomers.”

Durrel proposes an attractive alternative to Benny—heading off to the Southern California beaches. While Benny’s family is on vacation, he borrows his father’s Mercedes convertible and heads to Malibu with Durrel. Though Benny and Durrel intend to sell cheap sunglasses to beach-goers so Benny can afford a poetry class, Durrel gets distracted with all the attractive women around. Durrel proceeds to enjoy hook-ups with an assortment of women, while Benny is convinced he won’t meet anyone because of his size. The duo get into a variety of misadventures, including running into Coolio at a first-class hotel and signing up for a volleyball tournament when they realize they are out of money. At the time of release, Phat Beach received negative responses from critics who described the film as little more than a puerile sex comedy. Roger Hurlburt of the Orlando Sentinel lamented that “women are treated as brainless, money-grubbing half-wits who swoon over dirty comments, vulgar flattery and a fancy car”, and added “the plot is just an excuse for audiences to gape at a group of outrageously bosomy women removing bikini tops. In Phat Beach, smarmy, sexist jokes combine with silicone to produce a laughless, truly tasteless tale. Scarcely a poignant look at the loneliness of overweight, poetry-loving, nice-boy Benny King (Jermaine “Huggy” Hopkins), this simply is a bounce-and-jiggle picture. Phat is intended to titillate through gratuitous, overripe nudity and foul-mouthed high jinks. Contrary to the ads, none of it is phresh or phunky. Phlaccid is more like it.” 6. Keep Your Bike in Shape Fat bike riders should make sure their rides are running smoothly and avoid taking them out if something seems wrong. Even a minor problem with your bike, like a loose tire or warped wheel, can make it hard to deal with changing weather conditions and uneven streets. If you take care of your fat bike and do regular maintenance, the less likely you are to have problems on your ride. Any preventable issues won’t just help you stay safe; they’ll also reduce wear and tear on your bike.People often ask me whether fat tire bikes are harder to pedal than their skinny counterparts. This question would be better answered by the bike’s owner, but I can tell you this: Fat bike tires are wider to provide you with better traction on snowy, muddy, and other slippery surfaces. This is the major difference between fat bike tires and regular bike tires. The fat bike has become a popular winter snow-riding option, but that doesn’t mean riders are exempt from winter biking safety. Researchers have yet to document whether or not there are more accidents between cars and cyclists during the winter months, but it’s something both motorists and bicyclists should be aware of. Regardless of the season, bicyclists should follow these safety tips to stay safe on the road:The type of terrain you ride on often has the biggest impact on whether or not fat-tire bikes are harder to pedal. Riding on loose sand or gravel lessens the need for upper-body strength while riding on steep hills can cause problems with balance. Deep snow is usually easy to ride in; however, the extra weight of the bike and rider means that fat tire bikes may take more energy to go uphill than thinner tire bikes do.

It has the big soft tires that make riding over rough terrain a breeze, but it also has narrow rims that give you most of the speed of skinnier tires. That means you get the best of both worlds. If your fat-tire bike feels like it’s slowing you down, try switching to skinny tires for a speed boost!The size of the tire also plays an important role for bikes with big wheels. The large surface area of fat bike tires means that they are capable of covering more ground each time you pedal.

Fat tire bikes are good for riding on different terrain. They are heavier than some other types of bikes, but this is what makes them so durable and versatile.

When you ride a bike with fat tires, you have less rolling resistance per stroke because there is more air between the ground and the wheel. In order for your bike to move forward, you have to expend more energy with your legs per stroke because there is more material between the ground and the wheel that needs compensating for.When cyclists don’t follow certain safety tips, they can end up in the hospital or even die from their injuries. Unfortunately, there are plenty of bicyclists who don’t understand that it’s never safe to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. It’s important for bicyclists to stay visible and keep their bikes in good working order to avoid hitting other people or being hit themselves. If you have any injuries from an accident with a vehicle while biking, contact an attorney who can provide you with legal advice and assistance in getting the compensation that you deserve. 4) A bike with fat tires can travel over rougher terrain than a bike with skinny tires and still feel very smooth and comfortable because the shape of the tire evens out bumps and provides lots of cushioning. 1. Be Visible You want to make sure other motorists can see you when you’re riding your bike. This means wearing bright colors and avoiding wearing dark colors at nighttime or during early morning/late night hours. The idea is to make yourself visible and obvious to other drivers on the road. If you’re riding your bike after dark, consider adding reflective materials and lighting to your ride. Both can be easily found at bicycle stores or sporting goods stores.

Fat tire bikes are not technically hard to pedal. What makes them hard to pedal is the fact that they are heavy, which means they take more effort to move.If the wide tires on the fat tire bike bother you, you may want to consider a slimmer version. If being closer to the ground is your problem, switching to a hybrid or step-through frame might solve it. Riding uphill may require more effort than usual, so try mounting your seat higher and using lower gears. Finally, riding on deep snow can be done with any bike; just lower your seat and peddle hard.

Meanwhile, if you make your tires thicker without making them wider, there’s less rubber in contact with the pavement at any given time. This lower surface area reduces rolling resistance. Fat tire bikes use wider tires, which give them the ability to ride more smoothly on surfaces that are less than ideal. Fat tire bikes can also come with thicker frames and different suspension systems to help mitigate the extra weight – which makes them better for commuting than other bikes. 5) With fat tires you don’t have to worry about getting your bike muddy or wet which is a big bonus for those who live in rainy areas or need their bicycles outdoors during bad

The large tires absorb bumps and make riding on unpaved surfaces easier, while the frame geometry allows for different riding positions based on rider preference. Depending on the kind of terrain you ride on most often and your body type, you may find that a fat tire bike is harder to pedal or easier. Bike tires are used to either absorb shock with a thick layer of air or to roll quickly with a thin layer of air. Fat tire bikes use a thick layer of air and are, therefore, harder to pedal. 3. Understand How Winter Weather Can Affect Your Ride The winter months can be very dangerous for bicyclists, who have to deal with ice on the roads and snow-covered pathways. Knowing how the weather might affect your ride can help you stay safe from accidents. If there’s been a lot of snowfall recently, it’s a good idea to remove some of that snow from your bike before going for a ride. Additionally, you can add studded tires to your fat bike for added grip on the snow and ice.Fat tire bikes are made in both traditional and semi-upright geometry, offering riders different riding positions. Traditional geometry puts the rider over the pedals for better leverage against them, while semi-upright geometry leaves room beneath the rider for greater comfort.

With your arms extended out in front of you, the traditional geometry puts more weight on the wrists than when in a semi-upright position. You may find that riding with your elbows closer to your body helps you peddle more efficiently and thus leave the wider tires behind.4. Avoid Distractions No matter if it’s summer or winter, bicyclists need to avoid becoming distracted when they’re going for a ride. This means avoiding wearing headphones, looking at your phone, etc. Riding a bicycle is a good way to stay in shape and stay active, but it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. If you absolutely must wear headphones to help tune out your surroundings or listen to music during your ride, make sure you only wear one headphone at a time so you can still hear traffic around you.

I own a fat tire bike and have noticed that it is more difficult to pedal than my regular bike. I thought they were supposed to be easier because the tires are so thick!

Thinner tires are faster because they have less rolling resistance, while thicker ones are more comfortable and stable. A fat-tire bike combines these two traits.The wide tires found on fat-tire bikes mean that your feet are farther apart than they would be if you were riding a thin tire bike. Stretching your legs out can cause discomfort, which may lead to an inefficient peddling form and tired muscles.2. Avoid Riding on the Sidewalk Bicyclists should always stay on the road when they go biking, but some motorists might not realize that bicyclists are supposed to stay on the road. This means even riding on a sidewalk might not do much to keep you safe from car accidents. Bicyclists should never ride their fat bikes on the sidewalks, which puts pedestrians at risk of an accident as well.5. Don’t Get Distracted by Large Trucks or Buses A lot of accidents involving cars and bicyclists are caused when a bicyclist gets distracted by a large truck or bus. Because the bicyclist is behind the vehicle, it’s difficult for them to see what’s going on in front of them. When you’re driving your fat bike around town, make sure you keep your eyes on the road and deal with all distractions ahead of time by stopping or avoiding them. Distracted biking is dangerous for cyclists and motorists, so do what you can to stay safe.

Usually, the heavier the tyre, the better damped it will be \u2013 important for minimising pogo-stick rebound and improving comfort on rougher trails.Special suspension forks are required to bridge the wide tyres, with the most common front axle spacing measuring 150mm in width. Brands such as RockShox and Manitou are the ones to look out for because both have dedicated fat bike forks in their range.

These can be more expensive than comparable parts for regular bikes and are often harder to come by, meaning there is less of a choice when it comes to speccing your bike.

Finlay Anderson is a contributor at BikeRadar with more than five years of experience in the mountain bike industry. After getting hooked on enduro racing and moving to Scotland’s Tweed Valley, Finlay found his passion producing visual and written content for some of the bike industry’s leading media outlets and brands. He has worked as an editor and photographer for Enduro MTB Magazine, written for MBR magazine and bagged the front cover of MBUK Issue 412. Finlay spent two years following the Enduro World Series, capturing exciting stories from the world’s fastest racers. When he’s not working, Finlay loves sessioning turns at home and getting lost deep in the Scottish Borders on his gravel bike. As a keen rider, Finlay knows the importance of no-nonsense kit that stands up to the depths of Scottish winter.Some fat-tyre mountain bikes come specced with a specially designed suspension fork, but because the bikes aren’t designed with aggressive trail or enduro riding in mind, it’s just as common to see a fully rigid fork instead, especially on budget-priced options.

However, in some situations, such as slippery technical climbs, fat bikes benefit from their increased traction and make light work of terrain that would leave regular bikes guessing.Their wide tyres can feel very vague when precise riding is required. The large undamped air volume can create a pogo-stick-like ride when the trails get fast and rough. Because fat bike tyres are run at very low pressures (under 15psi), seemingly small changes (as little as 1psi higher or lower) can have a big impact on the bike’s handling. Due to their high volume, fat bike tyres can be run at very low pressures (between 5 and 15psi), giving them a floaty ride feel as the bike hoovers up roots, bumps and anything else you may come across on the trail.

Built to accommodate massive tyres and provide huge air volume, fat bike rims are wider and heavier than most. Their width ranges from 50mm to over 100mm, with the sweet spot for most tyres sitting at 60 to 80mm.

Fat bikes can run the same 1x drivetrains as the best modern mountain bikes. However, due to their super-wide rear-hub spacing (commonly 197x12mm, though that\u2019s by no means a universal standard), they also require a very wide bottom bracket junction to keep the chain line in check.Fat bikes can run the same 1x drivetrains as the best modern mountain bikes. However, due to their super-wide rear-hub spacing (commonly 197x12mm, though that’s by no means a universal standard), they also require a very wide bottom bracket junction to keep the chain line in check.

Because fat bike tyres are run at very low pressures (under 15psi), seemingly small changes (as little as 1psi higher or lower) can have a big impact on the bike\u2019s handling.While some fat-tyre riders may benefit from the extra grip and control made possible by rear suspension, the overall use case of fat bikes renders them somewhat irrelevant when compared to the lighter and simpler designs enabled by hardtails.

This has resulted in fat bikes exhibiting Q-factors of around 200mm, which means riders will have their feet roughly 30mm wider apart than on a normal bike.

A tyre with a medium level of tread is a great starting point, because aggressive tread can exaggerate the squirm of fat tyres even further when riding on firm ground.

Fat bikes are also very popular among adventure riders and bikepackers, especially when the route involves sandy or snowy stretches, and are often designed with mounting points for extra kit and bikepacking bags.If you are happy getting your hands dirty then the model of your rear hub/brake is needed to provide accurate information. Until you open it up you won’t know for sure if part of the brake is actually broken and replacement parts are needed or if just a service will suffice. However I would guess just a service is needed since you merely found it hard to pedal on a flat and did not mention variations in difficulty or other strangeness. Final point – if there is only one brake and its not working right, don’t ride the bike till its fixed. Many locations require two separate braking subsystems. Where’s your front brake gone ? Also, riding it in the current state may worsen a repair into a replacement. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

If it is a cruiser bike it might be the laid-back angle that makes it feel a bit more difficult to pedal as you generally push bigger gears with such bikes rather than spin due to the position of the seat in relation to the cranks.Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. It only takes a minute to sign up. Unless you are happy getting your hands dirty and doing something like in the youtube link below then taking your bike to a bike shop would be the best option. You only really find this out while fixing it. It is impossible to accurately answer this with the information provided in your question, however assuming it is because the brake is no longer functioning correctly, I would guess: insufficient grease and/or rusted bearings and/or too much gunk and dirt in the hub.If it is the back wheel not spinning freely even when off the ground, sounds like your brake may be the cause. A teardown can be a complex and messy thing, how’s your mechanical skills?I have a woman’s cruiser bike with pedal brakes only. Everything has been working great but when I took a bike ride the other day I was on a flat street and it was extremely difficult to pedal…why and what can I do to fix it?

If you want to go narrower, you’d need to make sure your wheel can support that. The best way to do that is measure the inside of the rim of the tire and then see if your tire can accommodate that width. The tire should be between 1.5 and 2.3 times wider than the rim width. For example, if your internal rim width is 25 mm (1 in.) , then you could go between 1.75 and 2.25” width tires.

VINTAGE BIKE NOTE: Some older cruisers may have a different 26” tire than what modern cruisers have. They are actually a larger 26” tire (by 1.25” on the inside diameter of the tire) and so standard cruiser tires won’t fit. To determine if you have a vintage 26” or a standard 26”, you need to either look at the width of your current tire listed on your tire, the ISO number on the sidewall of your current tires (see note above) or measure the wheels. The width for vintage wheels will always be a fraction like 1-⅜” vs a decimal like 1.75” of standard tires. For the ISO number, you’ll look for the number in parentheses on the sidewall. Vintage tires will have a 590 while standard tires will have a 559.

Check the current tires. You can also look at the current tires on your beach cruiser to determine the size. Look at the sidewall of the tire for numbers that state 26 x 2.125 or similar. Like above, the first number is the tire size. See the below image for reference for the ‘common tire width’ (and ignore the other numbers for now).

Measure the wheels. If none of those work, you can also measure the diameter of the wheels from the outside of the rim to the outside of the rim. (Remember the wheel is the metal rim and spokes that the tire mounts and not the tire itself). Below are the diameters of wheels and the equivalent tire sizes for the most common sizes:Bead Type: Almost all cruiser tires have wire beads so there isn’t much to think about. Folding beads are only found on road or mountain bike tires and aren’t necessary for cruiser tires.

The first thing to do is determine the tire size, also known as the diameter of the tire. Standard beach cruiser tires are almost always 26”. For kids, teen bikes, some women’s bikes and some Chopper / Lowrider cruisers, the tires may be 20” or 24”. Some cruisers may also sport the larger 29” tires.

Once you determine the size, you can determine the width. Tire width is roughly the outside width of the tire itself when mounted on the wheel and inflated. We say roughly as manufacturers will vary in how close the width is to the actual listed measurement.Most beach cruisers are between 1.75” and 2.125” in width with 2.125” being the most common width. Unlike the size, which has to fit your wheel, you have some options with the width.

Check to see what the manufacturer listed as the tire size. Like above for tire size, you can also check the original description of the bike to see what was listed. It is the second number of the size and width on the sidewall.If you want to try, you’ll just need to measure the inside width of the frame on your current tire to see if there is enough room for a wide tire. Be sure to leave some space (½” or so pn either side to be safe) given the variations in tire widths out there. Also, be sure to take into account any clearance for fenders if installed. Lastly, check the tire to rim width compatibility as mentioned above.

The next thing to consider is the tire tread you want. Most beach cruisers have a low tread knob for riding on pavement and concrete that also provides some traction for sand and mud. Patterns may be brick tread, diamond tread, semi-slick and slick. Frankly, most of them work for cruisers so it may come down to the look you want. Here is quick overview of most of them:Note: The ISO tire size on the tire sidewall is another method for determining the size. The ‘common tire size’ is roughly the diameter of the entire tire. The ISO tire size is the diameter of the inside of the tire, which also matches the diameter of the wheel.

Check the current tires. Like above, you can check the sidewall of the tire. The common tire width will be the second number on the sidewall of the tire (i.e. 26 x 2.125).Reflective: Some cruisers have a reflective strip on the sidewall so you will be better seen at night. This is important for nighttime riding as cruisers don’t always have the safety reflectors or lighting that other bikes have.There are lots of colors to choose – black, white, red, blue, green and more – with beach cruiser tires, including combinations of different tread and sidewall colors. It is really up to you.

We’ve all heard the popular saying, “you never forget how to ride a bike.” That might be true, but just because you remember how to cycle doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out there pedaling every day. In fact, the reality in the United States is that far fewer women cycle each day than do men. Plus, compared to women around the world, the cycling gap between American women and women in other countries is even larger. With so many different cruiser bikes for women available, it’s a wonder why more women don’t take it up as a fitness-enhancing part of their daily lives.Your bike can tell the world a little bit about your personality, too. While you might not see many beach cruiser girls with handlebar streamers, the array of colors and styles to choose from is the next best thing. You don’t get the same flair for your personality with treadmill running or yoga; putting your own spin on your bicycle is an easy way to engage with your fitness and make it fun again.Remember those calories we talked about burning? You can blast fat away with a good cycling routine, too, especially if you exercise regularly. Combined with a smart diet, biking creates a recipe for fun weight loss that doesn’t put a ton of stress on your joints and ligaments. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to develop more toned muscles in your legs and thighs. The exercise can have a positive effect on your lungs, too. Overall, there are a huge number of physical benefits for women who regularly ride bikes.When we were kids, a bike was a bike; if it let you ride around and have fun, most of us weren’t too picky about bicycles at a young age. For those looking at cycling for fitness, though, the sheer amount of technical jargon and variation surrounding coaster bikes for women is often quite daunting. Why can’t we just get back to the basics and enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike? Luckily for women interested in cycling today, there are plenty of options out there — and one type of bicycle is sure to fit your lifestyle.You could do that in the morning or evening before or after work, or you could bike to do some errands. Not only will you burn calories and work out your body, but you’ll get to save on gas, too. Who doesn’t love skipping traffic as you cruise on by in the bike lane?

The fact is that people often overlook bicycling as a fun and engaging fitness activity. It’s not all about hardcore mountain biking or heart pounding races driven by complicated gear changes. From cruiser bikes for women to the many other types of women’s bikes out there, there are plenty of different ways to approach cycling for exercise.

Many cycling clubs get together to bike a distance to a special location, such as a bakery, cafe, or restaurant, before cycling back home. Think of what an excellent Saturday activity that could make for you and your girlfriends! When you’re riding a bike that’s well-fit to your body, you’ll be able to enjoy the entire day in comfort. Exploring the area on bikes with your friends is a fun activity for adults, just like it is for kids.From cruisers to commuters, you can take things easy or go a little faster, take more control or let your bike do all the work for you (aside from the pedaling, of course). Choosing how you want to ride is one of the most fun parts of exercising on your bike. Cruiser bikes for women, for example, are built for comfort rather than speed — that’s why they’re often “single speed,” or lacking in a complicated system for switching gears. You just climb on, get comfortable, and head out for enjoyable low-impact exercise. Another excellent reason biking can be so rewarding for women is that it doesn’t take very long to fit in your exercise. We’re all busy these days; it’s true — sometimes it seems like it’s never been harder to find time for your fitness. Just half an hour of cycling could help you burn hundreds of calories, based on your level of effort. The first step to enjoying biking as a fitness activity is making that choice to climb into the seat and go for a ride. Whether your goal is to see how far you can go and find new places or to join a club and have a blast with new friends, the best part is you’ll be bettering your body and mind the whole way through. For women, cycling offers not just an excellent path to personal physical fitness and wellness, but also the chance to get out and enjoy the world from a new perspective. While there are plenty of decisions to make about how to bike, the first step is to make the most important decision: the one to begin cycling! sixthreezero has a great selection of cruiser bikes for women; order yours today or contact us for more tips on ordering the right bike for your wellness routine.

Why the bicycle, though? Why not hit the gym more often, or take up swimming? Of course, you absolutely can do those things — but whether or not you do, cycling still has a great deal to offer women everywhere! For fun and fitness combined, it’s rare to find another activity which represents such a well-struck balance. There are a few reasons why you should take the time to find the right bike for your body and dust off your rusty cycling skills. Once you’ve gotten back into the swing of things, you may even wonder why you weren’t biking more already and becoming one of those fit beach cruiser girls!

My age! These wider sized tires add a measure of confidence, in terms of stability, to my outings allowing me to do things I would not usually try to do. Still cracked a couple of ribs last year.Somewhat surprisingly, most of the major bike brands and even many mid-size brands still have at least one fat bike in their line, which shows there is still plenty of interest in the category. The fat bike class of 2014 featured models from brands including Felt, Norco, Rocky Mountain, Salsa, Scott, and Surly, all of which are still selling models introduced that year.

I’m surprised there is no mention of big players Kona and Trek, who appear to still be carrying the fat bike banner. The introduction of wide tires, up to 2.8, made fatbikes irrelevant unless you live in a place with significant winter snow pack.

If other peoples experience of Fat biking was like mine, I know why Fat biking didn’t catch on. For Fat biking to work, three conditions must be met. First, it must be cold enough and snowy enough for Fat biking to be practical. I own a Fatbike. However, I learned that we just don’t get enough snow and cold for Fatbiking and I ended up riding mud, frozen mud, slush and ice more often than packed powder. Having your bike and yourself covered in slush and mud quickly looses its appeal. Second, trails must be groomed. It is very difficult to make much headway on un-tracked snow. Third, Fatbike trails cannot be very steep. A Fatbike on snow cannot get the same level of traction as a Mountainbike gets on dry trails You just spin your wheels climbing steep sections and descending without adequate braking is even worse.I bought my Framed Wolftrax almost a year ago and it is my all year bike. I’m picking up a studded wheel set this weekend for the winter. I got this bike in carbon with RockShox Bluto forks. 27.5×4″ tires and it is so much fun without snow. Added a dropper post, too. I can climb over stuff I never imagined. Unless you have to bomb DH at breakneck speed this bike does it all.I love the Fat bike thing. I believe you can ride them anywhere and everywhere. If I only had one bike in the stable it would be a fat bike. It’s just not something you see here in NC. I get gawked at when I ride mine. People love it 👍. Fun times.

Still, Ben is optimistic for the future of the fat bike market despite hiccups along the way. “[Fat biking] is a category that’s not going anywhere but I think the market grew pretty fast and a lot of manufacturers saw that and tried to grab a slice of sales but most came in at the end of the new purchase/upgrade cycle. Brands and shops got stuck with inventory and both had to discount inventory to move product and eventually, volume and price points went down to the point that a lot of people simply exited the market or went out of business.” I live in probably one of the best areas of the country for winter fat biking. I just looked at last year’s data and I got 52 rides on groomed trails last winter over 20 so far this winter Fat bikes are essential here if you don’t ski to beat winter doldrums. While I absolutely love mine and I’m on my 4th one I doubt I would own one if I lived in areas that don’t get a lot of snow. Fat bikes occupy a unique space in the bicycle market and in 2015 it wasn’t clear where they fit exactly. Even today it’s hard to find fat bikes on many brands’ websites — are they under the “mountain bike” category or under a separate heading for “fat bikes”? I have been riding a fatty since 2016 and wish I would have taken the leap sooner. The larger tires increase options in varied trail conditions. Finding myself reaching for the fatty about 90% of the time. NOT just a winter bike for me or many others I know. Haven’t heard anyone mention that you can run just about any tire and/or wheel size on most fat frames. RIDE ON!!! I’m not a Luddite. I put a drop post on my fatties, upgraded the wheels and tubeless tires which are always places manufacturers cut corners, and replaced the aluminum fork with a rigid carbon fork. The result is a surprisingly lively, no fuss go anywhere bike. It might not be for you if you equate mountain biking with taking technical descents at hair raising speed, and that’s fine. I’m a weirdo who likes climbing more than descending, so to me a rigid fat bike is like a pair of seven league boots.Fat bikes, especially rigid fat bikes, aren’t just trail bikes with fatter tires. They’re different, and the tradeoffs are different. When you buy a road bike, you’re fundamentally buying a frame and the rest of the stuff you tweak. When you buy a fat bike I think you should think of it as buying a set of wheels and tires.

Agreed about year around riding and a fatbike being part of that. With the studded tires, there is some traction in our freeze/thaw combo here in MN, and as a woman who is light on the bike, (110 lbs) the studded tires, higher tpi, and lower pressure seem worth the cost of changing out tires in the winter. I disagree with the comment someone made about not being able to climb in snow on a fattie. It depends on the snow, grade, and other factors, but I climb most hills I can find!He hit the nail on the head for my personal experience. I dropped something like $300+ on a set of studded tires last year–so I’m still investing money and time into fat biking, just not necessarily on a new bike purchase.

Fatbikes are fun, but the conditions that make good fatbiking also make for good cross country skiing. XC Ski equipment is much less expensive, lighter, you go faster, and skis don’t have tire spray. Its a far better winter sport. I love fatbikes for when we’re in a mixed group of skiers and cyclists, fatbikes can almost keep up. On those beautiful snow days, I need to spend those on skis.At least from my perspective, I do think that the fatty has peaked but will continue as a niche. I’ll keep riding mine when the conditions are goldilocks, but no more than 10-20% of what I do in dirt season.

I think the fat bike scene is still growing in some areas. The Global Fat Bike Day held at Sleepy Hollow State Park in Michigan had around 50 riders in 2015 and steadily grew reaching 245 riders in 2019! New riders are still coming in, just probably not in the large numbers they had a few years ago.Around here we break out the fatties as soon as the leaves start to fall. We have so many leaves you can’t even see the trails. So gators help with the stability when you hit unseen roots and rocks. Our leaf cover is almost like 4-6 inches deep.

Ellsworth is another brand that debuted one of the slickest-looking fat bikes we had seen called the Buddha. Just a few months later the brand was sold for the second time in 18 months. The new owners appear to be focusing on a much slimmer line, which unfortunately for fat bike enthusiasts doesn’t include the Buddha.Bike Nerd has it right. Fat biking is mostly a regional thing. It’s not a huge nationwide fad. You don’t even see Fat bikes in the shops around Charlotte.Fuji debuted the Wendigo in 2015 as a low-cost, mass-produced fat bike. About a year later Fuji bought Performance Bike, a US-based chain of bike shops that eventually bankrupted the whole operation. The Fuji bike brand is still around under new ownership, though it appears the Wendigo didn’t survive.

Excellent point about wheels and tires! My bike came with low-end (heavy) wheels and cheap tires that just didn’t work tubeless and the tires were somehow slow, heavy, and couldn’t grip worth a damn. I found a phenomenal deal on tires (Maxxis Colossus, $35 each) and was able to go tubeless which totally transformed the bike. I’m thinking a Chinesium carbon wheel build might happen this summer.

To the rider from Colorado, I also ride out of Fort Collins and recently related my love of the fattie to a independent bike shop tech ( a over fifty tech ) that serviced my Jamis hardtail mountain bike. He relayed to me how he used to trash fatties but now he can not wait to take one up into the front range after it snows. A comment that everyone in the shop agreed with.Bike nerd covered just about all my feelings on the subject. Trying to find that window of when fat biking is fun is tough where I live. There’s one other factor though — Zwift has made riding indoors tolerable. So in a winter where the dirt is inaccessible for longer periods (like this winter in Northern Colorado), I don’t get as desperate. I ride outdoors when it’s clear enough (and frozen to avoid mud), and indoors when it isn’t.