Now That You Have A Fatbike - When To Ride

So you took advantage of the recent Surly (December) or Specialized (January) Fat Bike Sale and were all excited to get out on the snow and ride, ride, ride.  But the problem is there really isn't any snow and now it is above freezing - What to do?

There was a great article posted on the wonder called Facebook over the weekend addressing this specific issue and HERE IT IS:

*This applies to all user groups*.  Please help spread the word this time of year. Most of our trail damage occurs during the ‘freeze/thaw’ and creates a back log of maintenance issues come spring. Using common sense will help minimizing impact and will allow our crews to focus on projects that will enhance the riding experience instead of being bogged down with otherwise preventable tread repair from this time of year.

I will say that in years past this has not been a big issue because the temperatures were well below freezing and there was a great base that allowed for some great fat bike riding - this winter just isn't that way.  Do everyone a favor and stick to the road or trainer until the freeze comes or until Spring arrives.  I have owned a fat bike for 6  years now and ridden snow for 8, and this is the first time we had conditions like these.  Just pretend it is a snowmobile and all the trails are closed or head over to the Adirondack area or other areas where the snow is awaiting your tires!

Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

Winter Biking Tips

Found a great article about winter riding from Strong Towns:  They list 4 key points but I would read through the whole informative article:

1 - Ease Into It - Winter cycling is more taxing than summer time so recovery is longer!
2 - Outfit Your Bike - You are better off being safe rather than sorry.  Fenders & Studs help!
3 - Wear The Right Gear - Leave cold and warm up as you go along.  If you are comfortable at departure you are overdressed!
4 - Prioritize Safety - Helmet, Lights & Ride Cautiously!

We can help you at Tom's with all of the above besides #1 - that is up to you!  Other than that stop by and check out our complete line of cold weather clothing & accessories and bikes!  We are open from 10-8 today!

For more information on getting fat stop by the shop and check out our complete inventory selection!  If you are interested in getting full on Fat then here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand.  



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

Counterfeit Carbon Bikes & The Dangers

I found a very interesting article over the weekend that was a couple of months old, but really struck home, based on Counterfeit Bikes & Accessories on bicycling.com - To Catch a Counterfeiter: The Sketchy World of Fake Bike Gear:

Inside the disturbing parallel universe of counterfeit bicycle makers, the consumers who do business with them, and the bike industry’s relentless crusade to shut them down.

This is a good read if you are out there looking for a "Deal" on a carbon frame and what actually goes on behind the scenes to catch companies that sell them as authentic bikes.  It is centered around Specialized and their force of workers that are charged with the task of finding them and shutting them down.

The premise behind the story is that if you find a deal that seems way too good to be true then do your homework!  Of course, our recommendation is to see us at Tom's Pro Bike and thus ensuring that you get the real deal, but if you are internet shopping for a deal - just be careful!

To check out our complete line of bikes and our Fat Bike sale that is still happening stop by today from 10-8!

For more information on getting fat stop by the shop and check out our complete inventory selection!  If you are interested in getting full on Fat then here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand.  



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

Getting Trail Fat in January - SPECIALIZED FATBOY TRAIL

Maybe you are thinking to yourself that a hardtail just would not be that comfortable to ride on the trails and then mountain bike on.  Well Specialized solved that dilemma for you and created the Specialized Fatboy Trail:

Fat bikes sometimes get a bad rap as being just for the snow or the beach. This idea bums us out, though, because the characteristics of are Fatboy lend themselves perfectly to trail riding. That's we purpose-built the Fatboy Trail for the rigors of trail riding. The fat wheel system and geometry work in tandem to keep you planted and run it wide open, while an air sprung suspension fork from RockShox does the heavy lifting when it comes to absorbing chatter and bumps. And when you factor in an efficient one-by drivetrain and powerful brakes, you get a bike that'll help you find your limits on the trail and keep on coming back for more.

• The frame features an M4 alloy construction that provides the ideal blend of efficiency and durability, while the geometry creates a roomy top tube and short chainstays for easy climbing and confident descending.
• The RockShox Bluto RL fork is air sprung for smooth, plush travel, while featuring strong and stiff 32mm alloy stanchions and an external rebound adjust for on-the-fly fine-tuning of your suspension performance.
• Our Stout XC 90 alloy rims have been laced to Stout XC hubs to form a wheelset that's dependable, rugged, and efficient. So whether you're trail riding or plowing through the snow, these wheels will be the perfect mix of performance and strength.
• 26x.4.6" Ground Control tires help soak up bumps, while also providing a game-changing level of traction, control, and floatation for better handling out in the wild.
• Our Stout XC Pro one-by crankset features a forged alloy construction that provides plenty of security from chain drop, while also leading the way for an efficient, lightweight, and simplified drivetrain with plenty of gear range for hard drives on the flats and climbs.

For more information on getting fat stop by the shop and check out our complete inventory selection!  If you are interested in getting full on Fat then here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand.  We are open from 10-6 today and tomorrow.  Conditions should be ideal this weekend for your maiden fat bike ride around WNY!



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

Maybe You Just Want To Be Mid-Fat??? SPECIALIZED FUSE COMP 6FATTIE

So you don't feel comfortable getting Fat & all so what other options are there available?  You could always just go Chunky and get the new 6Fattie bike that Specialized is offering to men & women.  Today we will highlight the men's Specialized Fuse Comp 6Fattie:

Take a look at the world's strongest man, and you're not going to find some chiseled Adonis. You're going to find someone who has more volume. Behind the "extra" surface area, though, there's a man that can dominate a caber toss and run down the tarmac with a plane in tow. Mathematically, it could be broken down as more volume + versatility = dominance, and that's exactly what's at play with the Fuse Comp 6Fattie. Our 6Fattie Wheel System uplifts the Fuse to have more traction and control than any hardtail before it, while its no-nonsense build is custom spec'd to get the job done, no matter how rugged, technical, or hair raising that job might be.

• M4 Premium Aluminum proved to be the right material for the job, allowing a lightweight, durable frame with a low and slack geometry that's equal parts snappy and efficient on climbs and descents. It also allowed us to incorporate our exclusive Diamond Stay that accommodates the 6Fattie wheels/ tires without compromising on our hallmark short chainstays that provide unrivaled handling and climbing prowess.
• SR Suntour Raidon 650+ fork's 100/120mm (size-specific) of travel soaks up trail bumps, while its compression and rebound adjust enable you to dial-in the damping to your liking.
• Custom WTB Scraper i45 wheelset has a fat 45mm width and alloy construction for the perfect blend of speed and strength, which means that you'll experience less deflection, increased traction, and more stability—all at lower tire pressures.
• 650bx3.0" 6Fattie Ground Control tires feature a perfectly sized contact patch for life-changing levels of traction and control while cornering, all without sacrificing climbing efficiency or descending prowess.
• Our Stout XC crankset would be the perfect complement to any one-by drivetrain, but here, its strong alloy construction and spindle makes it ideal for power transfer on climbs and the inevitable rock-strike when descending through technical gardens.

For more information on getting chunky or fat stop by the shop and check out our complete inventory selection!  If you are interested in getting full on Fat then here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand.  We are open from 10-8 today.  Conditions should be ideal this weekend for your maiden fat bike ride around WNY!



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

Staying Warm While Getting Fat

Now that you have your Fat Bike it is time to make sure you stay dry, warm & comfortable on the bike.  Specialized has a nice page on their website with different clothing options for their weather situation (as an example they have COLDEST as 20-38 degrees and to me this time of the year that is comfortable ;) ) LOCATED HERE.  We do not have all of these items in stock - I am just linking this so you get an idea on how to layer properly.

I will agree with the basic premise that layering is key.  I like to make sure I have layers with zippers as well besides my base layer.  This way when you start climbing or working harder, you can unzip some layers to let the heat escape so you don't end up sweating out.

The above picture gives you some good ideas as well to staying comfortable this winter while out riding!  Stop by the shop and check out our complete line of cold weather clothing and accessories so you can stay warm and comfortable all winter long!

Here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand.  We are open from 10-6 today.  Conditions should be ideal this weekend for your maiden fat bike ride around WNY!



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086

January Fat Bike Sale - NOW IS THE TIME TO GET FAT

Remember riding your road bike outside in early December and thinking to yourself that this could go on all year long and you would be quite happy?  Well Mother Nature had another idea in mind and she wants you riding a Fat Bike.  Specialized got together with Mother Nature and decided to give you the ultimate sale during our January Snow Month.  Now all you have to do is stop into Tom's today from 10-8, pick out your Fat Bike, get some accessories, and get ready to ride in fresh powder!



This is the Specialized Fatboy Expert Carbon on sale for $5,399 down from $6,000:

We know that we're not blowing any minds when we say carbon is pretty cool. Compared to an alloy frame construction, it keeps weight down, does an exceptional job of absorbing bumps and vibrations, and it allows us to take more liberties to fine tune the ride quality. For these reasons, we made the Fatboy Expert Carbon. It features an immaculate carbon layup that performs the aforementioned, while also allowing us to integrate fully internal cable routing. And in keeping with the theme of blending performance with efficiency, we built the bike up with a top-notch, one-by drivetrain, SRAM's fan-favorite Guide brakes, and carbon wheels from HED.

• An immaculate, FACT carbon fiber construction ensures that the frame is lightweight and plenty stiff in all the right places. Internal cable routing is also incorporated; ensuring that slush, sand, snow, or dirt will have no bearing on performance out on the trail.
• A FACT carbon fiber fork provides tons of compliance and absorbs chatter, while simultaneously keeping the overall weight of the bike down.
• HED Big Deal carbon wheels are light, fast, and 85mm-wide to make sure that you get all the traction and floatation that fat bikes are known for, only without a weight penalty or having to make any sacrifices to climbing prowess.
• 26x.4.0" Ground Control tires help soak up bumps, while also providing a game-changing level of traction, control, and floatation for better handling out in the wild.
• A Race Face Next SL carbon one-by crankset provides plenty of security from chain drop, while also leading the way for an efficient, lightweight, and simplified drivetrain with plenty of gear range for hard drives on the flats and climbs.

Hurry in because once inventory is gone at the shop and at Specialized the sale is over!  Don't think that this bike is only usable this time of the year as well - they are a blast to Mountain Bike on once summer rolls around!

Here is the price sheet for the sale but anything from 2015 and older is limited to stock on hand. 



Want a great way to stay in shape this winter, besides Fat Biking, and to monitor your power & fitness levels? Sign up for a slot of our Indoor Training Series.

Indoor Training Series is on right now. Information HERE!

WE RENT FAT BIKES NOW! Interested in trying out a Fat Bike without having to purchase one? We now rent the Specialized Fatboy at Tom's Pro Bike & all rental fees goes towards Purchase Price - EVEN DURING THE JANUARY SALE!

Tom's Pro Bike
http://www.tomsprobike.com/
3687 Walden Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086