Fat Tire Bikes - Do They Have Gears?

When choosing or building a fat tire bike, you will want to consider your terrain. This will affect the type of tire you should get. Fat tires offer a tremendous amount of grip, but you need to choose carefully. A few different options include single-ring drivetrains, narrower tires, tubeless, and grip studs.

Single-ring Drivetrains

Shimano and Sram both manufacture single-ring drivetrains. Shimano's drivetrain uses a 1:1 actuation ratio, which makes shifting easier and more accurate. Sram's rear derailleurs are lockable, which makes accessing the drivetrain easier.

The downside to single-ring drivetrains is that they can be slow, especially if you need to ride fast downhills or climb steeply. However, they are great for riding flat terrain and provide good ratios. Some riders find this feature liberating. However, it may not be for everyone.

The single-ring drivetrains are more compact and lighter than 2x drivetrains. They also allow you to dial-in your gearing to suit the conditions and your fitness level. One benefit of using a 1x drivetrain is that they tend to require less maintenance.

Single-ring drivetrains also do not have the front derailleur, which can cause problems when shifting gears. Also, the chain can drop when hitting bumps on the trail. This can be particularly annoying while pedaling uphill.

Narrower Tires

Fat tire bikes with narrower tires are lighter and easier to maneuver. You will also find that they have more float on soft ground. While fat tires may not be the best choice for icy trails, they are the best option for backcountry beach or desert expeditions. Narrower tires are also less likely to flat and are better for riding at higher speeds.

You can adjust the tire pressure to optimize the performance of a fat bike. A five-inch-wide tire can run at two psi when you ride on a soft surface. For firmer, rougher conditions, you may need to run the tires at higher pressures. Higher pressures will improve the bike's handling. You may need to change the pressure several times during a ride.

The weight and tire volume of a fat bike are ideal for beginners and intermediate riders. However, fat tire bikes can be challenging and can be hard to balance. Fat tire bikes with gears are not the best choice for advanced riders or those who wish to do technical trails. The weight can also be a problem on some trails.

Grip Studs

Grip studs on fat tire bikes are a great way to improve the traction of your bike. Made of solid tungsten carbide, they offer incredible traction and can be easily installed using a cordless drill. They are available in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate almost any tire size. The studs typically retail for about $1.00 per stud. If you don't need to use them all season, you can easily remove them and reuse them next season.

Grip studs on fat tire bikes will increase your tire's grip and traction, two essential ingredients to a successful fat bike tour. In addition to adding extra traction and grip, studded tire sets will help improve handling on a variety of surfaces. There are currently more than a dozen different studded tire sets available. Each studded tire has different settings for tire pressure, which allows you to further customize your tire's grip. Before adding studs, however, you should always use a digital tire pressure gauge.

A cordless drill is more convenient than a manual hammer, as it only requires one hand to operate it. Nevertheless, the cordless drill has a few downsides. One disadvantage is that you must be very careful while inserting the studs. If you do it wrong, it may lead to a flat or a leaky sealant. You may need to dismount the bike and remove the tire to check for proper stud placement.

Tubeless Options

There are a couple of benefits to tubeless options for fat tire bikes. One is lower rolling resistance. Tubeless tyres have a lower rolling resistance than standard tube-style tyres, by about four to ten watts. Another benefit is reduced weight.

Terrene offers tubeless tires on its line of fat bike models. These tires come in light and tough variants. The heavier "tough" tires are needed only if the rider plans on riding on rocky trails, and will not be suitable for a beginner's bike.

Another benefit of tubeless tyres is reduced puncture risk. The lack of inner tube allows the tyre to deform when riding over uneven surfaces, and this reduces the chance of a puncture. This also eliminates pinch flats, which can occur when a conventional tube-and-tire setup is compressed.