I'm always on the lookout for low impact methods to access remote hunting spots and today I ran across fat bikes. Anyone on here have any knowledge of them? They look to me like they would be just the ticket for a trad archer who likes to keep it all as simple as possible.
I had read about them somewhere on-line, I am not sure if it was here on TG. They do look like a great way to go.
I did a search on the forum here and didn't turn up any info. I would really like to hear from someone who either uses them or knows someone who uses them. Right now I'm a bit bewildered by all the choices and the price differences. I also see there are luggage racks available for them that would work good for gear and even trailers that look like they would haul a whole critter out.
There's a bike advertised in one of the bowhunting magazines this month. Not sure of the name. Looks very cool but at $2,200 I'd rather walk.
If you don't use a mountain bike now for hunting I would try a cheaper one out and see if that style of hunting suits you. I hunt large areas with horse trails and thought it would be great but for some reason didn't like it.
Rob
I would say as simple as possible is a Mk I foot but the bike is a noble effort. :thumbsup:
Here is a thread about them
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=129817#000000
I've ridden a couple. They are heavy. You would be better off with a mountain bike or walking. I've used mountain bikes on day hunts where time was short and I was carrying hardly anything.
I have used a mountain bike several times for spring turkey. It's fine if the terrain allows it. The fatter tires would be good on some terrain but a conventional mountain bike would probably be more suitable. You can usually put a bit fatter tire on a mountain bike too if it looks like it would work for your conditions.
Fatter tire are of little help except on snow. Get a mountain bike with 29" wheels.
Yep, mountain bike trumps fat bikes. They are heavy, and if you are going uphill, you will be pushing more than riding.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bear Heart:
Fatter tire are of little help except on snow. Get a mountain bike with 29" wheels.
Amen. A 29'r hardtail at that.
I picked up a Kona Unit singlespeed 29er that I'm liking' a lot...pretty light, no dérailleurs to hang up or damage, great on the flats and light hills around here.
I have seen the Fat bikes on the Beach....guys take them surf fishing to hard to get to spots. I don't think they would be good on mountain trails.......but maybe.
If you are talking about the bikes with really fat tires then there are guys who ride them all the time around here. I see their tracks in the snow on our mountain trails of the New River Gorge.
I have a buddy that regularly accesses backcountry on his Honda fat cat bike on dedicated motorcycle trails and he gets into elk. I have other buddies that tried them and sold them.
I think if you are a moto cross type guy you will like them- I'm not. They take some getting used to and on technical trails and steep muddy downhills can be difficult to control- hit your first wet log at an angle and you will know what I mean. They are much more sluggish than a motocross bike. You can't carry a ton of weight on them.
Better to get a good quality mountain bike, no motor but you, with some good tires and gear ratio. Half the weight, half the price, twice the control.
Lots of good info here. Thanks to all who took the time to contribute. I am going to check out the other thread that was provided by Bowfish-IL.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
QuoteOriginally posted by Bear Heart:
Fatter tire are of little help except on snow. Get a mountain bike with 29" wheels.
Amen. A 29'r hardtail at that. [/b]
Amen to that... and make it a single speed. I built one up last year, and almost never take out my suspension multi-gear MTB any more.
I've got a Kona Mahuna 29" that I used quite a bit for hunting last year. If you've got an area with hiking or horse trails it's a great way to get into some hunting way off the road. Takes a little ingenuity to figure out how to carry your stuff but I like it. You can bike 2 miles in a lot quicker than hiking. One of the areas I hunt is mostly downhill on the way in so I don't even have to work up a sweat, till I come out. Gonna try it for turkey hunting this spring.