Sorry for the long title.
It's JUS.
I hear a record-breaking cold wave is hitting the western regions!
It's started snowing here in Nagoya, too.
Anyway, when it comes to bikes that you can ride hard on snowy days—or perhaps even prefer to ride because of the snow—there is a genre known as "fat bikes."
They're those bikes with super-wide tires that power through snow and sand with ease.
Honestly, they are incredibly fun!
Honestly, I really want a fat bike myself!
However... I'm sure I'm not the only one who hesitates to pull the trigger due to various concerns like daily usability and storage space issues...
So!!
I’ve come up with a solution!!
It really can be done!!
You can turn your current 29er MTB into a semi-fat bike!!
First, here is a Circles special complete OGRE, which is a SURLY 29er MTB ⬇️
It comes installed with 2.3-inch wide tires on 29er rims.
Even as is, it's a cool-looking adventure MTB with plenty of volume and great utility.
And here is the OGRE after being customized into a semi-fat bike! ⬇️
Can you tell what's changed?
The tires are wider, aren't they! It's fitted with 2.8-inch wide tires!
But this time, it’s not just about putting on wider tires!
For starters, 2.8-inch tires don't fit on an OGRE in a 29er configuration.
So what do you need to change to fit those 2.8-inch super-wide tires!!
The answer is this!!
That's right!! We changed the wheels! We swapped them from 29er to 27.5!
(The tires in the photo are not the ones used for this particular OGRE. They will be used on a bike currently being commissioned! I'll share that another day.)
We downsized the rims!
The rims used are these ⬇️
VeloCity DUALLY 27.5
Black / ¥12,800 (excl. tax)
Polished / ¥14,800 (excl. tax)
※DISC BRAKE ONLY
These rims perfectly meet the demands of the new "semi-fat" MTB standards like 29+, 27.5+, and 26+! They are available in a full lineup of 29”, 27.5”, and 26” sizes.
The strategy is to downsize the rims to create enough clearance to install even wider tires.
Here are the tires we used! ⬇️
WTB Trailblazer ¥8,000 (excl. tax)
A 27.5 x 2.8" "plus-size" Trailblazer. It’s an all-around tire with a center line designed to reduce rolling resistance, and side blocks that bite firmly into the road surface even on off-camber sections or steep slopes!
It powers through any road condition, making it perfect for a wide range of situations, including cross-country, trail riding, bike packing, and touring!
It also maintains excellent tire clearance.
At this point, I got a little curious.
I wondered if it was possible to fit even wider tires.
Time for a new segment!!
JUS’s "I Decided to Verify This Myself!" corner.
I tested it with 27.5 x 3.0 tires! ⬇️
WTB BRIDGER ¥8,600 (excl. tax)
These have more volume than the Trailblazer, and the mid-pitch square knobs provide reliable grip on any road or weather, from asphalt to gravel and trails. This is also an all-around capable tire!
So, let's install them...
Uh oh... it's barely... a no-go. Yep. They don't fit on the Surly OGRE.
Because of this, since you never know which tires will fit which frame until you actually test it out, if you are interested in trying out this strategy,
please feel free to consult with us!!