For nearly 15 years, Daniel Sheflin served as the vice president of technology automation control solutions at Honeywell in Golden Valley, Minnesota. During his free time, Daniel Sheflin enjoys fat biking.
Fat bikes have become a bit of a craze in the past few years, but that hasn't always been the case. In 2005, alternative bike brand Surly released its first fat bike, a unique contraption with 3.8-inch-wide tires that plowed through its path like a Jeep. A novelty at the time, it didn't take off immediately. In fact, it took at least seven years before the fat bike became a ubiquitous commodity. Now it has been picked up by everyone from boutique brands to global brands.
There are many reasons why consumers eventually fell in love with fat bikes. First off, the width of the tires allows for greater traction on slick and loose surfaces. Moreover, the tire's massive volume allows the rider to ride on low air pressures that don't normally register in pump gauges. This results in the ability to pass over snow, mud, rocks, and other terrains that are otherwise deemed to be impassable. As the fat bike continues to undergo renovations, it is expected that there will be more reasons for people to love it. For example, changes in the frame geometry have recently made fat bikes easier to maneuver and steer.
