Fat Tire Bike Riding Tips

Fat tire biking the spray river loop.

Fat tire bike riding tips.

One of the sweetest things about fat bikes is the ability to run tires at low pressures as low as 5psi. Anything from 45nrth is a solid bet for snow riding. For the most part riding a fat tire bike is not that much different than any other mountain bike. If conditions are really soft i may take it down to 4 psi and give up some handling for the extra float.

Riding with tire studs for fat bike riders who live in snowy icy climates it s not uncommon to have studs in the tires. Lower pressure may damage their rims on in the summer months but too much pressure can make your ride feel rigid and bouncy. Do not overfill your tires with air. Many fat tire bike trails are rutted so if the ride isn t smooth you ll feel it in your arms and butt.

Wear warm winter boots and gloves or mitts with enough dexterity so you can change gears. One cool thing about fat bikes is the ability to run their tires at pressures as low as 5psi but 8 to 10psi is ideal for most riders. While the cwocc recommends 6 8 psi for hard conditions the northern michigan mountain bike association nmmba says there is rarely any real benefit to riding tire pressures over 5 psi on snow really definitely disregard other sources that list tire pressures as high as 10 psi. This is to enhance performance and in particular grip.

Below are some tips and tricks that i have learned while riding my fat bike in the cold and snow. You still need to wear a helmet so a thin hat or a headband is a good idea. This is what makes fat bikes superior when riding over bumpy terrain. Mega traction and floatation.

Don t ride on a freshly groomed trail. While my fat bike is a blast on the local trails the thing that got me really excited about these bikes was the ability to ride on the beach. The wider the tire the more cushion y the ride will be in most cases wider tires also give you more flexibility to run them. Plan for the worst.

It used to be that once the snow had fallen cyclists around the world would put up their wheels for the season. Fat bikes typically have a tire pressure of 8 10 psi. Hop on a fat tire bike and get ready to pedal all winter long. Just hop on start pedaling and see what you can find to try and ride over with the big tires.

Typically 8 10psi is ideal for most riders. Lower pressures may damage the rim on technical trails in the summer but too much pressure makes the bike feel rigid and bouncy. However the tire studs aren t always needed on days when the weather clears up and riding on pavement. A lower psi allows the tires to absorb some of the shock and increases the surface area of your tires to the ground.