Fat "Trail" Bikes

[knottshore]

I have always liked the look of fat bikes but until recently did not see myself utilizing one very well on my current terrain- I decided to swap a Rigid 29er SS for a Pug, and it is a very fun bike but I really wanted to make it respond more like a trail bike- less flip flop up front... more fluid feel on tight switch backs etc- I swapped on a fork with much more offest and a shorter CA and ... wow like a different bike- better? I guess that depends on what you plan on using it for, in my case it felt much more dialed.

Anyone have any input or trail time with a modified offset and or crown to axle?

[Shark]

Largest change I noticed was adding suspension fork (sc32) and some husker du s.

[jncarpenter]

I run 56mm offset, 450mm a-c & 68.5* HTA. Swear by it!

[Velobike]

...Anyone have any input or trail time with a modified offset and or crown to axle?

Yup.

DIY fork

I've come to the conclusion I like a steep head angle with plenty trail for singletrack and offroad. I've not tested in snow, but there may also be advantages with that setup when there's frozen ruts.

[PCT]

Stock Pugsley (Necro) felt a little twitchy on fast downhills. With a Lefty it was slacker, more stable, way way better for fast rough trails. And somewhat heavier in the front and slightly numb.
A new wheelset with lighter narrower rims would also make for a happy non-snow trail Pugs. Marge Lites and Husker Du, or Rabbit Hole and Knards would be interesting.

[shiggy]

I run 56mm offset, 450mm a-c & 68.5* HTA. Swear by it!

That is about the same offset and HTA as the production On-One Fatty

[jncarpenter]

That is about the same offset and HTA as the production On-One Fatty

Gonna have to scoop one up for the missus

[knottshore]

I run 56mm offset, 450mm a-c & 68.5* HTA. Swear by it!

Not too far off from what I am running - which is a 55mm offset and 441 CA- VS the Stock 43mm with a 447 Crown to Axle for the pug - I can't say it would be the best on supper gnar downhill and might not track as well in sand but for trail riding it is a night and day difference imo- I am borrowing the fork from a friend and contemplating building one if he decides to pry it from my grip!

I understand that the intent of the pug may be very different from what I want to use it for and I don't have a ton of time on my fatbike yet and could "get used to it" with the stock fork but now that I have ridden it with the altered front end I can't see why I would want to go back?

Some Pics for thought

[knottshore]

Yup.

DIY fork

I've come to the conclusion I like a steep head angle with plenty trail for singletrack and offroad. I've not tested in snow, but there may also be advantages with that setup when there's frozen ruts.

Love the link- inspiring in a world of everything having to be packaged in blow mold and have a brand name attached it is nice to see some ingenuity ...

[nitrousjunky]

Yep that particular fork on your bike does ride and steer well!

I'm gonna give this fat trail bike concept a go myself.

[davefj40]

Yep that particular fork on your bike does ride and steer well!

I'm gonna give this fat trail bike concept a go myself.

You should know

[knottshore]

You should know

by the way I might accidentally paint that work snowblind white and JB weld it to the headset so we can never be removed fishing we don't live closer to nitrous it would be much cheaper than shipping crap back and forth

[Slow Danger]

You should know

That particular fork enjoyed its time in Oregon too.