The Chainlink

I'm a commuter biker along the LFP. I flaked out last winter but I'm mentally and physically preparing myself to try it this winter. I've had problems in the past with sand drifts along the path and I know ice and slick areas will be a problem going forward. Between Oak Street and Grand avenue the path was unplowed last winter, making it unpassable for a standard bike. Granted, I always have the option of getting off the path and riding along the streets but this has risks as well. Last week, I had to get off the path and ride surface streets to work. Overall, it wasn't that bad but riding over the LaSalle Street, metal grated bridge was no fun.

I remember seeing a Surly bike displayed in the window at Johnny Sprockets on Bryn Mawr a few months ago. A very impressive and expensive bike, the Hummer of bicycles. This bike will get you through just about anything and give you a good workout for your efforts. I found this link: http://fat-bike.com/. On the right hand side of the home page is a list of Fat bike manufacturers. Now the Surly Moonlander will set you back around $2300.00. This is a steel frame, yet surprisingly light weight bike as I recall. 38 Frameworks, a U.S. based company is selling what they claim is the first all carbon frame Fat bike. I can't find the prices but I imagine it sells for probably a little less than a distressed McMansion.

Anybody have any experience with Fat Bikes?

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Sure, I'd like a Pugsly too.  The one they had at RT south last winter was too big for me... looking forward to trying the 16" that Dug mentioned.  However, and you're rarely wrong so you've got me questioning, but I don't believe we had a blizzard last winter and as I recall there were only two or three brief periods with any snow accumulation...?

Peenworm Grubologist said:

The blizzard last winter really ramped up my Pugsley covetry. Yeah, ice is ice, and these aren't going to be a solution for that, but they are massively advantageous over deep snow. 

h' said:

If you've got the funds and are looking for something fun, by all means try one of these bikes, but I'm not sure the bikes you're looking at are going to help you much for the riding you're describing.  They're certainly not going to do much better on ice than any other style.  Thin road-style tires for winter commuting have more than a handful of proponents.  

The fat tires should do better than other bikes on rough/uneven pavement, which could be useful in some winter riding conditions.

h' - We didn't have much, but January 20 we had a big thick accumulation that landed pretty quickly during the day which made my wheels spin in whimsical futility. 

http://www.nbcchicago.com/weather/stories/chicago-winter-storm-jan-...

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/midwest-s...

I've got some friends that ride through the winter regardless of conditions.  They typically ride 29ers with Nokian carbide studded tires.  Ice is no problem.

Studded tires from Peter White Cycles

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