FIXIE / FIXED GEAR BIKE
Wikipedia says:- In Australia, "fixed-wheel" is the normal term for the subject of this article—meaning the opposite of freewheel, and "fixed-gear" usually refers to a single-speed bicycle.
A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, sometimes known as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast, because the pedals are always moving when the bicycle is in motion.
The sprocket, or cog, is threaded or bolted directly to a fixed rear hub. When the rear wheel turns, the pedals turn in the same direction.[1] This allows a cyclist to stop without using a brake, by resisting the rotation of the cranks, and also to ride in reverse.
As a rule, fixed-gear bicycles are also single-speed bicycles—bicycles without derailleurs,
with a single sprocket attached to the rear hub, and a single sprocket
attached to the crank. Most fixed-gear bicycles only have a front brake,
and some have no brakes at all.[2] Exceptions do exist: for example, Sturmey-Archer produces 3-speed fixed rear hubs for multispeed fixed-gear bicycles.
Uses
The track bicycle is a form of fixed-gear bicycle used for track cycling in a velodrome. But since a fixed-gear bicycle is just a bicycle without a freewheel, a fixed-gear bicycle can be almost any type of bicycle.[3]
Some road racing
and club cyclists used a fixed-gear bicycle for training during the
winter months, generally using a relatively low gear ratio, believed to
help develop a good pedalling style.[4]
In the UK until the 1950s it was common for riders to use fixed-gear
bicycles for time trials. The 1959 British 25 mile time trial
championship was won by Alf Engers with a competition record of 55 minutes 11 seconds, riding an 84 inch fixed-gear bicycle.[5][6][7][8] The fixed-gear was also commonly used, and continues to be used in the end of season hill climb races in the autumn.[9][10]
A typical club men's fixed-gear machine would have been a "road/path"
or "road/track" cycle. In the era when most riders only had one cycle,
the same bike when stripped down and fitted with racing wheels was used
for road time trials and track racing, and when fitted with mudguards
(fenders) and a bag, it was used for club runs, touring and winter
training.[11][12][13][14] By the 1960s, multi-gear derailleurs had become the norm and riding fixed-gear on the road declined over the next few decades.[15] Recent[dated info] years have seen renewed interest and increased popularity of fixed-gear cycling.[16]
In urban North America
fixed-gear bicycles have achieved tremendous popularity, with the rise
of discernible regional aesthetic preferences for finish and design
details.[17]
Dedicated fixed-gear road bicycles are being produced in greater
numbers by established bicycle manufacturers. They are generally low in
price[18] and characterized by relaxed road geometry, as opposed to the steep geometry of track bicycles.[19]
A fixed-gear bicycle is particularly well suited for track stands, a manoeuvre in which the bicycle can be held stationary, balanced upright with the rider's feet on the pedals.[20]
Advantages and disadvantages
One of the perceived main attractions of a fixed gear bicycle is low
weight. Without the added parts required for a fully geared drive train,
a fixed gear bicycle weighs significantly less than its geared
equivalent. Also, a fixed gear drivetrain is more mechanically efficient
than any other bicycle drivetrain, with the most direct power transfer
from rider to the wheels. Thus, a fixed gear requires less energy in any
given gear to move than a geared bike in the same gear.[2]
In slippery conditions some riders prefer to ride fixed because they
believe the transmission provides increased feedback on back tire grip.[21]
Descending any significant gradient is more difficult as the rider
must spin the cranks at high speed (sometimes at 170 rpm or more), or
use the brakes to slow down. Some consider that the enforced fast spin
when descending increases suppleness or flexibility, which is said to
improve pedalling performance on any type of bicycle; however the
performance boost is negligible compared to the benefits of riding a
free wheel.[22]
Riding fixed is considered by some to encourage a more effective
pedaling style, which is claimed translates into greater efficiency and
power when used on a bicycle fitted with a freewheel.[23]
When first riding a fixed gear, a cyclist used to a freewheel
may try to freewheel, or coast, particularly when approaching corners
or obstacles. Since coasting is not possible this can lead to a 'kick'
to the trailing leg, and even to loss of control of the bicycle.
Riding at high speed around corners can be difficult for the novice
rider, as the pedals can strike the road, resulting in possible loss of
control.
Brakeless
Many urban fixed-gear riders think brakes are not strictly necessary,
and brakeless fixed riding has a cult status in some areas.[24]
Brakes and their cables are said to add extra bulk to the simple
appearance of a fixed gear bicycle. Many riders claim that the
experience of riding brakeless creates a "oneness with the road".
Particularly in urban environments, it forces the rider to be more aware
of their surroundings because of the inability to bring the bicycle to a
stop quickly.
Other riders dismiss riding on roads without brakes as an affectation, based on image rather than practicality.[25]
Riding brakeless can be dangerous, is prohibited by law in many
jurisdictions, and may jeopardize the chances of a successful claim in
the event of an accident.[26]
Technique
It is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike by resisting
the turning cranks, and a rider can also lock the rear wheel and skid to
slow down or stop on a fixed-gear bicycle. Such a move is initiated by
unweighting the rear wheel while in motion by shifting the rider's
weight slightly forward and pulling up on the pedals using clipless pedals
or toe clips and straps. The rider then stops turning the cranks, thus
stopping the drivetrain and rear wheel, while applying body weight in
opposition to the rotation of the cranks. This causes the rear wheel to
skid, and slow the bike. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or
until the rider desires to continue pedalling again at a slower speed.
The technique requires a little practice and using it while cornering is
generally considered dangerous.[27][28] A wet surface further reduces the effectiveness of this method.
On any bike with only rear wheel braking, the maximum deceleration is significantly lower than on a bike equipped with a front brake.[29]
As a vehicle brakes, weight is transferred towards the front wheel and
away from the rear wheel, decreasing the amount of grip the rear wheel
has. Transferring the rider's weight back increases rear wheel braking
efficiency, but a front wheel fitted with an ordinary brake might
provide 70% or more of the braking power when braking hard (see Weight transfer).
Legality
Australia – In every state, bicycles are regarded as vehicles
under the Road Rules. By law, a bike is required to have at least one
functioning brake.[30]
Denmark – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, as well as reflectors and bells.[citation needed]
France – To be approved for road traffic, a bike must have 2
brakes, 2 lights, numerous reflectors, and a ringer. However the laws
are rarely enforced, and the sight of all kinds of non officially
approved bikes is quite common.[31]
Germany – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, as well as reflectors and bells.[32] In Bonn a local court accepted that the fixed-gear mechanism was suitable back brake,[32]
but high-profile crackdowns specifically targeted fixies in Berlin, in
an attempt to control what police described as a "dangerous trend"[33][34]
New Zealand – By law all bicycles must have a minimum of "...a good rear brake..."–and those made since 1 January 1988 must also have "...a good front brake..."[35]
Spain – All bicycles are required to have an adequate brake system on front and rear wheels, plus a bell.[36]
United Kingdom – The Pedal Cycles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 require pedal cycles "with
a saddle height over 635 mm to have two independent braking systems,
with one acting on the front wheel(s) and one on the rear". It is commonly thought that a front brake and a fixed rear wheel satisfies this requirement .[37]
United States – The use of any bike without brakes on public
roads is illegal in many places, but the wording is often similar to
"...must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person operating
the cycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean
pavement..."[38] which some have argued allows the use of the legs and gears.[39] The retail sale of bikes without brakes is banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission[40] – but with an exception for the "track bicycle" (...a
bicycle designed and intended for sale as a competitive machine having
tubular tires, single crank-to-wheel ratio, and no free-wheeling feature
between the rear wheel and the crank...).[41]
Conversion
Many companies sell bicycle frames
designed specifically for use with fixed-gear hubs. A fixed-gear or
track-bike hub includes special threads for a lockring that tightens in
the opposite (counter-clockwise) direction compared with the cog. This
ensures that the cog cannot unscrew when the rider "backpedals" while
braking.[42]
 |
| A horizontal dropout on a steel frame road bicycle converted to a single-speed. The derailleur hanger (below the axle) and an eyelet (above the axle) for mounting a fender or rack, both integral parts of the original frame, are now unused. |
For a variety of reasons, many cyclists choose to convert freewheel bicycles to fixed gear. Frames with horizontal dropouts are straightforward to convert, frames with vertical dropouts less so.[43]
One method is to simply replace the rear wheel with a wheel that has a
track/fixed hub. Another is to use a hub designed for use with a
threaded multi-speed freewheel. Such a hub only has the normal
right-handed threads for the cog and not the reverse threads for the
lockrings used on track/fixed hubs. The sprocket on a hub without a
lockring may unscrew while back pedalling. Even if a bottom bracket
lockring is threaded onto the hub, along with a track sprocket, because
the bottom-bracket lockring is not reverse threaded, the possibility
still exists that both the sprocket and locknut can unscrew. Therefore
it is recommended to have both front and rear brakes on a fixed-gear
bicycle using a converted freewheel hub in case the cog unscrews while
back pedaling. It is also advisable to use a thread sealer for the cog and bottom bracket lockring. The rotafix (or "frame whipping") method may be helpful to securely install the sprocket.
Bicycles with vertical dropouts and no derailleur require some way to
adjust chain tension. Most bicycles with horizontal dropouts can be
tensioned by moving the wheel forward or backward in the dropouts.
Bicycles with vertical dropouts can also be converted with some
additional hardware. Possibilities include:
- An eccentric hub or bottom bracket allows the off center axle or bottom bracket spindle to pivot and change the chain tension.
- A Ghost or floating chainring is an additional chainring in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain.
- A magic gear—the right math can calculate a gearing ratio to fit a taut chain between the rear dropout and bottom bracket. Also, using a chain half link and slightly filing the dropouts to increase the width of the slot increases the chances of finding a magic gear. It is worth noting that the magic gear setup is controversial, due to inevitable chain stretch and subsequent slippage that can lead to serious injury.
- "Run out" is the name for varying chain tension due to a lack of perfect centering of either/or the chainring or sprocket. Higher end components are often machined to higher tolerances and can assist with run out issues.
Separate chain tensioning devices, such as the type that attaches to the dropout gear hanger (commonly used on single speed mountain bikes) cannot be used because they are damaged as soon as the lower part of the chain becomes tight.
Additional adjustments or modification may be needed to ensure a good
chainline. The chain should run straight from the chainring to the
sprocket, therefore both must be the same distance away from the
bicycle's centerline. Matched groupsets of track components are normally
designed to give a chainline of 42 mm, but conversions using road or
mountain bike cranksets often use more chainline. Some hubs, such as
White Industries' ENO, or the British Goldtec track hub, are better
suited to this task as they have a chainline greater than standard.
Failure to achieve good chainline, at best, leads to a noisy chain and
increased wear, and at worst can throw the chain off the sprocket. This
can result in rear wheel lockup and a wrecked frame if the chain falls
between the rear sprocket and the spokes. Chainline can be adjusted in a
number of ways, which may be used in combination with each other:
- Obtaining a bottom bracket with a different spindle length, to move the chainring inboard or outboard
- Choosing a bottom bracket with two lockrings, which gives fine adjustment of chainring position
- Respacing and redishing the rear wheel, where permitted by the hub design
- Placing thin spacers under the bottom bracket's right-hand cup (Sturmey-Archer make a suitable 1/16" spacer) to move the chainring outboard
- Placing thin spacers between the chainring and its stack bolts to move it inboard (if the chainring is on the inside of the crank spider) or outboard (if the ring is on the outside of the spider)
- Placing thin spacers between the hub shoulder and the cog- only recommended in the case of a freewheel-threaded hub, which has sufficiently deep threads for this
Competition
There are many forms of competition using a fixed gear bike, most of the competitions being track races. Bike messengers and other urban riders may ride fixed gear bicycles in alleycat races, including New York City's famous fixed-gear-only race Monstertrack alleycat.
There are also events based on messenger racing, such as Mixpression,
which has been held nine times in Tokyo. Trick demonstrations have been
held since the late 1800s in the US and Europe;[44] while they continued into a competitive form in Europe (Artistic Cycling), subsequent to the recent[dated info]
widespread popularity and advancement of fixed gear bikes, trick
competitions have also now established themselves at venues in the US
and Asia.[45]
European competitions include solo and team balletic movements on a
controlled, flat surface; US and Asian competitions often include "park"
and "flatland" styles and venues, a la BMX. Other competitions include
games of "foot down" and bike polo.
In 2006, Adventures for the Cure made a documentary film on riding across the United States on fixed gears; they repeated this feat as a 4-man team at the 2008 Race Across America.
Fixed gear riders sharing the specific philosophy are also seen at the Single Speed World Championships.
Maintenance and upkeep
Maintaining a fixed gear is relatively easy because it has fewer
parts than a geared bicycle. The sprocket should be checked regularly to
make sure there is no damage to any teeth and that no object is
grinding it as it turns with the rear wheel. The chainring should be
checked similarly for any damage.
It is imperative (for road riding, at least) that the chain is
sufficiently tight that it is impossible for it to derail from either
the chainring or sprocket. This generally equates to "no visible slack".
A derailed chain can cause a variety of undesirable consequences, such
as a locked rear wheel or, worst of all, destruction of the frame if the
chain becomes caught around the crank arm and pulls the rear triangle
forwards. On a fixed-gear bicycle without hand brakes, even a relatively
benign derailment means a total loss of braking ability. Tensioning
aside, a chain is significantly less likely to derail if the chainline
is accurate and the chain is a traditional "full bushing" type with
limited lateral flexibility. Because the difference between a tight and a
slack chain equates to only very minor elongation of the links, chain
tension should be visually checked at least weekly, especially if the
bicycle is ridden in wet or dirty conditions.
As with any other bicycle, the chain should be checked making sure
the master link is securely latched. The chain can be lubricated monthly
for smooth riding.[46]
Also, as needed, the brakes should be tightened as they wear and tire
condition observed for possible puncture locations. Air pressure in the
tires, tire alignment, brake handle placement, and rust should be
monitored on a daily basis because they can change very easily during a
jarring ride.
Subculture
Sweden
Community
The fixed-gear movement is spreading over the globe, and is growing
in Sweden. A cornerstone of the Swedish fixed-gear society is the
Internet based forum Fixedgear.se, with over 2300 registered members.
This makes up for the main meeting ground and discussion forum for
Swedish fixed-gear riders and enthusiasts.[citation needed]
There are also several bicycle clubs throughout Sweden with a
fixed-gear niche. Komet Club Rouler is a club based in Gothenburg,
annually arranging Svart Katt and other fixed-gear oriented activities.
Svart Katt has been internationally recognized and is considered
Sweden’s largest alley cat by number of participators, according to Cog
Magazine.[47] KCR’s equivalent in Malmö is called Pista Malmø,[48] arranging ”Thursday's rides” every Thursday, for all bikes and riders.
Popularity factors
Several factors contribute to the recent rise in popularity of
fixed-gear bicycle. A rider from Stockholm interviewed for an article
about the phenomenon notes that riding a bike imparts a feeling of
freedom to the rider. You are free to go wherever you want, whenever you
want. A sense of belonging is also important; as the rider says, "all
who cycle are my friends". Riders unknown to each other commonly greet
each other when on bikes. As in many subcultures, this feeling of
belonging is a key factor in recruiting and retaining participants.[49]
The fact that many fixie riders ride brakeless in defiance of local
law could also be viewed as a contributing factor to its popularity; it
provides an outlet for minor rebellion.[50]
Russia
Fixed Gear Moscow
During the year 2007, a few activists started assembling and riding fixed gear bikes in Moscow.[51]
There had been people riding fixed gear bikes on the street in Moscow
prior that time, but it had never developed into any feasible
subculture. And in 2007 that situation started to change, since fixed
gear bicycles started appear more and more in foreign media, attracting
more people to its concept.
The group of riders used to communicate with each other and share ideas for rides in a blog system Live Journal
under a Fixed Gear Moscow community. As interest and the number of
people willing to join in grew, the community was separated from Live
Journal and a separate web site was created to host the blog and the
forum.
Up till 2012 Fixed Gear Moscow organized numerous alleycat races,
tournaments and other events to keep community growing. Several side
projects were initiated by members of Fixed Gear Moscow and are still in
development.
A fatbike, also called wide tire bike, is a bicycle with over-sized tires, typically 3.8 in (9.7 cm) or larger and rims 65 mm (2.6 in) or wider, designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft unstable terrain, such as snow and sand. Fatbikes are built around frames with wide forks and stays to accommodate the wide rims required to fit these tires. The wide tires can be used with inflation pressures as low as 5 psi (340 hPa) to allow for a smooth ride over rough obstacles. A rating of 8–10 psi (550–690 hPa) is suitable for the majority of riders
Wildfire and Evingson bikes were used in the Iditarod Trail races beginning in 2000. Also that year, Mike Curiak from Colorado set a record on the Iditarod Trail in the IditaSport Extreme race to Nome on a modified Marin bike with Remolino rims and tires. Surly Bikes released the Pugsley frame, in 2005, and began producing Large Marge 65 mm rims and Endomorph 3.8-inch tires in 2006. The Pugsley frame, rim and tire offerings made fatbikes commercially available in local bike shops worldwide. The Pugsley bikes also featured the offset wheel and frame build.
Other early versions of the fatbike were normal mountain bikes equipped with SnowCat rims, created by Simon Rakower of All-Weather Sports in Fairbanks, Alaska in the early 1990s; or with multiple tires seated on two or three standard rims that had been welded or pinned together.[9] Rakower was involved with technical support aspects of the Iditabike (later IditaSport) race, which started in 1987. Since 2002 the race continued on the same trail under the name Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI). Rakower started hand making extra wide rims for participants by welding two rims together and cutting off the middle ridge known as the snowcat rims 44 mm. S. Rakower produced those rims from 1991 through 1999. Many riders on the Iditarod Trail used a Geax tire with the snow cat rim. Enthusiasts would cut and sew tire-carcasses together to maximize the size of the tire and utilize all the available space between the seat stays and chain stays; this tire and rim combination would maximize the bicycle's footprint, increasing flotation on winter trails. Soon after, Rakower decided to design a 44 mm rim from scratch and had it produced. SnowCats revolutionized winter cycling, as they could be fitted to nearly any commercially available mountain bike.
Mike Curiak from Colorado set a record on the Iditarod Trail in the 2000 race to Nome. Surly Bikes released the Pugsley frame in 2005 and began producing Large Marge 65 mm rims and Endomorph 3.8-inch tires in 2006. The Pugsley frame,rim and tire offering made fatbikes commercially available in local bike shops worldwide.The Pugsley bikes also featured the offset wheel and frame build. Fatback Bikes came online in 2007 adding the carbon Corvus fatbike. Another Alaskan brand 9:zero:7 joined in 2010 also offering a carbon fatbike now. Borealis Bikes was started in 2014. Other bike manufacturers have also entered the fatbike market recently including Trek, with the Farley, Salsa with the Beargrease and Mukluk, and Specialized with the Fatboy and On One with the Fatty. Others followed since 2014 Rocky Mountain, Felt, Kona, Pivot and many more. In December 2012 Eric Larsen (Polar Explorer) attempted to ride a fatbike to the South Pole. He made it a quarter of the way before he had to turn around. In 2013 and 2014 there were three cycling expeditions to the South Pole. Maria Leijerstam became the first to cycle to the South Pole, across the South Pole Traverse road. She rode a tricycle with fatbike tires. Juan Menéndez Granados skied and rode a fatbike to the South Pole. On 21 January 2014 Daniel P. Burton became the first person to ride a bike across Antarctica to the South Pole. Burton started at Hercules Inlet, and biked 775 miles to the South Pole. He rode on a carbon fiber Borealis Yampa fatbike with 4.8-inch wide tires. The Iditarod Trail Invitational (formerly known as Iditabike and Iditasport Extreme and Iditasport Impossible) race in Alaska has grown into an international event and is the holy grail of fat biking events, offering a 130-mile, 350-mile and 1000-mile distance. The event spurred the creation of many other winter ultra events in the United States, Canada and Europe that are accepted qualifiers to get into the Invitational.
Source: Wikipedia
FAT BIKE
A fatbike, also called wide tire bike, is a bicycle with over-sized tires, typically 3.8 in (9.7 cm) or larger and rims 65 mm (2.6 in) or wider, designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft unstable terrain, such as snow and sand. Fatbikes are built around frames with wide forks and stays to accommodate the wide rims required to fit these tires. The wide tires can be used with inflation pressures as low as 5 psi (340 hPa) to allow for a smooth ride over rough obstacles. A rating of 8–10 psi (550–690 hPa) is suitable for the majority of riders
Usage
Fatbikes were invented for winter trail riding and racing in sub-arctic Alaska on the Iditarod Trail and simultaneously, for touring the deserts of New Mexico. They are extremely versatile bikes, capable of traversing diverse terrain types including snow, sand, desert, bogs, mud, pavement, or traditional mountain biking trails. In several states, fatbike-dedicated groomed winter trails have been created.History
Although early versions of fat-tired bikes were probably built on a limited basis as long ago as the early 1900s, the original fatbike was ridden in 1986 across the Sahara using fat tire prototypes from Michelin.[5] In the late 1980s, Alaskan frame builders began experimenting with custom components and configurations designed to achieve a large contact patch of tire on snow. Steve Baker, with Icycle Bicyles in Anchorage, was welding together two rims and even three rims and built several special frames and forks that could accommodate two or three tires together. Roger Cowles (riding his famous "6 Pack"), Mark Frise, Dan Bull and one other rider rode the entire length of the Iditarod Trail from Knik to Nome in 1989. Simultaneously, in New Mexico, Ray Molina had commissioned Remolino 80 mm rims, 3.5-inch tires and frames to fit them. He wanted the bikes for his guided tour business in the soft sands of the Mexican and Southwest arroyos and dunes. Mark Gronewald, owner of Wildfire Designs Bicycles in Palmer, Alaska met Molina at the 1999 Interbike convention in Las Vegas and rode one of Molina's prototypes at demo days. In late 1999, Gronewald and another Alaskan frame builder, John Evingson, collaborated to design and build several bikes using Molina’s rims and tires. Gronewald and Evingson then began producing their own separate lines of fat-tired bikes in 2000. Rims and tires were imported to Alaska where Wildfire and Evingson began making small, handmade production runs and custom-ordered frames built around Remolino 80 mm rims and 3.5-inch tires. Gronewald coined the trademark "Fat Bike" in 2001 and used it as the model name for his bikes. Gronewald originally worked with Palmer Machinery for welding and later contracted frame building to Mike DeSalvo at DeSalvo Cyles of Ashland, Oregon. Gronewald continued to sell his original fatbikes until 2011. Gronewald's design featured an 18 mm offset wheel and frame built to allow full range gearing, since he was using standard hubs and bottom brackets available at the time.Wildfire and Evingson bikes were used in the Iditarod Trail races beginning in 2000. Also that year, Mike Curiak from Colorado set a record on the Iditarod Trail in the IditaSport Extreme race to Nome on a modified Marin bike with Remolino rims and tires. Surly Bikes released the Pugsley frame, in 2005, and began producing Large Marge 65 mm rims and Endomorph 3.8-inch tires in 2006. The Pugsley frame, rim and tire offerings made fatbikes commercially available in local bike shops worldwide. The Pugsley bikes also featured the offset wheel and frame build.
Other early versions of the fatbike were normal mountain bikes equipped with SnowCat rims, created by Simon Rakower of All-Weather Sports in Fairbanks, Alaska in the early 1990s; or with multiple tires seated on two or three standard rims that had been welded or pinned together.[9] Rakower was involved with technical support aspects of the Iditabike (later IditaSport) race, which started in 1987. Since 2002 the race continued on the same trail under the name Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI). Rakower started hand making extra wide rims for participants by welding two rims together and cutting off the middle ridge known as the snowcat rims 44 mm. S. Rakower produced those rims from 1991 through 1999. Many riders on the Iditarod Trail used a Geax tire with the snow cat rim. Enthusiasts would cut and sew tire-carcasses together to maximize the size of the tire and utilize all the available space between the seat stays and chain stays; this tire and rim combination would maximize the bicycle's footprint, increasing flotation on winter trails. Soon after, Rakower decided to design a 44 mm rim from scratch and had it produced. SnowCats revolutionized winter cycling, as they could be fitted to nearly any commercially available mountain bike.
Mike Curiak from Colorado set a record on the Iditarod Trail in the 2000 race to Nome. Surly Bikes released the Pugsley frame in 2005 and began producing Large Marge 65 mm rims and Endomorph 3.8-inch tires in 2006. The Pugsley frame,rim and tire offering made fatbikes commercially available in local bike shops worldwide.The Pugsley bikes also featured the offset wheel and frame build. Fatback Bikes came online in 2007 adding the carbon Corvus fatbike. Another Alaskan brand 9:zero:7 joined in 2010 also offering a carbon fatbike now. Borealis Bikes was started in 2014. Other bike manufacturers have also entered the fatbike market recently including Trek, with the Farley, Salsa with the Beargrease and Mukluk, and Specialized with the Fatboy and On One with the Fatty. Others followed since 2014 Rocky Mountain, Felt, Kona, Pivot and many more. In December 2012 Eric Larsen (Polar Explorer) attempted to ride a fatbike to the South Pole. He made it a quarter of the way before he had to turn around. In 2013 and 2014 there were three cycling expeditions to the South Pole. Maria Leijerstam became the first to cycle to the South Pole, across the South Pole Traverse road. She rode a tricycle with fatbike tires. Juan Menéndez Granados skied and rode a fatbike to the South Pole. On 21 January 2014 Daniel P. Burton became the first person to ride a bike across Antarctica to the South Pole. Burton started at Hercules Inlet, and biked 775 miles to the South Pole. He rode on a carbon fiber Borealis Yampa fatbike with 4.8-inch wide tires. The Iditarod Trail Invitational (formerly known as Iditabike and Iditasport Extreme and Iditasport Impossible) race in Alaska has grown into an international event and is the holy grail of fat biking events, offering a 130-mile, 350-mile and 1000-mile distance. The event spurred the creation of many other winter ultra events in the United States, Canada and Europe that are accepted qualifiers to get into the Invitational.
Events
As the popularity of fatbikes has expanded, fatbike specific events (races, race series, tours, and festivals) have emerged. Examples include the annual Global Fatbike Summit (since 2012), the Fatbike Birkie race which is part of the Great Lakes Fatbike Series (2014-2015 season: 8 races held across 3 states), the US Open Fatbike Beach Championships (inaugural, 2015), the USA Cycling Fat Bike National Championship (inaugural, 2015), and the 45Nrth Fatbike Triple Crown race seriesSource: Wikipedia
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