Any fat bike owners out there?

[SUPlove]

Hii everyone! I haven't been on here in years. The last time I wrote I was trying to get a job close to my old house. Well fast forward and I didn't get the job, moved out, worked at a bike shop, and now I work at another bike shop and finishing my degree. Im really torn on what my next bike should be since I have too many interests and want to do it all lol. My shop primarily stocks high end road bikes and mtb (more geared towards mtb). I like both but I feel that I want something for a diff. style of riding. A customer brought in a Surly Pugsley for maintenance and I fell in love! I took it for a spin to check the shifting that he said sounded off. I didn't imagine it would ride so well, and light! So after looking them up I found that one of our suppliers carries Salsa accessories and bikes so I called and he said I can do a one time bike purchase. I want to go through all my options before pulling the trigger cause it's a lot more than I should be spending but I want it to be my everything bike. I live close to the Everglades and Big Cypress so I would plan to do some trips through the trails and camp out (bike packing). I also noticed the Salsa Fargo. Does anyone have experience with that bike? It looks the combination of what I have been trying to find as well! So I'm torn and need some opinions. My fiancé and I do plan to move away from Miami to somewhere with mountains and real scenery so I'm keeping that in mind as well. We fell in love with Oregon but it turns out she can't get the job transfer since she works at the airport and they don't have the position she is looking for I'm also open to ideas as to where we can move to with a good sized airport..but thats another topic lol. Oh!!! one more thing. Nobody in Miami carries Salsa bikes so I can't test it out right now. I'm planning a visit to Tampa soon and found a shop there that carries them so I'll have to wait a couple weeks for a test ride. Sorry it ended up being long but I appreciate any and all replies

[ridebikeme]

I own a Charge Fatbike and am in love! Like many, I will look to find ways to either make it a bit lighter or buy another... but it's a good value for sure. What line of bikes does your shop carry? There are many major brands now that are carrying Fatbikes as well, so you may have even more options. The truly cool thing about FAtbikes is that you always change wheels and eitherstay 26" or larger/narrower and create a whole new bike... great to change things up a bit.

Have fun deciding what you want; they certainly are a LOT of fun!!

[Sky King]

SUPlove - lots of options. In our midst of adventure bikers we have mostly Surly -Pugs, Pugs Opps, Moonlander (the true fat bike). I just started riding the Surly ECR and love it - 29 x 3 tires instead of the 26 x 4 and up of the fat bikes. One of my friends owns a Salsa Vaya and A nine, zero, seven(I think that is what it called) - She has parked them both in favor of the Surly ECR - has more versatility. We also have Fargo riders and Salsa Mukluk riders and the DH rides a Surly Big Dummy with 26 x 3 tires. This last weekend we did an outstanding 3 day trip in the Owyhee Desert and nobody had a tire narrower than 3 inches. we rode some crazy stuff, fully loaded. Our fargo riding friend actually put the Surly front wheel that comes stock on the ECR, he can't do the same wheel on the rear, not enough room. Personally, I would
go for Surly over Salsa - again more options. Give a serious look at the Surly ECR - your shop should be able to order one, especially if it's for an employee. I ride the small - I am 5'5" with a 80cm PBH and it fits great.

[SUPlove]

Hey ladies,
Well to answer ridebikeme's question, my store carries Scott, Trek, Felt, Cervelo, Colnago, Jamis, Bianchi, Look, and I can't remember what else. Good brands with quality bikes but none that suits my needs. We have a supplier that we order parts from that happens to also carry Surly and Salsa. I called in and our rep said he can do a one time bike EP for me. So my only problem is deciding which one to get. The closest stores that carry these two brands are in Tampa..about 300 miles away. In a couple of weeks I'll be driving there to visit family so I'll take advantage and test ride what I can at those stores.

Sky King, I originally liked the Surly Pugsley but when I saw that Salsa has the aluminum Mukluk I changed my mind to that considering the water/mud with a steel frame bike (Pugsley). The places I can ride it down here is swampy, gravel, or something in between. I'm surrounded by the everglades lol. No hills here but I'm keeping in mind that I'll be moving in the next two years and I know I'll encounter climbing hills/mountains so that is the where the Fargo (monkey wrench) came in. Sky King from what I see in those pictures that is exactly what I want to do! Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong state lol though I do love my cuban coffee and toast haha. Anywho, the other reason the Fargo is stuck on my mind is because if I commute in the future again I feel that it would be more versatile as far as a bit quicker plus those handlebars look comfortable. How do the handlebars on the ECR feel with such a long ride? Like you said I am also considering the versatility between these bikes. I appreciate the replies and suggestions!

[Sky King]

I am a huge, huge steel fan - regardless of climate. I just find the comfort on a steel bike far exceeds aluminum. The DH has a peugeot that is 45 years old, been all over the country, all types of weather with zero rust issues, and frame saver is a simple solution to rust concerns. Is the Fargo going to have wide enough tires? In our world we think of it as more of a Mtn Bike than a Fat Bike. If you insist on aluminum than go with the Mukluk over the Fargo to get the fabulous "float" a fat bike offers.

Love, Love the Jeff Jones Bars. I do need to move my shifters and brakes up the bar - Jeff Jones has a great video on his site about shifter placement so is weird that Surly chose not to go with his recommendation. I opted to try them the way Surly sells them so I could do a review. Everyone else in our group has their shifter and brakes the "jeff jones way" and it makes the handling nicer and offers more positions and comfort for long rides. One of our friends commutes on his Fargo another commutes on his ECR - the tires on the ECR are so supple riding on pavement is much less work than any of the Fat Bikes I have ridden on pavement. Someday, when you live close, we can meet and take you to the desert

[SUPlove]

Oh don't get me wrong I love steel frames too! My bianchi road bike and SS are both steel I was just considering the potential for rust. You are very convincing with the Surly ECR lol. Now I understand the handlebars and it's genius! I'm gonna call my rep and see if I can get a deal from Surly before I completely fall in love with the bike. I called the bike shops that are on the way to Tampa and they don't have the ECR to test it out so I'll just have to get a feel from whatever they have. You're DH is brave to have gotten the Surly Big Dummy..it looks like fun! I was talking to my co-workers today about the bikes and they just don't get me. I'm telling you I was born in the wrong state haha. They race mtb and road more than anything. What is the frame saver you mentioned? Also, I couldn't find the video of the handlebars and shifter. Can you link me? I'd love to meet up some day to ride! Thanks!

[Sky King]

http://youtu.be/SUxIflfeqLc This should be it. Also google Jeff Jones Bikes for his website

Oh don't get me wrong I love steel frames too! My bianchi road bike and SS are both steel I was just considering the potential for rust. You are very convincing with the Surly ECR lol. Now I understand the handlebars and it's genius! I'm gonna call my rep and see if I can get a deal from Surly before I completely fall in love with the bike. I called the bike shops that are on the way to Tampa and they don't have the ECR to test it out so I'll just have to get a feel from whatever they have. You're DH is brave to have gotten the Surly Big Dummy..it looks like fun! I was talking to my co-workers today about the bikes and they just don't get me. I'm telling you I was born in the wrong state haha. They race mtb and road more than anything. What is the frame saver you mentioned? Also, I couldn't find the video of the handlebars and shifter. Can you link me? I'd love to meet up some day to ride! Thanks!

[SUPlove]

Awesome thanks!