Price £999
Gears 2x10 Sram X5
Weight 15.4kg
At this time of year the bike racks at work thin out. The dark and drizzle take their toll and only the hardiest cyclists are left. It must be a sign of my age, but in the past month my cycling resolve has wavered. I even considered taking the bus, but I gritted my teeth, pulled on my damp trousers with numb fingers and held firm, because I always cycle to work – and have done for more than 25 years. Unless it’s snowing. It may look pretty and the muffled squeak of rubber on an empty road is compelling, but snow is treacherous and my skinny tyres have as much adhesion as a sizzling frankfurter on a nonstick pan.
But then I came across the fat bike. Looking like a cross between an outsize BMX, a moon vehicle and a mountain bike built for Homer Simpson, its cartoon-like balloon wheels give you unimaginable levels of traction on the sort of terrain that normally leaves you whimpering in the corner.
Fat bikes took their original inspiration from four-wheel beach buggies to become all-weather, mud, rock, sand and snow superstars. High-end mountain bikes usually rely on juicy front and rear shox to cushion their ride, but fat bikes – like beach buggies – depend on their donut-like tyres to stop them sinking in soft stuff while bouncing over the hard stuff. The high-volume, super-chunky rubber helps you tackle everything from dried-out riverbeds to boulder-strewn hill tracks and muddy meadows, not to mention snow and ice. The idea is that the air cushion helps you cruise over lumps and bumps rather than crash through them. Riders also talk of deflating these enormous tyres further to give even more grip. A normal road cyclist pumps their tyres rock hard, but these fatsos are so soft they are squishy to the touch. It’s a trick similar to drivers who go dune-bashing in their 4x4s. They let the air out and the doughy tyres spread out like a camel’s foot. My cousin, who uses a wheelchair, does the same with his chair. By fitting large, soft tyres he found he could push himself across the beach.
I first rode this On-One Fatty last summer on the beach at Weymouth. It’s the strangest sensation. When you hit the sand you expect your front wheel to bury itself and flip you over the handlebars. Instead I floated across the sand. The bike is heavy, but the 4in-wide tyres gave me a laughable amount of stability and the low gearing meant I could plod happily up and down the beach. I snaked down dunes, rolled across shingle and even paddled in the shallows. The salt water probably didn’t do the Sram X5 gear set and Avid DB3 hydraulic disc brakes any favours, but my surging out of the surf did give the depressed donkey and its handler something to look at.
On-One is part of Planet X, the Sheffield-based firm which, after Brompton, is the second biggest bike assembler in the UK. It was set up by Dave Loughran, and though Planet X is now known for its quality performance road bikes, Dave got started building dirt jump bikes. The Fatty is a return to his roots and will be close to his heart. And if it snows this week, it’ll be close to my heart, too.
Be smart, be seen
It’s stating the obvious, but you’d be amzed how many cyclists don’t bother. It’s dark so be safe and invest in some decent lights! To make the process a little easier and a little less painful on your wallet, Halfords is selling bike lights at VAT-free prices for the remainder of winter. The UK’s biggest bike seller has already offered reductions on safety wear. Emma Fox, commercial director for Halfords, said: “We want more people to feel confident cycling on the roads – whatever the time of year and whatever the weather. We started with issuing VAT free prices on high-viz wear and are now proud to offer bike lights at VAT free prices for the rest of winter, helping to make it more affordable to be safe and seen.” If I had my way I would make it illegal to ride in the dark without lights, but until then you have no excuses!
And for those who prefer two wheels with a bit of power!
The 2015 MCN London Motorcycle Show (13-15 February) will be showcasing a world exclusive collection of motorcycles raced by nine-time MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. This incredible collection will feature many of Rossi’s most famous machines, including his Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha and Ducati race bike. In addition to this unique display there will be an amazing array of the new 2015 motorcycles from Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, Piaggio and Yamaha. 2015 looks set to be one of the most exciting years in motorcycling, with an unbelievable line-up of new models coming from the world’s leading manufacturers – and the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show will allow fans to get up close and personal with them all. Visitors over the three days will get to see new machines, such as the BMW R1200R, Ducati Scrambler, Kawasaki H2, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Suzuki GSX-S1000, Triumph Street Triple RX and the eagerly anticipated, all-new Yamaha YZF-R1. The show will also play host to a Norton tribute to the golden era of the rotary race bikes and the people who built and raced them. From the prototype RC588 to Steve Hislop’s TT winning NRS588, the rotary Nortons were the icons of a fabulous era in British motorcycle racing history, with machines started up on the Show stage! TV’s James May will be lending us his classic bike collection and this time it will joined by bikes from his Top Gear colleague Richard Hammond. The free live action show sponsored by Michelin will keep the entire family entertained. Tickets for the action-packed three-day event are now on sale, priced just £16 with free bike parking (and free for children under 15). You can find out more about the Carole Nash MCN London motorcycle show and book tickets via mcnmotorcycleshow.com or call 0844 5816 900.
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him Martin on Twitter @MartinLove166
