Keep in mind that I'm not a mountain biker and other than riding gravel roads way back when, all my riding is on pavement.
I can't say how much is the fat tires themselves. The difference between my 40mm and my 55mm tires is far larger than the numbers would suggest. I think it's that old volume thing....with the 55mm tires having a lot more. The closest I've come to riding a 700c fatter tire was a short test ride on a Surly Karate Monkey and it lacked something that both my old 820 and the new Troll I test rode have. I tend to ride like a little kid, meaning I don't ride from point A to point B. My favorite place to ride (when it's not packed with pedestrians) is the walking path in our subdivision. This is a typical sidewalk on gently rolling terrain and I don't think there is a true straight stretch of sidewalk that is longer than a few yards. Tons of curves with some twists and turns while speeding up and slowing down, according to the path. My experience is that the 26" wheels accelerate faster and are far more maneuverable than 700c wheels. The entry I use to the walkway is a gutter that is at a 90 degree angle to the sidewalk with curb on either side so there is no room for error when making that turn. It's a bit scary on 700c x 40mm tires but a breeze on 559 x 55mm tires. I think it boils down to a ride that is very nimble and quick while still being very smooth and cushy. I've read numerous accounts that suggest 700c wheels rollover things better than 26" wheels and that 700c wheels maintain their momentum better and the latter, at least, seems to be true in my experience (I never roll over things so no experience with the first). Riding my 700c bike is fun but almost bordering on boring. Riding a 26" bike is both exhilarating and it literally makes me feel like a little kid again. For me, a long ride is 10 miles so the 26" wheels are a no-brainer. If I was more into traveling and riding longer distances, I'd have to do some soul-searching before making a firm commitment to one or the other. On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:34:41 PM UTC-6, hsmitham wrote: > > Chris, > > I too have been lusting after fat tire Atlantis...I don't see that many. > Here's one I like a lot. > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/37542512@N04/4815790104/in/pool-rivendellatlantis/ > > and another > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/fireman483/8541167230/in/pool-rivendellatlantis > > But I am curious Chris what is it about the 26" wheel size that has you so > smitten. It's especially interesting when there is so much talk of 29ers > and 650b tires. Please elucidate. > > ~Hugh > > “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep > moving.” ― Albert Einstein > > http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/ > > > > > On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 12:38 PM, Chris Lampe 2 > <clamp...@yahoo.com<javascript:> > > wrote: > >> For the longest time, a photo of an Atlantis on Peter White's website >> that is described as being outfitted with his best parts was my favorite >> Atlantis photo. Now it's this one. I've become hooked on the 26" >> wheel/fat-tire combo. Nothing else looks or feels as good to me now and >> the Atlantis, with it's traditional diamond frame, just looks TOUGH with >> fat knobbies. I haven't had the pleasure of riding one yet. >> >> >> >> On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 7:11:56 AM UTC-6, Tony DeFilippo wrote: >> >>> Yet another snow day in the DC area... I think the schools will be in >>> session till July 4th at this rate! Supposedly we're in for our biggest >>> snowfall since 2011 but I'll believe it when I see it. I don't have true >>> snow tires, but I did pick up some sweet used 29x2.1 Kenda Small Block >>> Eight tires at the co-op recently and had been hoping to try them out on my >>> Atlantis. 700Cx54mm tires! I need to measure the actuals on my 23mm Dyad >>> rims but they fit just fine once the fenders came off. I also finally got >>> around to moutning my front Nitto rack/basket/light setup. Peter White can >>> rest assured that I've maintained the centerline, above tire location of >>> the light but he'll be upset that I don't have fender coverage for the >>> beastie... I'll keep an eye on it and possibly add some kind of splash >>> protection. It's a sweet light, and I can see based on the light pattern >>> why keeping it center and over tire is desireable. Stand over w/ the >>> monster tires is not improved for me... predictably, but it is fun. I'm >>> going to take it for a spin this morning before the snow comes in then >>> we'll see about later! More pix on the blog - >>> http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2014/01/monster-snow-cross-atlantis.html >>> >>> Tony >>> >>> >>> <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7RiNKo6Y7qQ/Ut5sIUqO9SI/AAAAAAAADGQ/RuEQK8JVgD8/s1600/RAD_1040.jpg><https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G_p7K346CpU/Ut5sIcpa1PI/AAAAAAAADGk/7zjswNk1ajo/s1600/RAD_1042.jpg> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/e_cri0xuazQ/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to >> rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com<javascript:> >> . >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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