Electric Fat Bike for surfers and nature lovers

The bicycle is the means of transport of the future, a way of escaping pollution, traffic jams and the gloom of big cities. Electric assistance has had a major impact on the development of cycling, and more and more French people are choosing to get around by bike on a daily basis. With more than 3,400 km of coastline, France has a huge seafront, a real playground for Fat Bikes. But what is a Fat Bike? It’s a mountain bike frame with wide tyres of between 4 and 5 inches. Frenchman Jean Naud made it famous in the 80s with his desert expeditions. But something essential was missing to make it popular. This was electric assistance, to make this bike accessible to a larger number of people, whether sportsmen or not.

Pedalling on the sand, alongside the ocean with a salty breeze on your face, makes you forget the worries of everyday life, a moment of lightness in contrast to the weight of this big-wheeled bike.

Fat bikes a growing success

This electric fat bike is designed for all types of terrain, even the most extreme, such as ice in Alaska, snow in Canada or deserts. But in France, it’s a real hit with seaside dwellers. It allows surfers and fishermen to get away from the crowds and ride the waves to an untouched playground. In summer and winter alike, Fat Bikes are often seen making long journeys across the sand. Thanks to its low-pressure tyres, the electric Fat Bike gives you traction on uneven or unstable sections and helps you ‘float’ on the sand. What you lose in speed and friction, you gain in smoothness and forgiveness, giving you a feeling of great stability.

Opinions of surfers and fans

We met three Fat Bike enthusiasts, including two professional surfers, who explained their uses and, above all, their tricks of the trade.

Vincent Duvignac, professional surfer and surf teacher

I use my Fat Bike almost every day in the forest, on the beach or even in town. I use it as a means of locomotion on all the terrain close to home. I always carry a pump with me so that I can adapt the wheel pressure to the terrain I’m going to ride on. On sandy ground, you have to let the air out of the tyres to get more grip and also save on the lithium battery. In summer, I use the bike to go and give surf lessons at Lespecier, and I use the cycle paths. It’s a great way to get around, you don’t sweat and you don’t even get tired. I think I’m what you’d call a big fan of these bikes, because I’ve got two of them. One with electric assistance, and the other where I have to pedal. This allows me to do some long-distance sport when I need to. The unassisted fat bike is only good for rides in the forest or on the beach. After that, you’re quickly limited, because the turning radius is smaller because of the oversized wheels. But, above all, on a road, you don’t move forward with a pedal-powered Fat Bike.

At first, I was puzzled by the use of these bikes, but now I’m a big fan. I’d be hard pressed to do without them. At my place in Mimizan, there are just 3 or 4 of us off-season who have a Fat Bike, but in the summer, there are more and more people because there’s a bike hire company.

Edouard Delpero, professional surfer and surf teacher

I use my Fat Bike mainly to go to work on the Basque coast. I have a 2km commute between my home and the beach where I give surf lessons. I’ve got an attachment system on it to carry my boards, and I can even attach and ride my longboard. Fortunately, the bike is very stable because with the longboard it’s a bit freestyle. In fact, I use my electric bike for all my journeys around town. Instead of taking my motorbike, I’ve adopted this Fat Bike.

I also go on a few expeditions to Les Landes to go surfing on my own. I’m lucky enough to have a folding Fat Bike, and that’s a real plus because I can carry it in my boot, and also store it more easily in my cellar because I don’t have a garage but a cellar. Frankly, I can fold or unfold it in 10 seconds, and I’ve been doing it every day for over a year and a half without any problem. This means I can move around Biarritz for an average of 4 days without any problems. I recharge the battery overnight, and off you go…

Bernard, amateur fisherman

I wasn’t convinced, but my son, who’s a surfer and an electric Fat Bike enthusiast, persuaded me. He lent me his and I quickly adopted this bike for my fishing trips. In summer, there are a lot of people on the beaches, and it can be difficult to find a quiet spot where I can put my lines down. After these initial tests, I quickly realised the benefits of owning one. I’m not sporty, but I could cover long distances on the beach with little effort. After that first test, I decided to buy one for myself, and it’s been with me ever since. I can go fishing without bothering anyone…

How do you choose your Fat Bike?

We’ve made you want to ride a Fat Bike, now we’re going to help you choose the bike that’s right for you.

Electric assistance, a real plus

Electric assistance allows you to ride in all conditions, limiting effort despite the weight of your frame. What’s more, going almost twice as fast for the same effort creates a degree of dependency. For all these reasons, electric assistance is an essential prerequisite for enjoyable cycling.

The weight of the bike

If you don’t have electric assistance, this is a key criterion, because the weight of the frame will have a major impact on the bike’s performance. As Vincent Duvignac reminds us, a heavy bike will give you the impression of not moving forward. The weight of the bike comes not only from the frame but also from the wheels.

Tyre size

The bigger the tyre, the more comfortable the ride. Five-inch tyres give more buoyancy on soft ground than four-inch models. But bigger tyres are heavier, slower and softer on firm ground. For riding on firmer, drier tracks and at higher speeds, a narrower tyre will offer a more satisfying and less tortuous ride. Whatever your choice, remember to mount them without tubes and to inflate them at low pressure to reduce the risk of punctures. Choose your tyre size according to your riding style.

Should I get a suspension bike?

Most fat bikes use four- to five-inch-wide tyres. The wheels are generally inflated to low pressure, and give the impression of being suspended because the tyres adapt to the irregularities of the path. So, in most cases, you won’t need suspension. However, if you’re looking for performance, and you’d like to ride on an irregular surface with a higher pressure. We recommend that you choose a Fat Bike with suspension.

Fat bikes are a real hit with surfers and sea lovers. It’s a fun way to get around and discover the great outdoors. There are bikes to suit all budgets, from less than €600 for unassisted Fat Bikes to less than €1,000 for some folding electric Fat Bikes… So don’t hesitate, and make the most of the warmer weather to try one out.