As mentioned, the "Ride Fattie" was never just intended for presentation purposes. Unlike most fat bikes, it is supposed to be very light, but still robust enough to withstand not only snow but also rough trails. During the winter months, we chased it through deep snow, over groomed ski slopes, muddy ground and in summer over dry, rough trails. Individual parts had to be optimized until the perfect fat bike setup was found. Now winter is just around the corner and maybe some of you are planning to buy or build one. Here is a little inspiration.

Frame and fork
After riding fat bikes made of steel and aluminum, it was clear that we needed to get some carbon. For a fat bike to be really fun, it has to be one thing above all: light. So the obvious choice was a carbon frame. Our frame is a sample model from a manufacturer, which is not available in this form. But the figures speak for themselves: weight 1,300 grams, head angle 68.5 degrees, seat angle 73 degrees, these are the values of a decent trail bike. The slack head angle in particular should make the bike even smoother. However, it is not too slack to impair maneuverability. The internally routed cables are also a plus and may also protect against icing, especially in cold winters.

Simple, sporty and light - the Ride Fatbike. Photo ©Philipp Ruggli

The big question was rigid fork or suspension fork? Since we see the core competence of a fatbike on snow and sand, a suspension fork would not have been necessary and would have easily reduced the overall weight by another 1000 grams - even more with a lightweight rigid fork. However, with the intention of riding the "Super-Fattie" on trails, a suspension fork became unavoidable. Rock Shox was the first port of call with its 100-millimeter Bluto. We rode the Bluto fat bike suspension fork with a little more pressure than usual and with little negative suspension travel. This is because the suspension of the fat tires takes on another role than just absorbing steps and unexpected potholes. The tires are quite undamped, which the suspension fork compensates for with a slower rebound. Although the performance of the Bluto diminished in double-digit sub-zero temperatures, we were still glad of it often enough when the snowy ground surprised us with unexpected bumps.
The Rock Shox "Bluto RCT3" installed here is available from specialist retailers from 750 francs.
www.sram.com

A wide fork for wide slippers. Photo ©Philipp Ruggli

Rolling material and rubber
For us, the choice of wheels was the most important component of a fatbike. They determine whether a fatbike is sluggish or agile. There is a weight difference of 3.5 kilograms between the lightest and heaviest wheels we tested. Anyone can imagine what that means for acceleration.
Our favorite is the wheelset from Tune with King and Kong hubs, Enso 685 carbon rims from Kuroshiro and Sapim CX-Ray flat spokes. The wheelset weighs just 1,640 grams - a real statement where many "normal" trail wheelsets are heavier. This wheelset is a blast, the acceleration is enormous, it feels stiff and even after six months of use in sometimes very rough terrain, they still run straight.
But so much bling-bling also has a catch. At around 2,800 francs, the price is not affordable for everyone. If you have a smaller budget but are still looking for a reasonably light and robust wheelset, you should also be happy with the 2,250 gram Big Ride from DT Swiss. We have already tested and reported on this at an earlier date:
www.ride.ch/site/index.php/9847-test-dt-swiss-br-2250-komplett-laufradsatz.html

Tune Fatbike Skyline, CHF 2'805.45
www.tune.de
DT Swiss BR 2250 Classic, CHF 938.-
www.dtswiss.com

The wheels, consisting of Tune hubs, Sapim spokes and Kuroshiro carbon rims, really push the weight down. But even with the DT Swiss wheelset, the ride fat bike would remain under the 13-kilogram limit. Photos ©Philipp Ruggli

Almost as important as the wheels is the choice of tires. Due to a lack of choice and availability at the start of the test, we only tested a few tires in all conditions (snow, mud, dry). In the meantime, various new fat bike tires have been introduced or are now available.
Even if we don't know all the tires, one thing can already be said with certainty: There is no such thing as the perfect fat bike tire. During intensive testing in winter and spring, it soon became clear that not all snow is the same. Tires that perform well on packed snow do not necessarily have to do a good job on powder, wet snow or slush.
In winter, we liked the Snowshoe XL from Vee Tire the best. Its tread is slightly higher to ensure good grip in certain snow conditions, but thanks to the spikes, it also has convincing grip on frozen, snow-free winter surfaces, hard-packed snow and, of course, on ice. The disadvantage is clearly the high weight and the very high rolling resistance.
Once the snow is gone, the Schwalbe "Jumbo Jim 4.8" is the most convincing. With its low profile and just 1,200 grams, it also rolls relatively well. The lack of grip with the flat studs is made up for by its width and increased contact area. For us, it's a very good all-rounder for which we would only have liked a little more studs from time to time for better braking deceleration.
We also rode its little brother with a width of 4.0 inches. It rolls and accelerates even better, as it only weighs one kilogram. But if it's a fat bike, then 4.8 inches is better.

Vee Snowshoe XL, CHF 185.90
www.veetireco.com

Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 4.8, CHF 129.90
Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 4.0, CHF 99.90
www.schwalbe.com

Lightweight versus grippy: In the snow, the praised Vee Tire "Snow Shoe XL" is the clear winner. Photos ©Philipp Ruggli

Shifting and brakes
As mentioned at the beginning, we had planned to build a lightweight fat bike suitable for winter from the start. Here in Davos, temperatures can drop below minus ten degrees. This pushes some brakes to their limits. What's more, snow and slush tend to collect on the brake shoes on longer tours, and if the wind freezes this, the braking power can sometimes fail to materialize. We followed the tip that Magura stoppers do quite well in winter and fitted the MT7. In fact, they have never let us down. Even after an involuntary "dive" into icy cold river water, it performed flawlessly. What's more, its high braking power and stability really impressed us. The only thing we had to criticize was the limited adjustability of the lever distance to the handlebars. However, during the test phase, Magura has already rectified this shortcoming and optimized the new models.

Biting, stable and yet relatively light - the Magura MT7. Photos ©Philipp Ruggli

In snow and ice, we thought, less is probably more. So we opted for a 1x11 setup from Sram when choosing the groupset. We combined the X1 drivetrain with a Race Face crankset, which was fitted with a 24 mm chainring. This may seem too small to some. But the light gear ratio proved its worth, especially when starting off in deep snow. Thanks to the wide tires, we were also able to climb even the steepest ramps on dry terrain. Downhill, however, the pedalling soon comes to an end, although with the thick tyres you'd rather let it roll than overwind your legs.
We would have liked a lighter crank model. However, we were unable to achieve the desired lightweight construction here. At the start of the project, there was no lightweight crank that would have had a suitable axle for the 120 millimeter wide BSA bottom bracket.

SRAM X1, from CHF 516 (cassette, rear derailleur, trigger)
www.sram.com

Race Face Turbine, from CHF 309.- (crank, bottom bracket)
www.raceface.com

The 1x11 drivetrain proved to be relatively unproblematic in the snow. Photos ©Philipp Ruggli

The fatbike throne
We deliberately avoided lightweight construction for the seatpost, as we felt a dropper post made more sense. In this case, we opted for a LEV from Kind Shock. On steep descents, it's more comfortable to ride a fat bike with an adjustable throne. Even if you have to get off the bike in the snow, this was helpful when getting back on - especially when there was a lot of snow. The LEV support has proven to be an extremely reliable partner and still works even at low temperatures.

Kind Shock LEV, from CHF 299.-
www.kindshock.com

We saved weight on the saddle. We were able to save around 100 grams with the Tune "Komm-Vor" compared to most other saddles. Visually, however, we also saved on comfort. However, the carbon shell convinced us with the opposite. Even after several hours in the saddle, the "Komm-Vor" was extremely comfortable.
Unfortunately, towards the end of the test, the leather cover on the rear edge detached from the shell. Although this did not affect its function or comfort, it left a pale aftertaste for such a high-quality product. Tune has recognized the problem, is repairing affected products and is using a different adhesive in the meantime.

Optically hard, but comfortable to the touch: the Tune "Komm-Vor" lives up to its name. Tune has already solved the problem of loosening saddle leather with new adhesive. Photos ©Philipp Ruggli

Flats instead of clickies
Despite the fact that almost the entire editorial team rides with clipless pedals, flat pedals were the first choice as they are more comfortable in winter. On the one hand because of the insulation of the sole, which is worse with temperature-conducting cleats, but also because clipless mechanisms and cleats often get clogged in the snow. It is advisable to choose a platform pedal with high grip, i.e. good pins. As you tend to wear classic outdoor or winter shoes instead of bike shoes in sub-zero temperatures, these should bite into the sole well.

The flat pedals from Cube proved to be a lightweight and cost-effective solution. Photo @Philipp Ruggli

Conclusion: For us, snow and fat bikes go together wonderfully. The decisive factor is the weight, especially of the tires, because this allows you to accelerate the fat bikes properly. But all the other parts also need to be properly selected so that the fun is not lost in the cold. With its twelve kilograms, the Ride-Fattie naturally aroused our enthusiasm. Ideal for all those who compete in fatbike races or like to have something exclusive. However, we would like to make it clear that if acceleration and sportiness are not important to you, you can have just as much fun with a 15 kilogram fatbike off the rack.

Photo ©Philipp Ruggli