Choosing a new bike was an agonizing decision. I went with a #Fatbike because everyone said it was fun. I am not racing anymore and I wanted a bike that could be loaded up with camping gear and head into the woods. Since winters have been so poor with lack of snow, I figured I could extend my riding time since, I was not being able to Nordic ski much.
The XT trail pedals that I have, will not release easily, and I have fallen several times at a few km an hour, with tension set at zero (Rookie!) Do NOT get your bike stolen, like I did, and then you will not have to put up with these sort of things.
AMA Insurance was useless, as there was a $1000, deductible because of a large forest fire up near Slave Lake in 2013 They also crank your premiums up by 25% for 5 years so in total you re looking at an extra $3000-$3500 and this is with no claims!
So now to the riding of a #Fatbike. The Q-factor of the bottom bracket and cranks takes some getting used to. The first time I rode in the mud, I ended up having both sartoris muscles cramp, at the same time. That was very painful. A #Fatbike loaded with mud, weighs 60 pounds too.
I have a theory that since my cycling leg muscles are use to a narrow width, that the muscles when on the #Fatbike have to adjust to the wider width. Does anyone else have this kind of experience?
I rode on frozen mud today and that was easily done. What surprised me, was that tuffs of frozen grass, just pulls and pushes the bike around. I am sure as I get more use to the bike, it will become easier.
Well the other day I was out for an almost 3 hour #ride. As I found out, the extra pounds on a #bike, makes for some push #hiking. On some of the steep hills I had to use an extra hand with him pulling and myself pushing, from underneath the bike, as the frozen ground would not give me enough foot grip to get up. There was no way I was going to be able to #walk up!
My stomach #muscles were sore for 3 days, from all the twisting of the fat bike tires on grass. I am sure on slicker surfaces like dirt it would not have been so noticeable.
Dec. 1st and still no snow, as I wait for #Nordic #skiing to begin, with maybe some fat biking thrown in.
I was thinking I would use #snowshoes to set in single-track for the fat-biking. Does anybody else do that?
