Fat and plus-sized rim, tyre and accessories continue to grow - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
This Borealis fatty was set up as a 29 - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Surly's 29x3in Knard tyre fits suggly into a RockShox RS-1 - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Fatback has a new tubless-compatible carbon fat bike rim. This 70mm-wide rim has a claimed weight of 600g - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
HED has a 100mm version of the Big Deal fat bike rim. Like the 80mm version introduced last year, it uses a singlewall design with ridges to bolster stiffness - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
HED doesn't consider the 45mm-wide Low Pro 29 rim to be a plus-sized offering, but rather, the proper width for general mountain biking - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
HED is also making alloy version of its Big Deal rims - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
HED makes its carbon rims in the United States - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The Kenda Juggernaut is the company's first foray into fat bike tyres. The Juggernaut comes in folding and wire bead versions in 26x4in and 26x4.5in sizes - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The plus-sized NoTubes Hugo rim is now available in 27.5in and 26in sizes - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The Blackburn Design Outpost rack can fit standard and fat mountain bikes and can be mounted to the front or rear - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Blackburn's Outpost rack has arms that slide to accomodate pretty much any mountain bike - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The high volume Blackburn Design Outpost HV pump was made to make airing up flat fat bike tyres a bit less tiring - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The Fat B Nimble is Panaracer's first plus-sized tyre - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Panaracer will offer the Fat B Nimble in 29x3in, 27.5x3in and 26x4in sizes - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Park Tool has extra wide hooks for hanging your fat bike by the wheel - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
This gorgeous Retrotec was sitting in the Portland Design booth... - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
...equipped with the PDW Dave's Mud Shovel fender - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Schwalbe is rolling out the Jumbo Jim in 26x4in and 26x4.8in widths - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Vee Rubber now has a spiked version of the 26x4.8in Snowshow XL - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
WTB has a new 27.5 tyre and rim combo - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The 27.5x2.8in Trail Blazer tyre will clear many 29er frames and forks - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The WTB Scraper rim has an internal width of 45mm - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
We’ve already highlighted some of the many fat bikes at the Interbike and Eurobike tradeshows, but it's not just complete fatties that were on display — the number of tyres, rims and fat-specific accessories continues to grow. So, too, do tyres and rims offered in ‘plus-sizes.’ For those not familiar with the concept of 27.5+ and 29+, it is essentially a wider rim and tyre combination than one would find on a traditional mountain bike, with tyre widths generally running around three inches, but not quite as wide as a true fat bike. Like fat bikes, this new breed of fatter mountain bikes is seeing significant grown, as demonstrated by the increasing variety of tyre and rim offerings. Here’s a look at some of the latest fat and plus-sized products for 2015.
WTB develops 27.5+ rim and tyre combo
WTB has a new 27.5 tire and rim combo: wtb has a new 27.5 tire and rim combo - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Wilderness Trail Bikes showed off prototypes of its plus-sized 27.5in rim and tyre combo earlier this year at Sea Otter. Feedback from riders as well as brands interested in this size was quite positive.
WTB opted to go with 27.5+ over 29+ because the 27x2.8in Trail Blazer tyre will clear many 29er frames on the market. “It’s a plus size for existing platforms,” said WTB’s Will Ritchie.
The Trail Blazer is tubeless compatible and can be used with any of the growing number of wider 27.5in rims on the market — WTB recommends using rims with an internal width of at least 25mm. However, the company has developed its own plus sized rim called the Scraper. This alloy rim has an internal width of 45mm and will be offered in both 27.5in and 29in versions.
Blackburn Outpost fat bike rack
The blackburn design outpost rack can fit standard and fat mountain bikes and can be mounted to the front or rear: the blackburn design outpost rack can fit standard and fat mountain bikes and can be mounted to the front or rear - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Blackburn Design developed an incredibly versatile rack that can be mounted to virtually any mountain bike, including fat bikes. The US$75 Outpost can be used as a front or rear-mounted rack and has a cargo capacity of 70lb / 32kg.
HED expands rim options
HED has a 100mm version of the big deal fat bike rim. like the 80mm version introduced last year, it uses a singlewall design with ridges to bolster stiffness: hed has a 100mm version of the big deal fat bike rim. like the 80mm version introduced last year, it uses a singlewall design with ridges to bolster stiffness - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The 100mm-wide Big Deal rim has a claimed weight of just 500g
Last year, wheel manufacturer HED debuted its first carbon fat bike rim, named The Big Deal. This 80mm-wide rim features a singlewall construction with ribbed design to bolster stiffness. The company is expanding the Big Deal line for 2015, adding a 100mm-wide option, as well as an alloy version of its 80mm rim.
In addition to carbon and alloy rims for fat bikes, HED is also developing a 45mm-wide carbon mountain bike rim called the Low Pro 29. This carbon rim, has an internal width of 42mm and a claimed weight of 365g but, according to company founder Steve Hed “This is not a plus-sized rim; this is the width mountain bike rims should be.”
Well, if 45mm rim is the right width for general purpose mountain biking, what does HED think is the right width for plus-sized bikes? According to Hed, the company also has a 60mm carbon rim in the works, to be offered in both 29in and 27.5in diameters.
Take a look at the gallery for even more new fat and plus-sized products.
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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