Gave the Walfat a proper initiation today. The course: 4 miles around work, with total elevation gain of 365 ft. Mostly dirt with a touch of pavement. Put my old shimano pedals on, so at least I could pull as well as push. Added the saddle bag for the phone, and a sticker because.....well.....I got it for free. Other than that the thing is stock. It's solid, and by solid I mean heavy. Getting it out of the car is a workout, with the BMX handlebars stickin' way up there and those giant heavy wheels. I've ridden it a little before today, but mostly flats or mushing the huskies. It's amazing how quickly one loses momentum on even the slightest incline. I found a lot of "hills" before that I didn't know existed with the Kona. So I tackled any ups with momentum and determination. For the most part I was victorious. It's a good thing I've been riding the trainer whilst waiting for the claw to heal, because I needed all the stand-up pedaling technique I've been practicing for the past 10 weeks. I made it most of the way up the big hill, so I was pretty pleased. It definitely helps having the clipless pedals. At the end of the 4 miles my legs, my arms, my claw, all felt like jello. Not bad for a 30 minute ride!! This bike is gonna be fun......
Quit looking at my saddle bag Carl! LOL. It carries the phone. One must open it to retrieve the phone to take a picture $215 delivered to your door. If you had a spouse like mine, it'd even get magically assembled before you got home Get one Chew!
DO it chewy! Then have a little rim drilling party [youtube]sL6uzHr93ZY[/youtube] Threaded headset with quill stem makes for easy on trail handle bar height adjustment.
You could climb better if you just drop a little weight. That kickstand is just an anchor waiting to be dropped. lol.
Fascinating. Reviewers panned it but Manuel Beastly proved it can be ridden well. http://www.bikemag.com/news/news-fat-and-furious/
Manuel Beastly that's the best name I have heard in a looooooong time, the article and he feats are pretty cool too.
Manuel fronting some armor for the SSCX world pits. Adam Craig throwing a WalFat around is one thing....me? - yea maybe. I might grab one for the beach. The Surley I tried at Path is too damn weird to turn - seems like at low speed once you start the turn you lose all momentum. How are these bulldozers on steep DH needing some quick moves?
http://fat-bike.com/2013/04/is-the-walmart-fatbike-really-that-bad-part-ii-the-rebuild/ " The steering is still scary as hell and nothing short of a front end transplant is gonna fix that." “It feels ok as long as you ride it sober”:beer: King of Beach Crusiers.
walfat is running strong! I braved the weight and raced it in the SS category at the non dot Aliso race for sh*t's and giggles. From the "gun" I was trudging along in last and watched the guys disappear into the distance. The only time I saw any of them after that was when a few of them lapped me on the Mathis / Rock-It double loop. LOL. Going up Mathis the first time sucked. Going up the second time was on par with WHT on the VQ....I was seriously having flashbacks. Haha! Going down Rock-It though = 100% pure fun. I couldn't help myself.....I was giggling and whooping and hollering and having such a blast it was worth that second trip back up Mathis. There are no bad lines down Rock-It on the Beast. It felt like I was driving a tank. Pothole? Beast don't care. Rut? Beast don't care. Photographer? Beast don't care. (I kid I kid) Best part of the second time around was, since I was in DFL, I didn't have to worry about getting out of any of the serious racer's way. I think my official time was 2:15 or something. I got back before the groms race started so I consider that a win! edit: Here's the link to Called-to-Creations shot of me coming down Rock-It. http://www.calledtocreation.com/Galleries/Non-Dot-Adventures-Aliso-Woods#!/i-MTkKGGS/A All in all I'm really enjoying this bike, even though 99% I take it out it's to run the huskies or cruise to the bar. I'll prolly "race" it at OTH this summer
Kelly, you did a superb job on that beast at the OC Classic/Aliso race - so proud you finished DFL (lol)...you finished w smiles for miles!! I owe you a beer hardcore rider.....
