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Ned Overend Spotted with Specialized Fat Bike Prototype

Written by Zach Overholt
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Ned Overend Spotted with Specialized Fat Bike Prototype

At a recent fatbike race, MTBR user akt42 spotted Ned Overend with what appears to be a prototype Specialized fat bike. We’ve heard rumors of the big brands looking to jump on the fat bike wagon, and after seeing this, it can’t be far off. According to akt42, the hydroformed aluminum frame was running Big Fat Larrys on Clown Shoe rims built symmetrically and had a rear end wider than 170mm. So far we’ve heard rumors of 186.5 to 190mm rear fatbike hub width in the works and it looks like Specialized may jump right in with the new standard on their first go.

Check out a close up of the bike after the break.

Ned Overend Spotted with Specialized Fat Bike Prototype

The offset double e*thirteen crankset provides the necessary clearance for the BFLs. The frame looks pretty tasty with all of the hydroforming – I wonder what it weighs? Check out the thread on MTBR for more details.

 
Zach Overholt
5,729 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Rob
Rob
11 years ago

Points awarded to whomever for the branding of “Clown Shoe” rims.
Well done.

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Androo
Androo
11 years ago

It would be really nice if there was something in between a Pugsley and that Walmart fatbike on the market. Even if it was super basic, a $500-600 aluminum fatbike (Rigid fork. 1×8. Mechanical disks) would be excellent to broaden the market appeal.

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Quinn
Quinn
11 years ago

the weight is appealing, glad they are going with the wider hub, meaning no off set rear wheel or crank, though I am kind of surprised they are going with the wider Clown Shoe/BFL, that means you Have to get new/rebuilt wheels if you want to go with the narrower tires, especially if they go with the 170+ proprietary hub.

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WV Cycling
WV Cycling
11 years ago

I’d love to cut an inch off of those stanchions in order to have a more “leaned over” geometry on the bike. The risks of OTB’ing be damned!

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Xris
Xris
11 years ago

^^ Totally agreed. Would look like a race bike rather than a Fatbryd.

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Wes
Wes
11 years ago

WV Cycling and Xris, have you ridden through soft snow or sand very much? How has the “leaned over…OTB’ing be damned” approach worked for you? Just curious.

I hope this rumor comes true!

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Jackie
Jackie
11 years ago

And the race continues to find a way to sell yet another bike to the same customer that already has one of everything else this industry has come up with. The only brands attracting new customers to bicycling are the internet direct sellers that exist by scalping pricing. I kinda hope Mongoose just guts this fatbike thing quickly so the subject changes soon.

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Topmounter
Topmounter
11 years ago

Not bad for $7,500 list.

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Dave
Dave
11 years ago

And soon they will tell their dealers that after this bike comes out that they cannot be Salsa or Surly dealers anymore. Just as was done if you were are Giro or Giant dealer.

Instead of trying to get the same customers to buy more bikeshow about if all of the bike companies actually tried to get more new people on bikes by really lobbying for safer cycling routes for new cyclists.

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Fathead
Fathead
11 years ago

I saw this bike as well, I think the frame weight was under 4lbs, has a 190mm rear end, and a PF30bb.
Looks pretty sick if you ask me! Competition drives innovation!

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Bike Cycles
Bike Cycles
11 years ago

This is not their design for sure, but rather a “project black” bike that Ned rode for that event.
I think fat tires may attract new cyclists to the market.

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off-roadie
off-roadie
11 years ago

Interesting bar-end placement.

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SmooveP
SmooveP
11 years ago

@WV: The White Bros. Snowpack fatbike fork comes in 450 and 468mm A-to-C sizes. Not sure which one this is.

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SmooveP
SmooveP
11 years ago

@Jackie: Everything you said is wrong.

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Denny
Denny
11 years ago

Stop being whiner! More fatbike on market = good thing no where you slice it.

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Alan
Alan
11 years ago

@Topmounter, where are you getting your $7,500 price tag from?

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Surly Shawn
Surly Shawn
11 years ago

First Trek, then Mal-Wart, now Specialized. Let’s make bets on who is next. I say Giant.

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bleek
bleek
11 years ago

The new Specialized Stump-plumper?

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