**Context**
I am interested in purchasing a fatbike to do my daily commute with in Montreal. I typically ride along the the *somewhat maintained* trails along the river. These typically have hard-packed snow but that is full of footprints and general mess. I am currently riding an old hardtail with studded tires and a rigid fork but I am getting vibrated numb. When deciding whether or not I am going to commute by bike, I need to think about whether the path has had enough time since the last snowfall to become ridable. Main goals are to exchange some performance with certainty that I will be able to ride and to increase comfort.
**Main requirements**
* Studded tires – Half of my commute will be riding in the city so I need studs. I know some tires are “studdable”. I think this takes around 4 hours of time per tire and maybe costs $40/tire.
* Lower-end spec – I will be doing a fair bit of *salty* city riding. So I will probably be rough on components. Lower end spec is probably better.
* Mounting points for racks & fenders. I will be riding with panniers and the biggest fenders that I can find.
**Bikes I am considering**
* [Garneau Gros Louis 2](https://www.cyclescampus.com/product/garneau-gros-louis-2-403614-1.htm)
* $1174 CAD
* Comes with studded tires 🙂
* Drive train is a `Microshift Advent X, w/clutch, 10-speed` which I am somewhat nervous of.
* Has clark hydraulic brakes but I cannot remember the model. Not listed on spec page.
* Has a dropper post that I would probably sell.
* [Rocky Mountain A10](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ca.bikes.com/collections/blizzard/products/blizzard-a10-22-23&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1706542558570596&usg=AOvVaw2sMnvNIyDThsIOuTdV28QP)
* $1119 CAD
* Will need to stud the tires myself or buy a set of studded tires.
* Mechanical disk brakes – I could get a better component set by moving to the A20 for $180 but not sure this is worth it. Need to think about it.
Both bikes have:
* 66 degree head tube angle. This is pretty agressive. I think I will like this but not completely sure.
* Standard sized hubs. 151mm x 155mm front and 12mm x 198mm rear.
**Questions & feedback requested**
Interested in any feedback. I think that the Rocky Mountain is a better branch of bike. The components look more predictable as well. Probably that is the right answer.
I have also looked at the [Norco Bigfoot 3](https://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/fat-bike/bigfoot/2022-bigfoot-3/). I think this is a less interesting option just because the components are a bit less nice and the headtube angle is steeper (interested in feedback here).
If anyone has studded a tire, I would be interested in an estimate of how long that took. 🙂
If there are other bikes I should be considering, I would be interested in that too.
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Crossposted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/whichbike/comments/1adxnm9/which_fatbike_to_commute_through_semimaintained/?
by sixtyfootersdude
6 Comments
The studded tires are a huge plus for the Garneau. And don’t be afraid of Advent X. It’s a solid drivetrain.
Check out Costco for the Gros Louis 2, they were cheaper than the ones sold at Primeau and other LBS around Montreal. Under 1k$
As for studded tires, it took me just under 2 hours to study my Gnarwhals on my Farley 5. I ordered studs and the tool from Fatbikes.ca. helps to install them when the tires are new since the holes don’t get filled with little rocks and dirt.
Brakes on the Gros Louis 2 are SRAM Levels. Same as the Farley, no complaints except that the rotors are small, I upgraded my front ones to 180mm
Any reasons you don’t want to keep the dropper post if you take the GL2? I found the dropper super helpful in deep snow, makes it easier to get back on when your feet are sinking in the snow for example.
I think the GL2 has a price advantage with the specs but the Rocky Mountain is also a pretty good bike that you can upgrade as parts fail
If you’re taller, or shorter, Costco has the Gros 2 on sale right now for $950. The ad says it comes with Microsoft but mine came with SRAM eagle. The gros has better breaks and if it comes with SRAM the drive train is better than rocky. It also has a dropper post.
I’m biased because I have a Blizzard A10 but a few months ago I was weighing the options between the Garneau and Blizzard and I chose the blizzard because it would be easier to get shop support with a warranty claim IF I have issues (haven’t had any issues). With current prices I would say the blizzard is better value in the long run. Has a bunch of mounting points too
Microshift Advent X is actually pretty great drivetrain. I have it on my Chromag Stylus for the last 2 seasons and I’ve only needed to adjust it once in all that time and I really don’t have anything to complain about with it.
Since I got the A10 I studded both tires, it cost me $110 CDN for 350 studs + a T handle install tool I purchased from FatBikeCanada. Took me about 1 hour to do both wheels
The Tektro mechanical brakes on the A10 will be enough for commuting but make sure to bed them in properly
You will want to factor the price of studs as a fair comparison. 500 studs isn’t cheap, especially if going with aluminum bodied and carbide tips.
The LG at Costco is hard to beat honestly. Great spec to price ratio and has all the stuff you need to get going. I genuinely prefer the RM but it’s less bike for more price so the debate is short lived.
Don’t sell the dropper until you commute with it a few times. You might find it to be helpful in a lot of ways and what you’d get for it might not be worth what you give up in convenience. Also, if you decide to use this bike for recreational purposes on trails, you will absolutely benefit from the dropper.
Why does the Microshift Advent X kit worries you?
I have that set on my Mukluk and havent had any problem with it so far.