Increased traction
Aggressive riding style? Put more rubber down.
Why Fat?
Increased traction
Snow, sand, dirt or rock... fat tires give your bike increased traction. More rubber in contact with the ground means you can push harder into corners or take off in the snow with more confidence that your tires will be the only thing on the ground.
There are trade-offs with wider tires, of course. More rubber on the ground means increased drag, which means more pedaling power will be needed to get up to and maintain speed.
Why Fat?
New life to old trails
If you've ridden the same trail for the fifth time or the sixty-fifth, you'll know that sometimes familiarity can bring monotony. Can you ride the trail with your eyes closed, picking your lines and hopping the roots without missing a beat?
Riding a fat bike will give you a fresh take on your old trails. Your lines will likely change because you can ride over more obstacles with less discomfort. And more tread on the ground allows for more aggressive cornering with confidence.
Why Fat?
Year-round riding
When most people think fat bike, they think winter riding. But a fat bike is a capable and excellent choice for riding all year long.
During the winter months on snow and ice, throw on 4.8 inch studded tires with low pressure. During the spring, summer and fall months, ride on 4 inch trail tires with increased pressure. These tire sizes aren't fixed, of course. But with a change of rubber and tire pressure based on your conditions, your fat bike will be the only MTB you'll need.
Why Fat?
Versatile
Because fat bike frames support wider tire clearance, they are more versatile and less specialized. You can ride a 2.2 inch wheel set and then switch to 4.8 inch with a quick change. You don't need a different bike for each season or terrain type. Additionally, the front fork can include suspension or be rigid.
This means your fat bike can accommodate many different adventures. Bike packing? Single track? XC? Beach? Snow and ice? Check.
Why Fat?
Built-in suspension
Clown tires. Balloon tires. Monster truck tires. If you are accustom to only riding on traditional MTB tires you may see fat tires and think they look ridiculous. However, the large tire size provides many benefits.
Most fat bikes come with a rigid fork. This can certainly be swapped for a fork with suspension, but at the cost of adding more weight. Large fat bike tires give built-in suspension–customizable with tire pressure–which can dampen trail chatter and make for a more comfortable ride. Roots and rocks? No problem.
Why Fat?
Excellent workout
You are biking (rather than lifting weights or running) because you want to enjoy getting exercise, right? Biking is an amazing way to get an intense workout, while enjoying the experience.
With wide tires and lower pressures, pedaling a fat bikes can get your heart rate up and activity rings closed in no time. Get outta the saddle and start burning those calories.
Why Fat?
Stable
Wider tires mean more rubber on the ground. This is good news for newer riders who are still building their confidence on a bike, especially when riding on single track.
This stability is also a benefit to more advanced riders. During aggressive riding and turning, fat bikes tend to return upright easily.
Why Fat?
Just plain fun
Ask a regular fat biker to give you 3 reasons they ride a fat bike. "It's just fun!" will almost certainly be on their list.
Whether it's the challenge, niche group, or more comfortable ride, hitting the trail with your fat bike is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Why Single?
Improves skills
Take your riding to the next level. Remove all your gears–but one.
By removing the ability to utilize an easier gear when the riding gets more difficult, you will need to shift into a different mindset. To get up steep climbs or maintain momentum on the trail, you will develop these 3 important skills:
Planning ahead
Rather than being reactionary ("Oh, the trail is getting steep, I need to shift to make it easier"), you'll have to look ahead, see the climbs or obstacles, and gather the necessary momentum to keep on the move.
Pumping
Use the trail to help maintain your speed. You worked for it, now keep it.
Determination
Riding single speed will give you 1 of 2 options. Push through or walk. Which one will you choose?
Why Single?
Excellent workout
You are biking (rather than lifting weights or running) because you want to enjoy getting exercise, right? Biking is an amazing way to get an intense workout, while enjoying the experience.
A single speed setup will take your workout to the next level. It's not easy, but it is satisfying! And when you have mastered your 28x18t ratio, swap out your 18t cog for a 16t to restore the challenge.
Why Single?
Less maintenance
Whether indexing the gears or cleaning out the jockey wheels, the downside to having a derailleur is its ongoing maintenance. Yes, all parts have some degree of maintenance, but the less time you spend cleaning or fixing, the more time you have for riding.
A single speed drivetrain is easy to remove, access, clean and replace. You may or may not want a tensioner, but either way, there are fewer parts which means less can go wrong when you're out on the trail.
Why Single?
More focused
Ideally during a ride, you look down the trail and plan when to shift as the elevation changes. If you miscalculate the timing, you'll hear the gear-crunching melody of your disgruntled drivetrain.
The first time you ride a trail without a shifter and derailleur, you'll be amazed at how much focus you can give to the trail. Your right hand won't be bored, however. It will be able to give full attention to holding on for dear life as you drop in.
Why Single?
Quieter
Whether it's gear-crunching from an ill-timed shift or the clicking song from a derailleur due to be indexed, more drivetrain parts means more noise.
Imagine being able to hear the sounds of the forest, to not scare wildlife away before you even see them. Riding with a single gear will give you the opportunity to hear more than noises from your bike. (However, this is completely nullified by the obnoxious and absolutely delightful buzzing of the free hub.)
Why Single?
New life to old trails
If you've ridden the same trail for the fifth time or the sixty-fifth, you'll know that sometimes familiarity can bring monotony. Can you ride the trail with your eyes closed, picking your lines and hopping the roots without missing a beat?
Riding single speed will give you a fresh take on your old trails. Not only will your cadence be different, you will discover areas of the trail where you can (and must) gain momentum, hold speed, and work harder.
Why Single?
Less expensive
Whether you're building or buying, bikes and bike parts are expensive. The drivetrain is a consumable part, meaning that it wears down over time, and will need to be replaced.
Save yourself hundreds of dollars on your drivetrain by riding single speed. Here is a general parts and price list from Jenson:
Multi-geared
SRAM 11-50t 12 speed cassette: $90
SRAM 12 speed NX derailleur: $90
SRAM NX 12 speed shifter: $35
Jagwire shift kit: $25
Total: $240
Single speed
16t Shimano cog: $10
Shimano tensioner: $24
Wolf tooth spacing kit: $30
Total: $64
Why Single?
Lighter
Typically fewer components means less weight, and cheaper parts tend to be heavier.
A single speed drivetrain is lean and light, which will make your bike lighter over all. If you're concerned about weight, convert to single speed.