Reasons to Try a Fat Bike

Daniel Sheflin

Introduction Executive Daniel Sheflin spent five years as general manager of engineering at

General Electric in Pennsylvania and more than a decade as vice president of technology automation control solutions with Honeywell in Golden Valley, Minnesota. In his free time, Daniel Sheflin enjoys biking, especially fat biking. 

Though fat bikes have been around since the mid-2000s, they’ve only recently become a visible part of biking culture. Compared to standard mountain bikes with two-inch wide tires, fat bike tires are at least twice that size and can handle significantly lower pressures than their skinnier predecessors. As a result of this increased width and lower pressure, the tires are better able to grip more of the ground, enabling bikers to tackle terrain they would likely otherwise avoid. For example, fat bikes are ideal for riding across snow and loose sand as well as over wet stone and through muddy areas. 

Additionally, fat bikes offer a nicer ride, with higher comfort levels than standard bikes. They do not need a suspension system, as the fat tires absorb most of the shocks and do the suspension work themselves. Fat bikes also offer better balance and require very little maintenance, as the frames are simply designed.