Norco Sasquatch 6.1 Big fat fattie
Fatbikes are strange. From first glance they look like nothing but gimmicks. They are big, boisterous and boorish, and suited to a very specific clientele. In my opinion, a fatbike is a big toy for a big kid, someone who hasn't quite grown up all the way and still wants to bounce around on a cool bike.
When I got on the fatbike I instantly noticed how fun it was. It was bouncy, it felt like a steamroller that could crush anything in its path. I couldn't wait to get it out and really put it through its paces.
That being said, I did notice some things that threw me off from fat bikes. I've always had my reservations towards fat bikes, and these things I noticed confirmed them.
The Sasquatch made me forget about everything I've learned about riding. The big tires simply roll over every obstacle and the mind game of trying to find the perfect line is gone. This feature lends itself to people who are inexperienced with mountain bikes, and for them it could be quite a nice experience. For me, however, the things I've learned have made me a better rider, and ignoring those skills seems counter-intuitive.
The Sasquatch also seemed very slow to me. The thicker tires and wider stance made me feel stable on the ground as I rode, but it also made me much more sluggish and made riding take considerably more effort than before.
I have ridden in the winter before, most of my winter riding being on a 26" mountain bike. My tires are 2" wide and that is really all that I need to go almost anywhere on my winter bike. I am a big fan of taking a bike places that they shouldn't be allowed to go. That means I've taken my lowly 26er through deep fields of powder, up mountains and through downhill trails that in all honesty should not be possible.
Since taking a bike places that it shouldn't go is a big part of why I ride, The omniterra aspect of fatbiking doesn't have much appeal to me. I already do that on my mountain bike.
That being said, the Sasquatch was a pile of fun. It was as though someone had given me a great big expensive toy to play with for a few hours. It was bouncy, shredded through powder, rolled over everything and I was able to get rad with a few bunny hops. Fat bikes are fun, no matter what. I also think that the novelty will wear off quickly, and that I would rather spend my money on a number of different bikes first.
Tires – 49NRTH Dillinger 5 26 x 4.0 / Fork – Rockshox Bluto RL 100mmX15mm / Stem – Race Face Aeffect 35mm/70mm / Bars – Race Face Aeffect 760mm/20mm Rise / Pedals – V-Sixty flats / Crankset – Race Face Aeffect 26T / Brakes – Avid DB5 180mm / Drivetrain -- SRAM GX1 1x11spd