I built a Snow Mountain Bike, but made a HUGE mistake… 

Keeping your extremeties warm while winter riding is a hard, expensive task. I have invested in the gear (battery powered heated gloves and socks are a game changer) and even i generally wont go out if its below -15c. I dont blame you for turning back

He’s back! Good to see content on the main channel again!

Since I'm from Belarus, -10°C (14F) is nothing special for us, but dispite that you can meet a fat bike soooo rarely. But a lot of people use winter tires with spikes, like ones from schwalbe. That especially handy in spring, when all trails in forests are covered in ice with layer of water over it) Personally I prefere to ride over fresh snow, using XC hardtail on regular tyres, so extra drag from snow even helps with climbing on something really steep.

Bar Mitts are amazing! They're fairly inexpensive and the biggest thing that they do is they keep the wind off of your hands so your gloves can work a LOT more effectively. You can take them off and put them on in under a minute easy just with a few velcro straps. I just rode a few dozen laps on a frozen lake when it was about 15F. I had on long fingered riding gloves (definitely not big chunky igloo gloves like you had) and my bar mitts and my hands were plenty toasty warm for the whole ride!

I built up my old 2012 hardtail as a winter bike. Your RSD could be also amazing as a singlespeed in winter. I had really good results. Also a game changer for me was a coil fork. It just works so much better imo. But it's amazing seeing you going out at that temperature. And the build is great too

Cool winter bike build but if you want a monster hardtail you should check out the RSD Sergeant it can run almost every wheel set he middlechild can run but it can also run 29x3.0 or even 27.5x4.0

As a resident of MA, cold weather is no joke. Can't wait until winter is gone.

Gonna take a hell of a lot more then that for frostbite, just exercising will give enough circulation. You could have used 27.5 plus size tires also, ive got a plus size set up on my hardtail also.

Love it. I just built up a 27.5 wheel with a 2.8 tire to mullet my hardtail. Its slow but grip isnt a concern anymore and it also takes away some small bumps too. Also love the second channel!

I have the diamondback overdrive from the best beginner bike video Seth made years ago sounds crazy. Still had the single speed and dual brake lever even the bell he put on to play foot down as seen in the foot down video later on

That was great I wish that I'd picked up another wide tire today but we're also lacking snow and it doesn't look real good here in central Minnesota it was fun to watch I just got back from the bike shop and took a look around Walmart while I was waiting the bike shop has this really nice Marlin I can probably put my bike back together in 10 minutes but it's nice to take a break before I get started

Great stuff! Hardest thing about snowy trails is seeing where the trail is!!

Hi! I’ve been riding in super snowy conditions in Finland for a few years now and I suggest you try schwalbe ice spiker tires😉

I do own a fat bike, RMB Blizzard (sim geo to the Growler you tested). The trails can be under 2-6 ft of snow depending on the year. The float of 4"+ tires is a need so you don't punch through "the crust" once the trails are "set". To make it an "all year ride" I hade some 29 hoops built to fat hubs and I use it to commute to work ,in the winter too on the fats.

Super cool vid Evan! I am so proud of my rig, I run a wtb scraper rim with schwalbe nobby nic 2.8 inch tires on my enduro hardtail. Keep up the vids😊

My favorite tire inserts I have used are MYNESWEEPERS. I did a test in 2020 at AngelFire Bike Park (that Eats tires) where I ran Maxxos Dissector tires in EXO casing not even EXO+ and I didn't get a single flat tire in 3 days. I was sold after that. I have flatted Maxxis DD casing tires at AngelFire.

Yes 👍 I'm stoked this is seeping to the main channel, as a Canadian I'm sure a lot of people miss on the fun, I just ride studded tires on my hardtail and it goes, no frigging need for a fatbike don't miss on all the fun...

I’m going to looking at picking up an RSD for winter riding vs buying a fat bike. Looking for a used frame but people love them. Yup in Toronto winter riding needs studded tires, a lot of freeze/thaw and lots of ice normally. For the glove, a trick is use a hotshot/warmer on the inside of your wrist which keeps the blood going to your fingers warm. I also like lobster/three finger gloves for winter riding.

Bar mitts help your hands a lot! And if they fit the bike properly, there’s no loss of lever function

Evan, have the RSD Middlechild in CrMO, ❤️ it. Run it 29x2.5 or 27.5 x 2.8 F&R depending on conditions. Live in the ineterior of BC 🇨🇦 (do have a "full fat" see next post). I recommended RSD Sergeant to my friends who also wanted a modern HT to spice up old familiar rides. Helps with: "I can't justify a dedicated fat bike" but as "the one bike for ALL seasons" hard to beat. Very Sim Geo to the MC takes up to 27.5 × 4.0" if you need the float.

Live in Northern MN here and fat bike and cross country ski through the winter. Up and down riding is really hard because you get your hands/feet warm on the climbs and then they can freeze on the downhill parts. I usually stick to XC/single track. It's slower but that's the point, helps negate the windchill factor. If you can't feel your fingers/toes, it's time to be done. Good choice calling it even though it was obvious you were bummed. Get back on tomorrow.

I ride a RSD sergeant v4 with 27.5x3.8s 140mm DVO fork. Perfect fatty for the winter, light and nimble. I used too ride a 26x4.8 on a differny frame tons of traction but heavy and fairly slow. I could run a solid fork and 4.0s if i wanted to run studs for some extra traction. I can run it as a 29er or a 27.5+ in the summer and it makes for a super fun and versatile bike. I'll have too say Pogies/Bar Mits are extremely nice I love having my hands uncovered or with light gloves.

Cool looking build! I'm gonna try this with an old Kona frame I'm not currently using.

Hi, it's awesome you are riding in the winter. Me and my dad also bike in these conditions. when its below -10.c, we put in heat packs in to our gloves at the base of our fingers and toes. we also got heated gloves and my dad has heated socks that are battery powered and last for a couple of rides. WE got these at Costco. If you want to, u can repurpose old MTB tires and drill studs in and wrap the inside of your tire with ductape. (it has to be tubed tho). Also it does not hurt to wear themals and warm-up (exersize) for 5 mins and then go MTBing.

Slide the rear wheel back and you can fit 27.5x3.0’s on a middle child I run studded 27.5x3.0 45nrth wraithchilds on mine with tons of clearance

I would love to see you slap some 26 x 3.0 tires on there and make it a true mid-fat tire bike. Love that RSD frame so versatile like you said.

Evan, get some trigger finger mitts, they have the pointer separate and the other 3 digits together.. wayy warmer in super cold weather proven for me in -22C japan power for 8 hours of boarding. Won't cost you an arm and a leg either (or a pinky)

Love to see the RSD back in the rotation

I'm in the Hudson Valley of NY and this is fat bike season! Some snow, mud, frosted up trails and a mixed up version of all three is Fat bike weather. I use the fat bike in soft unpredictable conditions and this is where it shines. You don't reallly need one for snow until the snow is over 4-6 inches. You're spot on with the rolling resistance, and filling in the techy spots, add some steep climbs to that and you're fatbiking! When there is feet of snow and the trails are packed and groomed for fatbiking I'd rather break out skis, not enough tech and rocks for me. There is nothing like biking in fresh fallen snow with fatbike tires running 5 inch wide tires at 5-6psi (and i'm 210lbs) and chewing your way up and snow hillside! Thanks for the videos! Cheers!

I need to get up to Bentonville one day this summer and let you try out my new Commencal Öhlins tempo. You'd love it. Plus I'm only a couple hours away

You might want to try heated gloves. I've not tried it. But makes sense. I use thin Marino liner, thick Marino liner, and two sizes too large riding gloves, this works in -10C if, but if really slow, or take a break too long, my fingers hurt, especially if windy. Only thick liner works too if constantly moving fast. but even in -5C it can be horrible if it's foggy. For waterproofing I use nitrile gloves over the liner. For for -18 this would be too cold. So ski gloves over that would probably work, especially if big enough, but keep in mind just layering up is not the only thing you have to have air between the layers, not super tight everything squeezed, then you get cold anyway. I think layering up is key. This is why people use those bar mitts. I've never tried it. For me it would be worth it, to be able to ride, with my problems I can't always ride so take every opportunity I can to ride. No matter the weather, only thing stopping me is my back, neck, or a brutal storm. I don't have any good ski gloves, I have ski gloves too, a common issue. But I think gloves without that issue, and with a good liner, wind and water proof, and extra roomy would be good, thin you could have a Marino wool liner or two inside.

I would definitely look into getting the 3 inch wide tires. There is a big different in volume even going from 2.8 to 3.0.

Make sure to check the weather and how the temperature progresses. I'm glad you tried it in -1 degree weather, but a hot pair of gloves goes a long way. Great project dude! 👍👍👍

what I found being the most fun to ride is like 2 days after a snow storm. We got the first snow since 2018 here near paris and it was a blast riding singletrack since the snow half-melted on the track itself. It was around -1Celsius and it was a blast.

Great Show , 🤘😎That Monster Rocks!! Thanks for the Totally Rad show!!!! 🤘🤘

Keeping your hands warm doesn’t have to be expensive, I live in MN weather it’s snow or dirt if its cold bar mits do so much more than any gloves can, 25$ rock bros or Odier, knocking down the wind is the biggest part.

Fun story, I now know who bought the rims I was looking at on Pink Bike for a bike build I am working on. Saw them late at night, logged in the next day and BAM "sold" . Glad to see them put on an super interesting build . I love riding in the snow, although that is a rare occasion here in Texas. For me, riding in the snow is always a pleasure because it dampens the sounds of the loud, busy world we live in. Plus it makes trails you are familiar with a bit more interesting if you happen to hit a hidden slippery patch. The key is to dress accordingly. Good gloves and warm foot make it much more enjoyable.

Nice experiment 😊 snow riding ist awesome 😁 a must do every year for me 😍 and I don't want to buy a fat bike either. I just do it on my normal bike. I would probably slap on my Schwalbe ICE Spicker Pro 💪🏿 Staying warm is no issue for me. It does not get that cold here. Coldest was maybe -10°C and I have warm stuff on. I learned to keep the core toasty, so the body does not decide to cut off warming my hands and feet. Works a treat.

Living in Canada, the Rockies at that I can tell you this... Riding in the snow is fun and you definitely don't need a fat bike! I ride my Trek Roscoe with 29x2.6 tires most of the winter. Another option is Schwalbe ice spiker tires that come in 29er... Enjoy the snowy ride!... PS tubes work better in the cold 😉

Cool wheels for sure, i just wonder what’s the advantage of going with plus 26” wheels vs 27.5 plus? I’d think there would be more tire options especially for 27.5 plus

I've heard somewhere that latex surgeon gloves under normal gloves help with hands not freezing up, but I haven't tested that. Could be worth a try and cheap for you.

I run the RSD sergeant with 29x3 maxxis dhf and dhr2 tires for winter. I definitely get the point about fingers lol. Try getting some pogies, the will save you!

I wanna hear a ride report on this bike in the summer. I miss 26ers, and on some old tight tech trails.

Just snowed in the northeast, I hope to ride my rigid schwinn axum with 2.6 tires just like you did in this video

I bought an old on one 456 cycle of violence and being 8 years old it runs 26inch wheel and I don't know why but I find the small wheels so much fun making it more playful and exciting being my first bike to use 26ers

Checking in from Ohio where I ride a hardtail in the snow alot. A pair of Nitrile mechanics gloves under your snow gloves buys some extra time for your hands. Also prevents you from exposed skin if you need to make an adjustment. Stay off wooden features in the trail if you can.

I love riding in fresh snow. Not that common where I live but if it comes down I'll be out in it.

hurray for 26!! Thx for the inpiring video Evan👍

i did the same thing on my recent DJ build i used a 29 er for and a 26 inch wheel turned out fine

i love your vids man, did you ever think of using pins inside out in the tire and riding on a frozen lake

One season I made studded tires using hex head computer "screws" actually bolts with washers / nuts. Head inside the tire, and excess threads clipped off.on outside to create small sharp little studs.. it took a couple hours per tire, but they worked awesome on packed snow / ice, and black ice on road / paved trails. It was literally night and day compared to no studs. You can buy studded tires but they are very pricey and not common. Making your own you can use whatever tire as a base you want to. In cwrtain snow conditions, narrow studded tires work better than fat tires...they sink all the way to the hard pack and dont float on top. Which can be a benefit. On road they really worked amazing. Trail only might not be worth the effort but maybe an experiment to try if yoi are bored one day lol. I cut an old tube to act as a barrier between screw heads and inflated tube. Some of the bolts did pull out over the season, but they held air and still worked great.

Had frostbite on my left ear, years ago! Haven't covered my head/ears properly while riding to work for 6.5 km's... Very painful experience,my ear was hurting almost 2 weeks 😢 Greetings from Croatia from Kris 😎

Get the crappy little one time use hand warmers and put them on the back of your hands. For your feet I use full hight waterproof socks. Keeps the wind from getting to your skin. If it’s getting a bit cold still, take those same warmers and put them on the tops of your feet under the tongue of your shoe. I live in pa and ride through the winter temps get to single dodgers and below

I've always had a mission when winter rides are needed... but made it fun...duking it out against the elememts to accomplish something that is denied by the wheather for cars to travel.....just me and the snow plows . But to just go for a ride ...ahhh. there's needs to be a goal that u can't get with anything but a 10x as long of a walk

In a similar boat; I dont' want to spend money on a meme bike I'll be riding like 3 times a year. So I'm building up a fatbike frame that has older standards, 170mm QR, with rigid carbon fork and Hope wheels for next to nothing all because its not the hot new thing. Hopefully we get decent snow this year and I'll have the bike built up by then 😅

Miss you here in Phoenix making vedios bro

I know you said not to recommend bar mits but you can rock bros knock off bar mits for like $25. They are life savers in cold weather. I usually don't even use gloves in the cold with them on.

OMG Where did you get those orange rotor bolts!!!????

In michigan our groomed trails u wouldnt be "aloud" to ride on with such skinny tires. 3.25 or bigger. Alot of people ride bigger than that year round. Sick build! I thought they were 3" atleast at first. Bike looks great tho Great content!

Even though I’ve moved on from mountain biking to dirt biking this is the only mtb channel I watch

Put a sticky toe warmer stuck on the top of your hand and then put your gloves on. That works good for me. And then I run the acerbis mtb hand gaurds they help block the wind

In the snow at night is completely different. It feels like you're going warp speed, even though you're probably only going half normal speed. Great fun!

I rode a 26" hard tail with a rigid fork as a winter trainer for 20 years before fat bikes came around. Suspension forks are unnecessary on snow. Tires studded with 5/8" length sheet metal screws run from the inside with a rubber strip against the heads to protect the tube, super traction on ice and hard pack. Floatation isnt as good as a 4 or 5 inch tire but its a cheap, easy setup that works great. Ive been riding a fat bike for 13 years, 4" tires, rigid carbon fork, carbon wheels , thousands of winter miles in Colorado.

Fiscally responsible Evan. I like it.

Snow Shepard guide pro gloves are perfect for snow and only cost £65

Don't use gloves use mittens! You can use them also for day-to-day use so it is not a purchase for once in a while. Also, Kenda might have the tires for you. That is where i bought my 26 tires from.

Fat bikes are not just for winter , i bought one last year so i can ride in the winter but they’re so much fun i ride it year round . You should get one.

Im riding to work on a bike I built.. could only fit 2.25" studded tires on it, it absolutely sucks when the snow is deep 😂

Man, two minutes in and I'm surprised you went with mineral oil brakes for cold weather...there's a reason why DOT fluid is king in cold temps!

Being a Chicago native, I do not miss riding in cold and snow at all! Moved to Phoenix 6 years ago and loving it!!

Thanks for the video Evan 👍

I can fit up to 3.0 wide tires on my bike...kinda considering giging them a shot. 2.35 on it right now.

As a Canadian MTB'er I must ask....is there a need for a tire insert for a snow project bike? Higher volume tires should ride jut fine, also those lugs on the tires are way too small but you get what you can find eh. The temp I ride at is -5, colder than this amount hands and feet will freeze up too fast.

Snowstorm? In German we call this: Ein paar kleine Schneeflöckchen mehr nicht!

When you're hands are so cold you can't brake and change gear it's totally cool to end the ride man! No point screwing yourself over for tough guy points!

Will you make a video showing us newbies how to build a bike from scratch like you do all the time. I'd really like to do that.

8:01: something is odd with those cars passing by :D

DAMMIT! I wanted to ride in the snow but it just didn't show up on the place i went to! ANOTHER year spoiled! XD

according to hope, U need to take out a cassette side endcap, to mount or remove the cassette ;)

Hey evan, i just snapped my polygon siskiu D7 frame, right above the crank and the bottom linkage. have you heard of anything similar on this bike? wanna know if this is a fluke. seems to have happened right at the welds. i snapped it off a probably 3-4 foot stair case i jumped at probably 15 mph

I work nights and my record for riding is probably about -20 F..my glasses fogging up is my biggest problem I just wear winter clothes and ride slow. It's only about a four mile bike ride

Hey Evan just wondering what trail it was in the fox 34 vs marzoki bobmer it looks really fun😃 sorry just to make sure to it was episode 3

I’m such I big fan I’ve been watching for about 2 years now

My hands freeze and i can't feel them in warm gloves when it's about 0c can't imagine what it would be like at those temperatures, I'd definitely lose some fingers :D

Hello! ehar can i find these eotor bolts, they are perfectly orange! not a kind of copper i just purchased! TIA

9:19 epic shot

i have built a 26 bike. you can turn it around and do whips so easily!

I enjoy your videos. Stay safe.

Them tracks tell me you werent the only one crazy enough to go out there. We get so much ice here. All trails are too dangerous to ride unless its fat biking groomed trails

Anyone know what 2.5" wide tyres are like? I'm looking to build an enduro but frame is limited to 2.5" be some time next year when build it fully Looking to do an all rounder as in from light trail to enduro all on an enduro build

you should try halo tyres man!

Why didn't you use the caliper mount adjustment in the frame instead of using an rotor adapter?

Sometimes i find a pair of nitrile gloves under my gloves helps in bitter cold moments

Weird qustion. What shoes are you wearing when building the up?

ive noticed both you and the singletrack sampler are both using the same template for the betterhelp ad integration is there a reason? like did they send u the template or did you both coincidentally decide to use it?

hey evan i had a question how did you put a taperd fork in a straight fork frame ?

I had those PNW bars too, they scratched so easily. Really good otherwise.

Have you rode the marin san quenta

Dang those rims are different.. what size are these?! Nice done bike tho 👍👌

Let me tell you about a 2019 Middlechild, named Sunspot. Sunspot is equipped with a one speed automatic transmission and towing package brakes. Alex of RSD Bikes has told me numerous times, it needs gears. Oh heaven's no!! Having the intense levels of trialsy fun will be degraded by such. Moving forward in time. I was diagnosed with a rare blood borne cancer that is potentially highly voracious. Sunspot was my therapy through this uncertain chapter in life. 27.5 x 3.0's on i45's? Ya, sure, you betcha!! I wasn't up to any hard core anything during treatment however... There were good days that I was able to take a ride and receive therapy of far better quality and efficacy than any other source. June, 2023, I was declared cancer free after having lost ~40% of muscle mass. Sunspot now became my physical therapist. Bikes can assist in successful treatment of many ailments! Recovery from this is the hard part and that "Retina Burn Yellow" bike has earned tenure in my bike collection.