Question about fat tires and debris, branches especially...

[Jason Knight]

Something I've noticed on my Aventure is that when I'm on ... less well prepared paths, if I go over anything even remotely resembling a branch -- even little twigs -- they get hoovered up by the front tire and whipped into my legs, the drive train, etc. It's like they are lifted up and propelled straight at me to the point I'm half tempted to invest in shin guards. I'm asking because my right leg now looks like I visited "the house of whipcord" and then about five minutes later the chain blew apart when it happened again. (so now I've got three master links on there instead of two)

Is that common for 4" wide fatties, or is that just my bad luck?

 

[Tars Tarkas]

My bike has 26x4s and I can't say it's ever happened to me. There could be a lot of variables involved....

TT

 

[rich c]

Very soft tires and big lugs can pick up sticks. Seems like you have already done the testing to prove it.

 

[Nvreloader]

I ride mine all the time thru Sage brush trash and downed limbs, along cow/horse trails, so far I haven't had any problems, but driving past long heavy sage brush live limbs will leave knots on your shins/lower legs, as I found out.
I have a brush/mud/water deflector I made for the bottom of the front fenders and it seems to work very well, on the 26 x 4.5" fat tires I use.
I am real careful around the rear derailleur, that's my worry area.........
I am working on a plastic shield to prevent stick/brush pickup etc.

 

[Jason Knight]

I have a brush/mud/water deflector I made for the bottom of the front fenders and it seems to work very well, on the 26 x 4.5" fat tires I use.

I've been considering implementing something similar, if for no other reason that in mud or wet ride the front fender doesn't come down far enough. I've added an aftermarket skid plate to protect where the wires come out the bottom of the frame, probably time to address the fender length too.

It's why I laugh at the pathetic "clip on' fenders that basically stick straight out from the top of the fork. By my riding experience those would accomplish only two things, and Jack left town.

But even the "full" fenders on the front of most modern bikes don't come down far enough to the ground to actually do the job of... well... a fender. I mean look at this pathetically short front fender. Almost begs the question "Why bother?" Needs to be eight inches or so longer. Half tempted to get a replacement rear and mount it on the front.

 

[Jason Knight]

Very soft tires and big lugs can pick up sticks. Seems like you have already done the testing to prove it.

It was actually worse with the Kenda Juggernauts it came with, so there is likely something to that.

Funny these cheap "Wanda" white-walls actually seem to be nicer than the Kenda's.

 

[Nvreloader]

Jason
Here is the brush/rock guard I made for the bottom edge of my 26x4.5 Tire/fender for the Wart Hog, it seems to do a very good job of stopping rock and other items kicked up by the front tire.
I found a strip of this type of brush/splash guard material lying along side I-80 when I went to pick up my daughters car that had blown a fuel pump. UPS trucks have this type of splash guards, there is 2 different type, one with Alum or rubber spine for holding the brush fibers etc.

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HTH's,
Don

 

[K PierreR]

Very soft tires and big lugs can pick up sticks. Seems like you have already done the testing to prove it.

Actually I have found just the opposite with low pressures. With the pressure low the tire deforms over the branch and with the tire pressure high the branch and rocks seem to get spit out like the game of tidily winks. Sometimes it can sound like gunfire.

 

[Jason Knight]

Ok, some say high pressure, some say low, in that case I'd say we can possibly dismiss pressure, or that tire pressure's effect varies on what's being thrown.

And @K PierreR that "sounds like gunshots" is something I encountered on some heavier/larger crushed stone. I thought I was popping the tire.

Aka what I grew up knowing as gravel.. 3" long stone knives. What the rest of the country calls "gravel" we called "fill" or just "pea dirt". Aren't regionalisms fun? First time I heard people talk about "gravel bikes" I was like "are you out of your minds? Riding on gravel on purpose?!?" because I thought they were talking about 3" long, 1" wide, sharp razor of death.

 

[ruffruff]

It might be your tread pattern. I'm running Terrene Wazia and don't notice anything major. My derailure will grab high weeds and wrap them up in the sprockets.

 

[Nvreloader]

I am running stock OEM, Kenda Juggernaut 26*4.5'' @ 25psi.

 

[Robspace1]

It was actually worse with the Kenda Juggernauts it came with, so there is likely something to that.

Funny these cheap "Wanda" white-walls actually seem to be nicer than the Kenda's.

I've been considering implementing something similar, if for no other reason that in mud or wet ride the front fender doesn't come down far enough. I've added an aftermarket skid plate to protect where the wires come out the bottom of the frame, probably time to address the fender length too.

It's why I laugh at the pathetic "clip on' fenders that basically stick straight out from the top of the fork. By my riding experience those would accomplish only two things, and Jack left town.

But even the "full" fenders on the front of most modern bikes don't come down far enough to the ground to actually do the job of... well... a fender. I mean look at this pathetically short front fender. Almost begs the question "Why bother?" Needs to be eight inches or so longer. Half tempted to get a replacement rear and mount it on the front.

Nice bike! It looks like a smooth ride with

I've been considering implementing something similar, if for no other reason that in mud or wet ride the front fender doesn't come down far enough. I've added an aftermarket skid plate to protect where the wires come out the bottom of the frame, probably time to address the fender length too.

It's why I laugh at the pathetic "clip on' fenders that basically stick straight out from the top of the fork. By my riding experience those would accomplish only two things, and Jack left town.

But even the "full" fenders on the front of most modern bikes don't come down far enough to the ground to actually do the job of... well... a fender. I mean look at this pathetically short front fender. Almost begs the question "Why bother?" Needs to be eight inches or so longer. Half tempted to get a replacement rear and mount it on the front.

Nice looking cruiser! Is that the 1100w version? I know they have one. I have basically the same tires on my Ecotric and have never had that sticking branch problem. I don't ride off road much though. Do those front forks have suspension? If so, you should be getting a comfy ride out that right? Bring it out here to the Great Northwest, I'll show you miles of great, paved bike trails through the woods. Perfect for cruisers. Happy Trails