alex_k
Well-Known Member
@jimvreeland, looking at some your CR strava records I'd say you were faster on 29er 🙄
the NOT SO official 27.5+ thread.
- Thread starter jdog
- Start date
Then why aren't we riding 2"-3" tires on the road?
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
I've been trying to figure this out exactly, where does a tween (4'10") going from a 24" bike move onto? 26" seemed to the logical progression, then the other sizes afterwards. I guess growing from a 24 to a 27.5 isn't much different from us moving from 26 to 29. My daughter is already on a hand me down 26" which is a tad big for her, and could not handle a 27.5 at the moment. Her tires are already smaller in profile (1.90s). Unless my kids get serious about riding trails, they're stuck with the 26"
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
That's because I actually went for Strava KOMs when I has that bike. Now I'm less of an asshole.
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
I don't have the time to explain the difference between traction and aerodynamics, and I know you're not actually dumb enough to not know the answer.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
I'm not convinced of this based on the recent gaggle of tire sizes. I'm fairly sure there are 27.5 fat bikes being made in the R&D labs and custom shops. Tires sizes are the only limiters at the moment. I've been speaking with a chinese maker in Shenzhen and trying to convince them to make frames spec'd for 27.5 fat tires. I'm guessing the hardest part is clearance on the chainstays from the crank arms. Going to give my daughter an AutoCAD job this weekend to figure out some tolerances.
Sevenz
Well-Known Member
I can...I have had the 20lb fat bike and many sub 23.5lb FS 29ers...Yes the 20lb fat bike is fast but there really is no comparison to the speed of a light FS 29er...The rolling resistance of a fat tire alone (larry, HuDu etc what ever you think is the fastest fat tire) is huge. Over the course of a strava KOM you can be competitive but over an entire xc race you will not be as fast as you would if you were on your light 29er...For racing the light FS 29er will always be king...
My scalpel depending on what tires I have on it is 20.5-21.5 lbs... But on an XC course when im going flat out? I would take my full suspension any day of the week....I mean not even considering the rolling resistance of tires...the speed at which I can turn, go uphill and descend...I doubt I could match that on any rigid bikes at any park we ride at. I have only ridden that trek farley rigid on an xc course that I also have ridden my scalpel and granted its not 20lbs...but god that thing was downright abusive in comparison to my scalpel.
We cant have this conversation...you dont even have suspension in your car 🙂
I see some gunslingin in here today! 
skyrokz
Well-Known Member
That's if the race is dry, without rocks or heavy obstacles and pending decent terrain... you throw rocks, rain, mud, roots and I'll be willing to bet my lunch money that one would be a lot faster on the fat bike then on a 29er
Juggernaut
Master of the Metaphor
... No one in the peloton is still riding 19c tires anymore, are they. 😉
Economies of scale.
I'll be my month of lunch money it's still not even remotely close.
Suspension is worth the 3 lb weight penalty.
I know some guys kill it on fat bikes, but those same guys would be even faster on a carbon FS 29er whether they admit it or not.
I've never seen a race course (that was snow free) that a fat bike would be faster on.
I know some guys kill it on fat bikes, but those same guys would be even faster on a carbon FS 29er whether they admit it or not.
I've never seen a race course (that was snow free) that a fat bike would be faster on.
I mean I can only fairly compare myself on one bike with myself on another....But if I had to ride a rigid 26" fat bike at jungle or wayway race in any weather short of a blizzard? Pretty sure I could lap myself with my scalpel and a set of 2.1 ignitors.
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
i have to agree with this, the engine is the most important thing, not the tool out of the shed you use.
if it gets you out on your bike and riding im all for it. i'm dying to demo a 27.5 doe
Magic
Formerly 1sh0t1b33r
Just because it's being researched doesn't mean it's good. Since you mention 27.5 fat, are you talking like 27.5x4" tires? What's the point? 26x4" fat would be superior in almost every way. More cushion(suspension), higher volume, higher flotation, larger contact patch, and more rim protection. 27.5 fat can fail while it's ahead.
skyrokz
Well-Known Member
I'm assuming you own a fatbike and you have, to some regard timed your self on both bikes on same courses. Personally I hate the way a rigid fatbike rides, but then again I'm all for full suspension. I'm thinking that if the fat bike had a similar setup to your 29er results wouldn't be as drastic...
and by the way I eat dry crackers for lunch in case anyone puts my theory to the test😀
You guys love to play the victim in these conversations. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean we hate you or your bike. It's called a difference of opinion.
Kirt & I disagreed on this thread as did Jeremy and I. When we see each other next we're not going to have an Epic Rap Battle to see who was right. We'll just talk about bikes and beer and food and the same sorts of things we always talk about. Maybe we'll even discuss the aspects of this specific discussion. When nobody is looking, however, we will all recite the Fat Bike Haters Oath to prove our commitment to the cause.
I mean we all stepped up to raise $5000 for you to go to Alaska. Nobody hates you nor your bike(s).