Stupid, genius, or will I die...?

[Boab]

While plodding around the country lanes yesterday, I was pondering how and when I'm going to build like Scandal v2 frame up. The sticking points for a minimum viable bike, are wheels and some sort of front fork, either rigid or bouncy. I suddenly remembered I still have the fork and wheels off my old Calibre Dune. If I could fit the fork and front wheel to the Scandal, then I'd only need to source a single rear wheel to get up and running. I think a 4.8" Jumbo Jim on a 26" rim is probably equivalent to running a 2.4" or there about tyre on a 29" wheel.

Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. So, genius idea, stupid idea, or don't you'll die idea...?

[psling]

You won't know the answer unless you try it and if you die as a result then well, you won't care anyway but at your wake they'll be either toasting "good old Bob, he was a genius you know" or "good old Bob, he was ...."

[ScotRoutes]

Half fat was a "thing" in the infancy of fatbiking. Quite a few Jones's were set up like that (with a 4" tyre). No reason not to try it but it was a fad that didn't seem to last.

[FLV]

I doubt you'll die, but it's not genius ......

[fatbikephil]

A mate still runs half fat, albeit with a 26er rear end. It looks a bit odd but works remarkably well. Do it, post pics and let the cognoscenti decide if it looks good

[voodoo_simon]

This was a thing about 10 years ago, remember Charlie the bike monger selling a package of Mukluk forks and a fat wheel to go into 26inch bikes.

Don’t think it really took off though…

[Bearbonesnorm]

I did it to an Inbred tears ago (similar geo to a Scandal) ... worked okay.

[jameso]

Jeff Jones said it was a better set up than full fat or full 29 for technical riding on a rigid bike. Only one man's opinion but I'd give his opinion plenty of weight.
Not tried it myself but a B+ / 29 combo on a Ramin felt promising. The trails locally didn't really justify it though. And they were often wet and sloppy which is where I wasn't so keen on fat tyres.

[Boab]

Thanks all! It was idle speculation, but I feel I might have to give this ago now...
Anyone got a 29" QR rear wheel going spare...?

[firestarter]

I had my jones like that it was 2.35 29er rear and 4.3 surly Edna up front and it was pretty much the same size the previous 3.8 tyre was a bit small , but I reckon a 2.4 rear 4.8 front would be great

[godivatrailrider]

I’ve had a number of bikes run as fat front, my Jones, my singular swift and my scandal. It works remarkably well. I now have the Jones as 650b+ and a Singular Rooster 29+. The swift frame cracked, the Scandal was stolen :(
I have fat forks and front wheel available …

[AlasdairMc]

Half fat was a "thing" in the infancy of fatbiking. Quite a few Jones's were set up like that (with a 4" tyre). No reason not to try it but it was a fad that didn't seem to last.

In fact I know of this exact setup being for sale in the classifieds…

Anyway - 29x2.2 is a bit bigger than 26x4, but not enough to be noticeable.