Recently, we at Rochester Fitness & Cycling had the great opportunity to host a visit from our pals at Salsa Cycles. The team brought a truckload of their line of FATBIKES to let local Rochesterians demo this latest craze in the biking industry. One of the many reasons fabiking has skyrocketed the past 2 years is because of how they are RIVALING mountain bikes and hybrids. How is this possible? Check out 3 reasons below.
1. Offroad Speed & Handling
The latest trend for mountain bikes (MTBs) and hybrids are wheel rims that are 29” in diameter. 29ers have been praised for their ability to ride over large obstacles without losing speed. Fatbikes have rims that are only 26” in diameter; although, once the huge tires are applied they match the MTB’s 29” size. This means fatbikes can handle the same obstacles at the same speeds as a 29er MTB! When it comes to racing, fatbikers can be just as aggressive as mountain bikers on the same trails.
2. Built-in Suspension
While full-suspension fatbikes are available, rigid 
fatbikes with no suspension STILL provide built-in suspension because of their peculiar tires. Fatbikes are set at a lower tire pressure than most bikes (Salsa Cycles run theirs at about 5-6 PSI), which causes a “goosh” effect. The low PSI creates a built-in suspension system that enables the tires to hug the trails. However, if you want to take it to the next level, try a fatbike with front & rear suspension! These fatbikes get you SO hooked up to the trail that your ride will feel like a freight train.
3. Racing & Weight
Today, fatbikes are starting to show up at mountain 
bike races! One reason for this is because the total weight of fatbikes has decreased (thanks to carbon technology), making them lighter and faster. While carbon fiber is already used in rigid models, it’s also used in full-suspension fatbikes. This feature, compounded with the sturdy frame and powerful tires, makes fatbikes more adept to handle longer distances (like 100 mile races) than some MTBs & hybrids. Thus, fatbikes are becoming the ultimate beast machine for mountain bike racing.
What’s the future for fatbikes? They’ll keep booming as manufacturers continue to modify their designs. According to Salsa Cycles rep, Chris Gebhardt, Salsa Cycles will be taking their fatbikes to the premium level. This May, they’ll be releasing a full carbon fiber fatbike that will price around $6,800. Next year, they hope to release more price-point oriented fatbikes for entry level riders.