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Two-Wheel Drive Christini 29er Fat Snow Bike Developed for Ride to South Pole

Written by Tyler Benedict
20 Comments
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Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole

If there were ever an application for an all-wheel drive mountain bike, this is it. Christini’s been making mountain bikes with two wheel drive for quite some time, starting development in 1995 and selling the first bike in 2001. He’s even ported the tech over to motorbikes.

Now, he’s built  a custom version of his 29″ hardtail to accommodate fat bike tires and parts to support an upcoming attempt to ride a bike to the South Pole! The frame uses his patented system that runs an axle from a gear on the non-driveside of the rear hub, through the frame to the headtube, then down through the fork. In this case, it’s a custom titanium fork built by Carver Bikes in Maine. The trick will be to keep all the moving parts, well, moving in the arctic conditions.

UPDATE: In other news, they’ll be cranking up a limited run of their standard 29er hardtail this fall, and an even more limited run of this frame with its wider BB and axle spacing for anyone dreaming of their own icy adventures.

Video and more pics below…

The bike is being test ridden by professional athlete Kate Leeming from Australia in the snow and ice of Spitsbergen / Norway in preparation for a South Pole cycling expedition during the next Antarctic summer (December/January). (follow her on Twitter @Leeming_Kate)

 

Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole

Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole

Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole

Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole

Christini all-wheel drive 29er fat snow bike mountain bike for ride to the South Pole
Tyler Benedict
11,280 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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Sevo
Sevo
11 years ago

Ideal application for his system. Love it.

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wheelguy
wheelguy
11 years ago

Way cool and and best of luck to her on the expedition!

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wheelguy
wheelguy
11 years ago

This is not going to be a solo, self-supported attempt like was attempted by Eric Larsen earlier this year http://www.ericlarsenexplore.com/ , since she will have a full TV crew, snowmobiles for guides, etc, but making it all the way by fat bike even with all this support would be a good start. I’d love to see Eric Larsen get a second crack at it with his self-supported purist style.

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NotAMachinist
NotAMachinist
11 years ago

Give props to Larsen, when he realized he wouldn’t make it there and back he turned around and rode out instead of getting stuck and requiring a dangerous rescue.

Good luck Ms. Leeming!

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LanceAndre
LanceAndre
11 years ago

really recommend poggies… but the bike is way cool.

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frank
frank
11 years ago

Yeah, what is it with these Antarctic people and their aversion to poagies?

Also, I think she’s going to want a wider rear rim for more float.

How cool would it be if the first person to ride to the South Pole was a woman?!

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Mike
Mike
11 years ago

Turbine wides on a south pole fatbike, sweet!

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ChadQuest
ChadQuest
11 years ago

I’ve worked on these christini bikes numerous times.

Glad i have never owned one. nor will i ever.

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Jason Olivieri
Jason Olivieri
11 years ago

hope she has a great trip good lookin bike

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Ham-planet
Ham-planet
11 years ago

@frank
A wider rear rim will not grant more ‘float’.
It would be just as cool if the first person to ride to the South Pole was a man!!

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Ummmm
Ummmm
11 years ago

High hopes

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Lancelotlink17
Lancelotlink17
11 years ago

A wider rear wheel and tire will increase the float.

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JP
JP
11 years ago

Looks like a wider rim and tire would not fit the frame. It may be that the two wheel drive will negate the need for more float in the rear. Would she benefit from more weight distributed to the front wheel? Lower bar position? Drop bars? We Alaskans want to know! Please keep us updated.

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tomai
tomai
11 years ago

Channeling some serious Cannondale Killer V into that frame

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Graeme Chracker
Graeme Chracker
11 years ago

Unless 45NRTH and Surly have made special tires for this machine than it is not a 29er. The tires on this bike are only available in 26in. Hopefully Christini does intend to make a replica of this frame and a 29er in either hard tail or full suspension.

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Carver Bikes
Carver Bikes
11 years ago

That’s Christini’s fork, actually.

There wasn’t enough clearance for a Clown Shoe in the rear, unfortunately.

The Christini was a breeze to build and works great, psyched to see the project worked out.

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Richard Page
Richard Page
10 years ago

Is there anyway to have a copy of this bike? I”m hot buyer now.

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TheMayor
TheMayor
10 years ago

Looks to be a perfect application for this tool. I would think with a lighter person and typically hard snow that a wider rim or tire may not be a huge advantage. I can definitely see where the two-wheel drive will be an advantage though.
A 29er frame will be the same size as a 26″ fat bike. The 26″ fat tires actually will run a little larger diameter than most 29er wheels because of their huge volume.

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BP
BP
10 years ago

You linked the Christi motor cycles. Here’s a link to the awd bicycles for sale: http://www.christinibicycles.com/bikes.php

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Tim Voth
Tim Voth
8 years ago

Put a Kranked esuperdrive on that 29er and you’d be rippin.

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