Fabricating a Fat

YoBikeLady

YoBikeLady

Well-Known Member
Hi Fat Bike lovers,
So after many years of tinkering with old bike frames and torches, this is the winter I am finally going out to United Bicycle Institute in Portland to take a frame building course. My class starts on Jan 6th.

I orginally had thought in my head that I would build a traditional track or road frame but now I'm thinking I want to build a Fat. I realize with the BB and rear hub spacing, UBI might squash my plan because of issues with the jigs, lugs and such.

Anyway, if it isn't a problem and since I have this blank canvas to start from, I was wondering if any of you had comments or input about what you would redesign about your Fat if you could.

Also, would like to hear about rear dropouts. What does everyone have out there the Surly horizontals or sliding?

Thanks, Kerri
 
I would use the Surly drops just to get the most options. If you build 135mm offset frame like a Pug it'll fit into a normal frame Jig. One of the reasons UBI may squash it is because of the crazy tube bending needed to get the 17.5mm offset. That would be pretty hard to do by hand and is the main reason all of the custom Fatties are 170mm.

When I went to Brew I almost built a fatty, but then I realized I'd be paying $1,500 for a $300 Pugsley, so I just bought a Pug 😀

-Jim.
 
Key Kerri,
I like the 170 symmetrical rear end on my Twenty2 better than the offset Pugs. It gives you more options for rim/tire combinations, more clearance for gears, lets you run 29er wheels if you want. I think the current versions of the skinny fat rims (45/47 mm trials rims) can't be built offset. Plus, wheels are easier to build, and probably stronger.

I like the regular hooded dropouts on my Twenty2. Easier to fix flats and swap wheels. I don't plan to go SS or IGH, so I don't need sliders. Only exception might be for a set of Krampus-style wheels. Pretty sure you need sliders to fit them in most fatbike frames.

Also, you might want to try out a Mukluk, 907 or similar to see if you like the taller, slacker front end.

Cheers,
Pat
 
Hey Kerri-

Nothing to add about what you will need for a fat bike build but just wanted to say that is awesome you are building your own frame at UBI. Please take pics and report if you can. Also are you doing fillet brazing or TIG? Bystickel post here every now and then and might have some good ideas for you. His work looks amazing from the pictures so he has to know what he is doing - maybe throw him an email and see what he says. Best of luck!

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk 2
 
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