Fat Bikes For Sale UK

Thought I would put together a few Fat Bikes that are currently for sale on Ebay.

As you can see it's a mixed bunch with some good entry level prices on some half decent bikes.

Fat Bike Salsa Mukluk 2 - £675.00

A good spec on this bike with lots of upgrades

Click on the link here ----->> https://ebay.to/2sSRx6B To see more.

Coyote Fat Man Fat Bike - £275.00

In good used condition - bargain price!

Click on the link here ----->> https://ebay.to/2Tm9PZu To see more.

On One Fat Bike - £450.00

1 x 11 Set Up - Medium Frame - SRAM - Carbon Forks

Clink on the link here ----->> https://ebay.to/2sR0hKu To see more.

Voodoo Wazoo Fat Bike - £270.00

1 Year old and very little use.

Click on the link here ----->> https://ebay.to/2WuKY7N To see more.

So if you are thinking about getting a Fat Bike but not wanting to spend mega bucks, these are the bikes for you.

The best one out of the bunch is the Salsa Mukluk and is the most expensive here, but to be honest, if you are just wanting smiles and a blast around your local trails, any of these are up to the job.

Ride safe....

Calibre Dune Cracked Frame Warranty Update And Knackered Wrist!

A couple of days after I had taken the bike into GoOutdoors I received a call from them.

The mechanic had taken a look at the frame they had in stock and it was damaged so was not happy with using it, which is fair enough.

So they are now in the process of a full blown warranty claim, which I thought was happening anyway!?

I have not heard any thing from them yet so will give it to the middle of the week to see what the score is.

Not that I can ride a bike at the moment as I have done my wrist in!

This last week I took a short term contract via an agency to do some yard work at a propane/butane gas cylinder refilling plant.

Those big bottles are nearly 98kg when full and by the time you have shifted a hundred plus of those around plus a similar amount of cylinders at half that weight it takes it out of you.

Unfortunately I have managed to give myself acute tendinitis and if that wasn't bad enough carpel tunnel syndrome (trapped nerve) both to my right wrist.

I ended up  seeing an out of hours Doctor on Sunday as I was in that much pain.

I am now on meds and splinted up!

The work was really tough, but the rest of my body coped extremely well, the reason I took it on was I thought it would help with my upper body strength.

I personally think it was the fact that I had to do so much work with very little help from anyone else over a 12hr shift. I did not take into account that I am no longer 18 years old!

I'm not sure if it was lifting the bottles or the continuous spinning/rolling of the bottles, either way it buggered up my wrist.

I reckon at least a week of doing nothing but resting my wrist.

So for those who can - ride safe...

Cracked Frame On Calibre Dune Fat Bike

On my last ride I could hear a creak as I peddled. I put it down to either the bottom bracket or the pedals creaking.

As there was only a noise as I was peddling, I thought that it had to be either of those two items.

However, it got me thinking. I had read on-line that there have been a few problems with the frames of Calibre Dune Fat Bikes cracking.

I wondered if the noise that I could hear was actually the frame flexing?

I went back out to the bike, tipped it over to look underneath and low and behold there was a crack on the bottom rear stay!

Further investigation on line found that the very same day someone else had suffered a similar fate.

The crack is not on the weld, but a few millimetres away from it. This happens because the weld was overheated which makes the aluminium weak away from the weld.

Obviously a problem in manufacturing somewhere along the line.

Anyway, I contacted GoOutdoors who suggested that I bring the bike back into them for inspection, it would not be looked at till Monday due to staff shortages but bring it it.

I also fired off a message to Calibre via FaceBook to see what response I got from them.

This was late Friday evening.

Later on that evening I received a reply from Calibre asking for a photo which I sent them back. By this time it was gone 2245hrs, but within seconds I received a reply back from them saying thanks and that to take the bike in to GoOutdoors as arranged and it would be dealt with.

Well, considering the time of night, I thought that to be excellent customer service - so well done Calibre!

The picture below is the bike naked, I also took the seat post out as I did not want my Brooks saddle to be damaged whilst in the workshop.

It feels so light in stock mode!

I took the bike back to Southampton GoOutdoors on Sunday (today).

I walked in and found the guy that originally sold me the bike working away building bikes, told him the story, he looked at it and agreed there was a crack and said that they had a frame out the back and would swap components off of mine and onto the new frame!

There are only two snags, well one really. Firstly due to staff shortages and time the bike will not be ready till the 30th January at the latest. 10 days - which to be honest is not too long and they did say that it may be done quicker.

The other snag which may actually work out to be a benefit (not sure yet) is that the frame they have is a "Large" and my current frame is a "Medium"

Now, I am hoping that this will help me as it does mean that the head stock will be higher on the "Large" frame which will be a benefit.

I realise that the frame is longer by approx 2cm, but that adjustment can be made from my saddle to bring me further forwards.

So with a bit of juggling and testing out I am hoping that this will work in my favour.

Time will tell I guess?

Anyway, as I am about to start a 3 week contract working 12 hour days, cycling would of been at a minimum so there is no great loss in training.

I just hope it does not snow as we rarely get snow in these parts and to miss out as there is a slim chance of a sprinkling would be just my luck to not be able to ride in it!

Ride safe....

Day 39 Week 6 Trail Blazing Lungs At 90% Capacity

I left it a couple of days before I ventured out on the bike again.

My chest was still tight, and I just was not feeling right. But today I felt a little better and as it was dry decided to head out across the forest.

I had plenty of day light hours so decided on a longer route, just to get a few more km's in.

As it turned out, it was a good ride, the sun was shining, but the wind blowing in from the North was cold. The pictures are deceiving, it's looking like a summers day!

You really felt the chill when you stopped, which I did often.

The ride exhausted me, as I said I stopped often and fuelled up to keep myself going, but my legs were shot by the time I got home.

I managed to complete 35km which I was pleased with, but I am still not right, it will take a while longer to get back to where I was before the New Year!

I reckon my lungs are still only working at 90% capacity.

Not sure if I will get out on the bike over the weekend, and the next 3 weeks are looking a little hectic as I will be starting a 3 week contract working 12 hour days.

The money is good, but it leaves little time to do anything else.

However on a positive note it is a physical job, so I'm going to use it as 3 weeks of muscle building - and hopefully my lungs will be back to near normal by the end of the contract.

Till then, ride safe.....

Day 36 Week 6 - Lung Test 75%

As soon as I returned from Holland I went down with a chest infection.

I spent 4 nights down stairs not sleeping as each time I lay down my lungs would try to exit my body through coughing!

An all together unpleasant experience.

So this was the first time I have been out on the bike since Holland.

My chest was still tight, and I was still prone to coughing fits, but I had to get out and do a couple of km's just to see how good or bad I was!

I took it easy, did not push myself, and avoided hills to try and give myself an easy ride.

I did not go far and felt on my return that I was still along way off from being 100%

But a ride is a ride and was pleased I'd made the effort to go out even if it did nearly kill me!

Ride safe.

Day 23 Week 4 New Years Day Lunch Ride To Camperduin

Happy New Year.

Last night we saw the New Year in twice, once as we were watching BBC tv and then again an hour later in line with the Dutch!

The Dutch certainly know how to put on a show, massive amounts of fireworks were lit, nearly every house had them, the noise and colours in the sky was just unreal!

The streets were littered with the firework debris!

The next day just myself and Kiera went for a walk around the village, 5 mins for the centre there is a small wild life enclosure with lots of animals in it. It only takes 15 minutes to walk around it. I wonder what they all thought of the fireworks!

Bergen really is a lovely village to live in.

Walking around the village you do see some interesting houses - I liked the look of this one!

We were having lunch at Camperduin, as always we cycled - lots of hills on the way out and a headwind which did not help, but we got there dry!

Not sure how as once we were in the restaurant sat high up on the dyke, we could watch the rain clouds blow in from the North. There were a couple of really heavy down pours - No one was looking forward to the ride home as a soaking looked inevitable!

A great lunch, and then we made our way home, helped by a fierce tail wind. It did rain, but thankfully not enough to soak us.

Well, that's about it for our Dutch trip.

The next day we loaded up, said our good byes and headed home.

No problems on the roads, but we had to que for at least 40 mins to get onto the train.

Back in good old Blighty we stopped at a service station, had a quick bite to eat, came out to the car and found that someone had emptied all their rubbish straight onto the floor - it really pissed me off as there was a bin less that 20 feet away!

What possible reason could they have for thinking that this is acceptable?

The difference between Holland and England is huge, this would just not happen over there.

Welcome home!

Ride safe. 

Day 22 Week 4 - War Graves - Alkmaar - Egmond Aan Zee - Bergen Aan Zee - Burning Off Lunch!

Another day on the bikes - I love Holland!

We have not used the car since we have been here - everything is go geared up for cycling.

Today the sun was shining and it is New Year's Eve!

I wanted to head off out on my bike as the girls were all off shopping.

My first port of call was the War Graves - There is over 200 graves, which are beautifully maintained.

I was told that this year on Christmas Eve a candle lit vigil was held where the local villagers placed a candle on each headstone. Very touching indeed and a credit to the locals for doing so.

I walked up and down every line and said out loud each and every name, they will not be forgotten!

I must admit I shed a tear, I was the only one there so could get away with it.

From here I retraced the route we did the day before and headed towards Alkmaar. Instead of going into the town I scooted around the edges and made my way out towards Egmond Aan Zee.

As of yet I haven't had chance to take a proper look at either Egmond or Egmond Aan Zee - maybe next summer.

Up to the coast and then back through the Dunes towards Bergan Aan Zee where I was meeting everyone else for lunch.

As you can see below, plenty of folk out walking along the beach at Egmond Aan Zee.

Made it to Bergen Aan Zee bang on time and had a fabulous lunch.

Now it was time to burn it off by cycling the short distance back to the hotel.

A good ride of 40.5km in windy but dry conditions.

Ride safe...

Day 21 Week 3 - Bergen To Alkmaar For Coffee Return 14km

We decided we would all ride into Alkmaar for coffee.

It was only 7km there, so nothing too punishing!

I do love the Dutch architecture, Alkmaar is an old town and famous for it's Cheese Market which is still held every Saturday.

During the summer they hold races carrying cheese - good to see if you ever get the chance.

Below, at the end of the canal is where they hold the famous Alkmaar Cheese Market, an incredible building.

As the canals are still in use they are dredged on a regular basis, these sorry looking bicycles were hauled out recently.

It was an easy ride back as we had the wind behind us, a pleasant ride, and we stayed dry!

Ride safe....

Day 19 Week 3 - Bergen Ride Around

Once we get to Holland and unload the car that is it - the keys are left, and unless we are venturing far away then the just use bikes to get about.

So today, I loaded my bike up into the car and drove up to Kiera's Dad's where we were going to leave the car. 

The whole time we were there it was not used, such a difference to the UK!

Kiera's sister and her family also arrived the same day as us and they also had bikes so we all made good use of them.

My first morning in the hotel and coffee - I like my coffee in the mornings and thankfully they had a great coffee machine which brewed up a really decent strong latte.

Today, we cycled out to the sea side at Bergen Aan Zee for lunch. A bit windy, but it blew the cobwebs away, and I just love cycling through the dunes.

Parked up to take a picture whilst waiting for everyone else to catch up and it looks surprisingly like the New Forest!

I'm out in the dunes at this point, not far from the sea.

There is one short but steep climb on the route, when I first started cycling I had to walk up it.

I had no chance of making it to the top, and I needed a 10 minute rest to recover from pushing my bike to the top!

Now, well, I was very happy with the difference, I just blasted it up without even dropping down in to bottom gear! What a difference 7 months of training has made!

The girls were taking a more leisurely pace!

The ride was just over 15km's and I managed to break 3 "Personal Records" so that was the icing on the cake.

As I have said before, to see and to be honest feel the difference in my riding is just so motivating!

A ride up to the Ness later and back added another 3.75km to my daily figure.

Ride safe...

Day 18 Week 3 - To The Ness And Back - Holland!

We are now in Holland, we drove over on the 27th December and we used the Eurotunnel.

Quick and easy, when we get to Calais we have approximately 4.5hrs of driving to do to get to where Kiera's Dad lives which is North of Amsterdam in a beautiful village called Bergen.

One of the great things about Holland is the cycle paths, everything is geared up for cyclists and everyone has to give way to them.

It really is a joy to ride. However, do not believe that Holland is flat - Yes in general it is but over a long ride you will be surprised at how many metres you have climbed without realising.

Plus if you venture into the dunes, which I often did, then there are some good climbs to get the heart rate up a little.

The other thing is the wind. Depending on the weather it is either blowing up the coast or down it, and when it blows it really does blow. 60mph gusts are not uncommon at all and can easily catch you out. If your riding into a head wind be prepared for a long slog, the roads tend to be long and straight!

We took 4 bikes with us. My Fat Bike Isaac has a Cube MTB, and the girls both have traditional Dutch Bikes. 

It is always a struggle to get the bikes to fit on the bike rack, it's a bit like the Krypton Factor. The pedals have to be in the exact right spot for them all to fit correctly.

I reckon the bike rack is probably near it's weight limit, it certainly does bounce around a bit when going along which can be a bit nerve racking, but as we do the trip twice a year we have had no problems so far!

Once we arrived in Holland and checked into our Hotel which was the Hotel 1900, we quickly unloaded and got the bikes all sorted for a quick trip up to see Kiera's Dad, only a couple of km's away, but I put it on Strava anyway.

Ride safe...

Day 14 Week 2 - Damp And Damper

 Another day, and back on it.

A bit of a contrast to the previous day with heavy over night rain, and with the air being thick with moisture.

Not actually raining, but you get wet anyway sort of day!

You can see how much water is running off the hills and starting to flood the plain in the picture below.

The track I ride up, it runs parallel to Wilverley Inclosure was also very wet and full of water.

The big red mudflap which hangs out the back of my bike is really not pretty to look at, but it sure does work well!

My back and arse got really wet and filthy dirty before I fitted it.

On this ride I broke once more two "Personal Records" - not bad for a wet ride.

Ride safe..... 

Day 20 Week 3 - Egmond Aan Zee And Back Via Bergen Aan Zee

The weather was a bit inclement, but with a few hours to myself as the girls had all gone shopping it was time to get on the bike!

I headed out through the dunes and back towards Bergen Aan Zee - kept on going and picked up the North Sea Cycle Route which took me through more dunes to just before Egmond.

I had never ridden this section of dunes before and it felt as if I was just going up hill, along with a head wind made it a tough ride.

Made my way into Egmond Aan Zee and found the light house, which as you can see is currently surrounded by scaffolding.

Just up from there is a little cafe that over looks the sea, and as it was starting to rain, decided that a quick coffee would be in order.

From here I retraced my steps across the dunes, flying through them as I had the wind behind me, and before I knew it I was back in Bergen Aan Zee.

I decided on a different way home, a little more direct, this took me down a road lined with houses that would be costing in excess of 1 million Euros if you decided you wanted one!

I should of taken some pictures of the houses, some are spectacular in design.

Next time we are over I will make a point of taking more pictures.

Back at the Hotel, shower, relax and a beer!

Ride safe....

Day 13 Week 2 - Great Views

Had a day off yesterday, but as the weather was bright I really had no excuse!

Same old route, but with two "Personal Records" broken.

Love seeing these beat, it really does motivate me and shows that I am getting stronger with every ride.

I travel with loaded panniers, the reason for this is that I want to be use to carrying weight on the bike, and for it not to be too much of a shock once I am fully loaded with camping gear.

If I just trained on a stripped down bike I think the shock of riding fully laden would be too much for me to take!

I must get around to weighing the panniers and maybe a post on what I carry in them.

Any way, Christmas is fast approaching and I'm not sure how much riding I will get in as we are also heading to Holland on the 27th December, returning on the 2nd.

Ride safe....