Are Fat Bikes Cool ? (what is a fat bike) + ( the History of Fat Bikes )
Fat Bikes are cool right ? Big 4” to 5” tyres can tackle any terrain are they are fast, will some hiding there size in a full carbon frame with ultra light weight wheels. They're comfortable, grippy, great fun to ride and can do pretty much anything any other mountain bike can do and more, but what is a Fat Bike, where they they come from and are why are they so cool ?
Fat Bike
Fat bikes receive much attention for good reason.
They’ve ridden the length of continents, across the snowy state of Alaska in winter, and along unique sections of coastline all around the globe, and even appeared at the South Pole by means of human power, one of which was actually a tricycle !
While fat bikes are capable of extreme all-terrain conquest, they also entice riders with their go-anywhere capacities on a more local scale. almost 12 years ago none of this existed.
The development of the conventional mountain bike is essential to the genesis of the modern fat bike.
In the 1970s and 80s, groups of ingenious riders in California and Colorado modified single speed balloon-tire cruisers with a wide range of gears, powerful cantilever brakes, and durable lightweight components.
Like never before, early all-terrain bikes were able to explore new routes, both up and down the mountain. Mass manufacturing and broad distribution helped the mountain bike explode on the market in the early 1980s, and by 1986, mountain bikes outsold road-racing and road-touring bikes.
Adventurous riders explored deep into the backcountry, scouting new roads and trails, while others took to the streets and discovered that wide tires and an upright position make a comfortable urban commuter or cross-country tourer.
Fat Bike Tyres
Fat Bike
Most importantly, mountain bikes enlivened cyclists with a new lens. With the ability to ride so many more places, the once finite resource of smooth pavement was replaced by an infinite universe of back roads, logging tracks, mining roads, and hiking trails.
But limitations remained, especially on rocky terrain, soft surfaces, and steep grades. Since the late 1980’s, mountain bikes have developed through suspension, lighter materials, and improved geometry, but most advancements have focused on the ability to conquer rough terrain at speed (i.e. mountain biking).
Fat bikes attempt to solve the unique challenge of riding on a diverse range of surfaces, including sand, mud, and snow.
The history of the modern fat bikes includes two contemporaneous stories of development in Alaska and southern New Mexico. As mountain bikes arrived in shops in the 1980s, customizations for riding on sand and snow were quick to follow.
In 1987, the first Iditabike event challenged riders to travel 200 miles of Alaskan backcountry in winter, following snowmobile and dog mushing trails.
The course followed the first section of the historic Iditarod dog mushing trail to Nome, another 1000 miles further. Conditions along the trail range from rideable frozen crust — the result of daily freeze-thaw cycles — to a mélange of soft snow, glare ice, and liquid water overflow.
Harsh conditions, and lots of walking alongside a bike in the snow challenged riders to improve their equipment for next year. A wider tire footprint was essential.
Fat Bike in Mountains
Fat Bike Rims (History)
Individual rims were pinned or welded side by side, laced in tandem to a single hub, with two tires.
With twice the footprint, the wider system allowed more riding and less walking.
One notable experiment, called the “six pack,” even used three rims and tires side by side on both the front and the rear of a custom frame.
The tandem rim concept was improved by removing the two inner rim walls, to accept a single large-volume tire, which could operate at low pressure, and was lighter.
Simon Rakower of Fairbanks, Alaska, modified rims in this manner for customers before entering production of the 44mm wide Snowcat rim.
These wide, lightweight rims allowed the largest possible footprint, and fit within most conventional mountain bike frames. Most importantly, these rims were available off-the-shelf.
They were standard equipment on winter bikes in Alaska for many years.
Fat Bikes Tyres (History)
Fat Bike Rims
At about the same time, Ray Molina was exploring new terrain in southern New Mexico, and across the border into Mexico.
Riding sand dunes and arroyos, Ray began manufacturing an 82mm wide rim in Mexico, along with a 3.5” tire to match, called the Chevron.
He made several frames to accommodate the new equipment and testing took place at the Samalayuca sand dunes in Chihuahua, Mexico.
At the Interbike trade show in late 1999, Alaskan Mark Groneweld made plans to bring Remolino rims to Alaska.
Paired with his custom Wildfire Designs frame and a 3.0”-3.5” tire like the Nokian Gazzaloddi or the elusive Specialized Big Hit (both borrowed from downhill bikes), the first modern fat bikes were born.
John Evingson, of Anchorage, Alaska, also built and raced highly refined custom bikes to fit Remolino rims and 3.0” tires.
Long-distance winter riding and racing continued through the 1990’s in Alaska, and in 2000, Mike Curiak of Colorado won the first official Iditasport Impossible race to Nome, riding and pushing his bike over 1000 miles in just over 15 days.
Fat Bike Tyre (Designs)
The First Fat Bike
Mike’s accomplishment may be the greatest proof of concept for fat bikes, ever.
He rode a custom Willits frame made by Colorado builder Wes Williams, designed around Remolino rims and 3.0” tires.
The bike is now on display at Absolute Bikes in Salida, Colorado, one of the best towns along the Great Divide Route. Until 2005, custom frames and hard-to-find rims and tires comprised the microscopic fat bike genre.
The Surly Pugsley changed the fat bike scene dramatically, providing the single greatest boost to availability and participation in the history of the fat bike.
Released in an audacious purple color in 2005, along with the 65mm wide Large Marge rim and the 3.7” Endomorph tire, the modern fat bike era was born.
The Pugsley was available to almost every bike shop in the country through Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP), a distributor with broad reach.
The bike came as a bare frame and fork, and was intended to be completed with common mountain bike components, including standard 135mm hubs and a 100mm wide bottom bracket, also borrowed from downhill bikes.
Following the release of the Pugsley, and subsequent sales growth, several other companies quickly joined the market.
In 2007, pioneering a symmetrical aluminum frame with ultra-wide hubs (165mm, then 170mm, now 190mm) and rims (70mm and 90mm), the Fatback bike company of Anchorage, Alaska pushed fat bikes into the future, providing more flotation with less weight.
The First Fat Bike
In 2010, both Surly and Salsa released complete fat bikes through the QBP distribution chain, providing another huge leap in accessibility and sales.
This year, over a dozen companies are offering complete bikes.
Ten years ago, this would have been hard to imagine.
Fat Bike Tyres
Fat Biking on snow
The future of fat bikes is bright as new bikes and adventures make headlines each year.
From 22lb carbon bikes to rack-friendly steel touring models like the classic Pugsley, there is a fat bike for everyone.
Fat Biking
Thanks to Billy Koitzsch for the collection of historical fat bike equipment.
Credits to NICHOLAS CARMAN You can find his stories, photographs, and ideas online at gypsybytrade.wordpress.com.
Photos by Nicholas Carman and www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk
To find out more fun Future Facts by clicking our Blogs below……….!!! Please Share …..
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Willys Jeep Mini Replica -1941 (Coolster)
One of the coolest Toys you can buy in 2021 …. the Mini Jeep this amazing little ATV sit in between 1/2 and 1/3 scale model of a 1941 Army Jeep. This 125cc single cylinder can take two adults across a vast array of terrain at speeds of upto 40mph with an estimate MPG of 80
1941 WIllys Style Coolster Mini Jeep
What is a Mini Willys style Jeep ?
These amazing vehicles sits at just over 1:3 scale, they are fully working petrol driven models of a WWII Jeep. Able to fit two adults quite comfortably, built for off-road use using Coil spring suspension.
Watch our Mini Review by clicking on the above like (and please leave a like !)
What engine does a Mini Jeep have ?
They have either a 125cc and 150cc engines
Capable of speeds up to 37 mph.
4 Stroke single cylinder.
3 Speed forward 1 Reverse
How fast does a mini jeep go ? 37 mph
Driving Review :
lets start out with the fun factor which is 10 out of 10 !
Having a little petrol engine under the hood, linked to a 3 speed forward 1 reverse semi -automatic (so no clutch to worry about) gives you the options of using a very low 1st gear for off-roading in deep mud, hill climbing etc. Gear 2 is still perfect for off-roading while still giving the torque required to plough through most terrains.
Moving into 3rd gear gives you the top speed of 37.5mph, when using the amazing little vehicle on the road. Off Course it mainly geared for off roading, so those deep knobbly tyres will make road use nosier, and in the wet (on tarmac) caution should be taken and it does make it a little slippy !
But the great thing is you could purchase another set of wheels to use road tyres when not plugging through rough terrain.
The Steering wheel is adjustable in reach so most adults (I’m just under 6ft) can get comfortable behind the wheel.
Let’s talk about on the road first …..
Mini jeep bonnet
Mini jeep grill
It comes with front and rear lights, indicators, rear reverse light, horn, seatbelts, additional fuel tank, spare wheel, windscreen, handbrake and disc brakes.
So it has nearly all the necessary Road Legal equipment bar :
A fog light
Hazard warning flash
Roll over cadge.
And if you’re in the U.K a MPH speedometer (Kmh only, and this is highly inaccurate, so would be best to purchase a GPS Speedometer)
Also it has an a optional Speed limited for those younger drivers out there
In some states these can be road legally, and the 37.5mph top speed comes in handy to keep up with traffic.
As there is no sound proofing, a helmet makes driving this on the road a lot more comfortable and it can get noisy, but that’s part of the fun !
Off-Road those two first gears really do make getting through most terrains very easy, the knobbly tires get stuck into the deepest of mud conditions and seem to make the whole experience very exciting, and certainly brings on many smiles per mile !
Coolster is owned by an American based Company who distribute these mini ATV / Golf carts
Mini Willys Style Jeep Specification :
1 : 2 Scale
Mini Jeep engine 125cc Engine 4 stroke, 154fm, XinYuan
Features : Reverse light, Neutral light, Horn, indicators (with audio alarm) reverse light, Spare wheel, Army style Gas Can,
Transmission 3 speed with reverse
Drive Type : Chain : 530H 153l
EPA approved Carb
Petrol 1.06 gal
Tire size : 18x7-8
Oil capacity : 0.8L Air cooled motorcycle oil with clutch additive
Battery 12v 9A
Coil Suspension Front / Rear : Dual Arms with swingarm rear
Jeep Mini Willy’s Style in forest
Mini Willy’s style jeep WWIi
The windscreen does fold down, so again this makes getting through trees, and branches a lot easier as there’s no risk of damage
Mini Jeep buying tips
These do not come completely fully built out of the box, (unless your buying from a dealer) like Coolster.
So if your buying new or 2nd hand this is what you need to check :
Front Suspension strut bolts are tight
The exhaust bracket and exhaust bolts are tightened, whilst we are on this subject check the exhaust manifold bolts are tight
Check wheel Hub bolts are tight
Check wheel nuts (although overtightening can strip the thread)
Check steering rack bolts are tight
Check steering ball joints bolts are tight
Check handbrake works
Check Disc brake are functioning correctly
Check steering column, and steering wheel bolts
Check all suspension bolts,
Check the fuel line is secure (as clips are not very strong)
Check Rear axle bearings are greased (there is a grease nipple) but apparently they come dry
Check chain is lubricated
Check body security as the bolts can and do rust
Mini jeep - Coolster
Jeep Dashboard
Mini jeep engine
Mini Jeep gross weight 330.7 / 363.8lbs
Mini Jeep Weight capacity 264.6lbs
Disc Brakes front rear
Electric start with Key
Fully working lights, indicators, horn and speedometer
Speed limiter function (can be added)
Shock Absorbers
Fold down windscreen
Parking Brake
Leather Seats
Safety Belt
Spare Wheel
Spare Fuel Tank
1941 style mini jeep
Mini jeep dashboard
Mini Jeep Dimensions
Width :
950mm
Height :
950mm
Length :
1950 mm
Ground Clearance :
9.84 inches
Future Upgrades
To Install a bumper mounted winch
4” Jeep Spot lights
K&N Air filter
Snorkle
GPS Speedometer and Tachometer
Fuse Box
D Rings on bumper
To find out more fun Future Facts by clicking our Blogs below……….!!! Please Share …..
Ghostbuster - Ecto 1
https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/3/31/ghostbusters-ecto-1
Cars of Back to the Future
https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/the-cars-of-back-to-the-future-55-
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/9/sinclair-c5-
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/minicoolsterjeepreview
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/whydiddeloreanmotorcompanyfail
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/deloreanmotorcompany
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/fluxcapacitor
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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/istimetravelpossible