When they indulge in a new hobby, most people are happy to see the evolving trends directly related to the hobby. As with many hobbies in life, bike riding too is still evolving, and new tools and types of bikes are coming up.
Fat bikes are one result of the evolution of bike riding. And like many hobbies, some may like the evolution result while some will loathe it.
If you are thinking of getting yourself a fat bike, then you need to know that there are some common differences between a fat bike and a mountain.
At the end of this post, you will have rich knowledge of the two bikes, and you can choose the one that will suit your needs.
What is a Fat Bike?
You may not have seen one, but fat bikes are hard to miss because their description is in their name. Fat bikes are bikes with extremely wide tires.
Usually, they are four to five inches wide. Compared to mountain bikes whose tires are about two to three inches wide, then fat bikes are indeed ‘fat.’
Sometimes fat bikes can be referred to as enhanced mountain bikes because they can perform exceptionally on all terrain. Whether the terrain is wet or bumpy, fat bikes can perform well where other types of bikes cannot.
They are also not just juiced-up mountain bikes; they are also good for cruiser beach bikes due to their wide tires and low pressure, which makes them perform well on sand. In addition to this, fat bikes are also good for backpacking.
Fat bikes are a result of when people were trying to find suitable bikes for both snowy and sandy roads. In the end, bike builders were able to build bikes with amazingly wide wheels to create an all-season bike which we now refer to as a mountain bike.
What’s a Mountain Bike?
A mountain bike is designed to work on off-road and irregular paths. Mountain bikes have some common similarities with regular bikes, but a mountain bike has features meant for durability and stability for off-road biking. In short, a mountain bike is a regular bike on some steroids.
A mountain bike is commonly characterized by multiple gears, a light but sturdy frame, and broad but deep threaded tires. All of these characteristics are geared towards biking on mountainous terrains.
Moreover, these features contribute to the heaviness and complexity of mountain bikes. That means that mountain bikes are not suitable for smooth road biking.
Mountain Bike Vs. Fat Bike– What is the Difference Between a Mountain Bike and a Fat Bike?
1. Purpose/use
First, a fat bike is generally heavy and difficult to ride, making it unsuitable for beginner riders. Therefore fat bikes are designed for intermediate and expert riders. Also, if you are a beginner who is not aiming at riding a bike at a higher speed, then this could be a good bike for you.
A mountain bike also is not so good for beginner riders because of its complex structure of the mountain bike. If you live in cold or wet weather areas, then a mountain bike can be a very good fit for you.
2. Wheel and Tire Sizes
- Fat bike tires and rims
By now, you know that fat bike wheels and rims are much wider than those of a regular bike. Most fat bikes will use 26″ wheels, and some may use up to 27.5′ wheels.
Fat bikes also use 50-100 +mm when it comes to the size of their rims.
- Mountain bike wheels and rims
Most mountain bikes have 26′ wheels and 50-70 mm on rims.
3. Frame Design and Riding Style
Because most fat bikes are used in bike racing, they must be lightweight. Therefore the frame is designed to be lightweight yet durable. You will also find step-through fat bikes and ones with a top tube. The riding style of a fat bike can be referred to as fat biking.
The frame design of a mountain bike, on the other side, is closely similar to that of a fat bike because it is much more lightweight but very durable. Something to note is that a men’s mountain bike will mostly have a top tube, while a women’s mountain bike might be a step through.
Check out: Hybrid Vs Mountain Bike
3. Weight and Maintenance
The weight of a fat bike is almost the same as that of a mountain bike, but most fat bikes tend to be slightly heavier than a mountain bike’s weight.
Why? Well, most fat bikes are considered a four seasons bike, and therefore wheels are ridiculously wide to enhance the traction on the road. The wide wheels, in turn, contribute to the weight of the fat bike, making it a bit heavier than a mountain bike.
A mountain bike is also heavier, considering the high-end and durable parts it is fixed with. So it would be safe to say that both bikes are heavier, but a fat bike is much heavier.
Maintaining a fat bike might be a bit difficult due to a few reasons. First, a fat bike’s parts are high-end, and therefore their availability might be a problem. Secondly, since a fat bike will mostly be used on dirt and hard terrains, cleaning it should be regular, and you may find yourself frequently changing the parts.
Also, it is heavy, so if you have to carry it when you decide to use it, it might be a difficult task to undertake.
A mountain bike, on the other hand, is also difficult to maintain, but unlike a fat bike, a mountain bike’s parts are easy to find, and therefore replacing it can be difficult.
Fat Bike Pros
- They are comfortable
Thanks to their lie pressure tires that will act as shock absorbers. Apart from that, the tires are large enough to absorb enough vibration that comes from biking. This minimizes the stress on your hands and your lower back.
- They are versatile
Fat bikes have wide tires that make them good for riding on loose sand, deep snow, or bumpy roads. In addition, the fat tires also put less pressure on the ground, thus making it comfortable to ride on any type of bike.
The fact that the tires put less pressure on the ground prevents the tires from sinking into the ground.
- They are great for beginners.
Fat bikes are easy to ride, and therefore they are very forgiving to newbie riders. For example, you can choose to lumber over rocks and roots instead of steering around them. If you accidentally hit or ride over an obstacle, chances are that the wheels will bounce over.
The fat wheels also offer balance and stability to the rider.
- You can ride off-road.
With a fat bike, you don’t have to stay on the path. You can ride the bike off-road. The bikes are able to ride on ice, mud, or even sand.
- Excellent traction on the road
The wider and higher volume tires of a fat bike enable it to have good traction on the ground. This then minimizes friction on the ground and increases stability.
Fat Bikes Cons
- Replacing bike parts can be difficult.
Fat bike parts are not standard, so finding bike parts specifically for fat bikes can be difficult.
- They are heavy
The extra wide tires and the bike rims contain more material which makes them heavier. The extra weight makes them more cumbersome and reduces their efficiency.
- They are less maneuverable.
Due to their extra wide tires and their weight, fat bikes are considered less maneuverable than most bikes.
Check out: Fixie Vs. Road Bike
Mountain Bike Pros
- An all-road bike
Mountain bikes are designed to work effectively on any surface. This means that you can ride a mountain bike on a snowy path, dirt, snow, or even sand.
- They are durable
Mountain bikes are designed to be used on rough mountainous terrains. For this reason, they are built with durable components that will not easily break under pressure.
- Versatile
Because mountain bikes are built to be tough, and for off-road conditions, then you can practically ride the bike on any surface. Do you want a day-to-day commuter bike to use on your way to work on a bad road? No problem, a mountain bike can solve the case.
- Comfortable
Mountain bikes are designed for rough terrains, so most of them are equipped with full suspension. No other bike can rival the amount of comfort a full suspension brings. So you can ride a mountain bike for long durations without the need to get out of the saddle.
- Stability
Few bikes rival the stability of a good mountain bike. Because of their design to tackle rough terrains, mountain bikes are designed to be stable enough for off-road biking.
Mountain Bike Cons
- They are costly
A modern mountain bike comes with a very high price tag when compared to other regular bikes. The reason for this is that mountain bikes are made with extra durable components to make them suitable for rough off-road biking.
- Heavier
To add to the durability of the mountain bike, some manufacturers will use extra durable components on the bikes. The materials are heavy, which in turn adds to the overall weight of the bike.
Check out: Gravel Bike Vs. Road Bike
History of Fat Bikes – Mountain Bike Vs. Fat Bike
Throughout the years and especially in the 1980s, mountain bikes became more amazingly popular than any other bikes at that time. The birth of fat bikes was a result of riders modifying their bikes for sandy and snowy terrains.
The birth of the modern fat bikes was seen simultaneously in the sandy deserts of New Mexico and snowy Alaska. The first iditabike event was held in Alaska in 1987. During the event, riders had to race through the ice along the 200-mile Iditarod dog mushing trail in the winter.
The trail conditions of this road included crusty frozen snow, powdered snow, glares of ice, and anything in between. Riders spent the better part of their race walking because their bikes couldn’t take the rough terrain.
After the experience, the riders knew they needed to have bikes that would stand the snowy rough terrains of the Alaskan event. They also knew they needed their bikes to have wider tires.
To achieve this, the Alaskan bike frame builders started experimenting to come up with a better bike frame. They started by welding two rims, lacing the two rims into a single hub, and then installing the two bike tires onto the double-wide bike wheels.
This experiment bore fruit because they achieved a wider footprint that had good traction on the surface. They also modified the bike frames so the extra bike wheels would properly fit in.
In the end, the bikes had higher traction on the road, and it allowed the bike to float. It meant that the riders could have fewer walks on the rough snowy terrains and ride more.
Later a man named Simon Rakower refined the first invention and came up with SnowCat rims. He completely removed the inside rim walls so riders could install one high-volume wheel. This action, in turn, reduced the weight of the bike but still maintained the achieved advancement and allowed the bikes to run at low pressures.
During the same time, a man named Ray Molina, in a quest to take tourists around the Arroyo sand dunes in Southern New Mexico came up with 82mm wide rims and 3.5-inch tires. He also created compatible frames that could fit in the wheels. He named the wheels the Chevron.
In 1999, Mark Groneweld met Molina at a bike convention and did a test ride on Molina’s bike. Groneweld and another bike builder named John Evingson partnered and started a small production of bikes with Molina’s rims. This was the very first production of the modern fat bikes.
In 2005, Surly introduced Pugsley, which was the first fat bike to be widely available in most commercial shops worldwide. The fat bike, however, took a few years before it became a popular one among riders. From 2005 fat bikes started becoming popular from 2013 onwards. But now, fat bikes are not only used for ice bike racing, but anyone can use them.