The Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a Fat-Tired Bike

Bicycles are anything but boring, as even a brief look at a modern fat bike will make clear. Shod with tires so wide they can look like something out of a cartoon, bikes like this are able to master some truly challenging conditions.

Finding the right fat bike for sale is straightforward for those who know where to look. It typically only takes making a few simple decisions to settle on a bike that will suit its new owner perfectly.

Understanding a Few Factors Leads to Fun in the Snow, Sand, and Elsewhere

While fat bikes differ in some obvious and important ways from others, some of the most important considerations for buyers remain the same. A couple, however, are unique to the fat bike and should be recognized as such. In either case, buyers should be ready to look into issues including:

Frame size. A tall frame with a long-enough top tube will help a road-going cyclist make the most of however much power they can generate. When it comes time to go off trail, though, being able to put feet down for purchase when things get tricky can help. This is especially true of bikes with extra-wide tires that are designed to be pedaled through especially tough conditions, so settling on the right frame size will always be important.

Gearing. Bikes are traditionally equipped with front-mounted chain rings and sprockets attached to the rear wheel. For mountain bikes and road bikes alike, it is common to have two or more of the former and anywhere from five to nine of the latter. As a result, many bikes of these kinds will make dozens of different speeds available to riders. With bikes wearing tires four or more inches wide, on the other hand, it can make more sense to stick to a single gear up front in order to save on weight and complexity.

Suspension. Just as with mountain bikes, bicycles with especially wide tires can be obtained with either no suspension or some combination of front and rear shocks. A "hard-tail" bike with a solid front fork will be lighter than one that offers a cushier ride but also more of a handful when things get bumpy.

Well-Designed Bikes are Ready to Ride

Fortunately, manufacturers have made it simple for buyers to assess these issues and settle on the right bike in every case. With many different models now on the market, no one who enjoys cycling should ever feel the need to do without this especially entertaining option.