Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Terminator Ammo Direct


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 35
Like Tree37Likes

Thread: Semi-fat bikes (27.5+)

  1. #1
    By Popular Demand gimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The Big H
    Posts
    9,500

    Semi-fat bikes (27.5+)

    Has anyone got one? Looking at getting a Surly ECR for cruising the local tracks and some bikepacking missions. Have never ridden a semi-fat and wonder if the rolling resistance is just going to make me hate life on easy gravel or road sections

  2. #2
    Member dogmatix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Northern Gaul (Pukekohe)
    Posts
    6,033
    Quote Originally Posted by gimp View Post
    Has anyone got one? Looking at getting a Surly ECR for cruising the local tracks and some bikepacking missions. Have never ridden a semi-fat and wonder if the rolling resistance is just going to make me hate life on easy gravel or road sections
    I'm sure there was an older thread on them on here, or maybe it was FnH?
    Welcome to Sako club.

  3. #3
    Member Shearer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tasman
    Posts
    7,047
    I have a Stump Jumper 6 Fattie (27.5+) Had it for about 4 years and love it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
    Pros - great traction, supple and very forgiving ride. (you can get a line completely wrong and still bomb it)
    Cons - slightly more roll resistance but only noticeable on smooth surfaces ie sealed roads.
    I was out on it today and would never go back to skinny tyres.
    Name:  IMG_1463[1].JPG
Views: 736
Size:  4.41 MB
    tikka and Steelisreal like this.
    Experience. What you get just after you needed it.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    703
    Like everything, the answer is 'it depends'. If your normal riding is about going as fast as possible and you ride with a racer mentality you will absolutely hate it on smoother stuff.

    If you load it up to go on a mission and just sit back and enjoy the ride, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner... ��

    Surly is great - solid, durable - yes. Refined they are not! I have two - a Cross Check that has been beaten solidly for years and isn't getting worn in yet. Also an original Karate Monkey that has been tweaked for bike-packing - runs 29 * 2.4 tyres currently. Did a few trips on those tyres. If I hadn't had a bit of an oopsie on the trail bike I was about to put some 27.5+ wheels and tyres in it as more volume is more betterer for loaded off road touring. The more off-road it is, the more volume is the answer. For more Brevet style riding, stick to 29".
    Shearer likes this.

  5. #5
    Member GravelBen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Gorrre
    Posts
    3,601
    Its a bit counter-intuitive to most people but the fatter tyres have measurably less rolling resistance on anything rough, its only really on sealed roads that you might find them a bit more draggy.

    There are in between options too, some bikes have enough frame clearance to run 29x2.6" or even 2.8" tyres. When I wear out the 2.3" on mine I will probably try out 2.5".
    res and Steelisreal like this.

  6. #6
    Member Micky Duck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Geraldine
    Posts
    24,735
    combined with an ebike and it might be interesting....
    tetawa and timattalon like this.

  7. #7
    Member Shearer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tasman
    Posts
    7,047
    Quote Originally Posted by Micky Duck View Post
    combined with an ebike and it might be interesting....
    Yeah. They do them.
    Experience. What you get just after you needed it.

  8. #8
    By Popular Demand gimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The Big H
    Posts
    9,500
    Well this is leaving me thinking maybe I should stick to a more standard tire width considering the road k's I do, which is leaving me unsure of what the heck bike I want because most of the Surly off road options are rigid + semi fat


    Maybe I'll just convert my old Giant to a 1x11 or something and that will make me happier

  9. #9
    By Popular Demand gimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The Big H
    Posts
    9,500
    Altho the ECR can run 27.5x2.8 so that might be a good compromise

  10. #10
    Member GravelBen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Gorrre
    Posts
    3,601
    There are quite a few bikes which can take a regular 29" or a 27.5+, the overall rolling radius is similar. Some people have 2 wheelsets and swap them over depending where they are riding.

    That might be overcomplicating it though, for what it sounds like you will be riding I'd probably just go with a 29er hardtail. 29" wheels do roll along very well.

    I don't know anything about Surly bikes so can't comment on them in particular.

  11. #11
    By Popular Demand gimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The Big H
    Posts
    9,500
    Well I've done 530km in the last 2 weeks and probably 40% of them have been on sealed road so it's a reasonably high portion of my time. On an old 26" Giant hardtail. Was looking at 27.5" hardtails but there doesn't seem to be much choice

  12. #12
    Member GravelBen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Gorrre
    Posts
    3,601
    Yeah that is a lot of road riding. 29" rolls along so much faster and smoother than 26", I went straight from 26" to 29" when I updated last year so haven't done much direct comparison with 27.5".
    timattalon and Steelisreal like this.

  13. #13
    Member Shearer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tasman
    Posts
    7,047
    As much as people will knock 26" wheels now, people were really happy with them for decades. Bigger wheels will roll better but if you aren't riding (racing) over lumpy stuff spending a couple of grand on something new may be a waste of money. If I remember, the Speciaiized Fuze is B+ (or 29er) hardtail.
    Experience. What you get just after you needed it.

  14. #14
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    703
    Quote Originally Posted by gimp View Post
    Well I've done 530km in the last 2 weeks and probably 40% of them have been on sealed road so it's a reasonably high portion of my time. On an old 26" Giant hardtail. Was looking at 27.5" hardtails but there doesn't seem to be much choice
    It's sounding like you want two bikes - something for fitness and going places and another for bike-packing/adventures.

    Have you considered one of the newer breed of drop-bar bikes that will take up to 700*50 or 650(27.5)*2.2?

    Then have a semi-fat or full fat bike set up for adventuring.

  15. #15
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    703
    Here's the sort of thing I mean:

    https://www.konaworld.com/libre.cfm

    Theres loads of options out there these days.

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Mountain bikes
    By Hazzid in forum Outdoor Transport
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 25-10-2018, 06:10 PM
  2. Quad Bikes What to look for
    By P38 in forum Outdoor Transport
    Replies: 60
    Last Post: 04-11-2012, 03:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!