Mountain bikes

I’ve decided I’m going to have a go with a mountain bike to cut down time on long walk ins seems to be a few spots that I’m hunting semi regularly that I would cut my travel time down to 1/4 of what it currently is. Wanting to carry plenty of gear multi day more of a means of getting in and out not really to actually hunt on as such. Keen to see if there’s many others giving this ago and what there set ups are .thinking a cross country sort of bike would be the go or if you have a pack on is rear suspension not all bad I haven’t really been into bikes since leaving school. I’ve had a bit of a look on the net but all the bike packing stuff looks like there traveling with bugger all gear comperd to say what would be needed to be comfortable on a two or 3 day winter mission in Southland Otago back country and carrying out meat and or a head. Im looking at spending $500-1000 on a second hand bike but would be good to know what I should be avoiding and if it’s as good of an a idea as it seems in my head haha cheers for any advice and looking forward to seeing what other people are doing

Have done a bit of biking with a pack on, centre of gravity is a bit high and can be interesting when track conditions get tough. That said I prefer a pack to panniers on the bike as then you can leave the bike and walk without shuffling gear around.

Have been toying with the idea of an electric bike used for hunting.... Few spots near me that have 4wd access in summer but closed for winter that would be ideal access points

I sorta wanted to keep it simple half the reason for a mountain bike is because I can grab it and go and bugger all to maintain also with dock tracks being where it will be used want to try not to upset anyone haha.I work on a sheep and beef station so I can use the station vechals at home for hunting but really enjoy getting out and about elsewhere. Probably other factor is with work if im heading off for a weekend I might only get away from home drive for 3 or 4 hours and a 3 hour walk in on top and it’s getting rather late and you end up buggerd and not enjoying it as much
But all the same some of the electric ones look sweet but also be a bit of $ tieded up in them
In an ideal world I just take my horse but then you have to drag a float all ur other gear feed them and cover them then hobble them in a good spot and hope like fuck they don’t get free and gap it back and a bikes heeps cheaper than a float haha

Fat bike has been a useful tool for getting about. Takes on most sort of terrain and you can get a trailer designed to go on a hardtail bike which can haul a lot of gear.
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I was looking at a few of ur posts on the fat bikes @Shearer is it much different in terms of ticking along tracks and climbing hills or can I just put wide tyres on a normal bike other thing is heeps of bikes look like they only have one gear on the front but I’m guessing would be good having two for up hill stuff if I’m carrying a bit of weight

The fat bike is harder work to pedal. Heavier than a "normal" bike and running very low tyre pressures (4psi in my case).It's a bit like pedaling a monster truck. It means you work harder but have exceptional traction so works really well on soft or loose ground where other bikes would struggle or be impossible to ride. If you are just using 4x4 tracks for access then a standard MTB will be fine and as I said, you can get a trailer if you expect to carry a good load. You cant just go an put big tyres/rims on a standard bike as the forks/rear triangle aren't wide enough. Modern MTBs often run 1 chain ring (front sprocket) as they are now 11 or 12 speed at the rear. Plenty of gears for most situations.

I have a fat bike for sale on Trade Me currently. Bit more than you are wanting to spend though. I've done a bit of riding on it with a pack on, but not with a rifle. Only selling it because I have bought an E-bike for the Mrs.

I agree with what @Shearer is saying about traction. I have the same frame as him, but replaced the heavy wheelset with a much lighter carbon set up and also have front suspension. Made a massive difference to the ride and is way easier to pedal. I reckon its way more fun than the original set up too. (You should buy it @Shearer...)

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Originally Posted by The Claw

I have a fat bike for sale on Trade Me currently. Bit more than you are wanting to spend though. I've done a bit of riding on it with a pack on, but not with a rifle. Only selling it because I have bought an E-bike for the Mrs.

I agree with what @Shearer is saying about traction. I have the same frame as him, but replaced the heavy wheelset with a much lighter carbon set up and also have front suspension. Made a massive difference to the ride and is way easier to pedal. I reckon its way more fun than the original set up too. (You should buy it @Shearer...)

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Haha. Thanks @The Claw. Nice offer but I already have one with front suspension at my disposal (Mrs Shearer's) and I have made my bike tubeless so quite a bit lighter than standard (It was a bloody mission though). The good thing about the carbon fork is that I can mount the rifle or rod on it and it's lighter than the suspension fork.