Snow-biking on the Surly Moonlander: How does it ride in the white stuff?

[@patrickwilson694]

Please we need more moonlander content. Well done

[@travispitcher9214]

Fatbikes have this ability to take what could be terrible and make it amazing and new somehow. This was fun to see and got me stoked to get out and crank a bit.

[@mhargler]

This was a fun video. Enjoyed this format.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Good to know, thanks!

[@033biketrips]

what a joy to see a fatbike in the snow! Enjoyed the ride like if I was riding too! No snow in Kyiv, Ukraine now so it was a bless to see! Thanks

[@sober041978]

Neil, you are a terrific ambassador for biking! Got back from Hartman an hour ago and it is riding great. A big thanks to Gunnison Trails!

[@schankbone]

WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS VIDEO YESTERDAY

[@PumpkinVillage]

Now you went and did it. Now I need a new bike. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@WildlandExplorer]

I mean a few seconds in I see a contact patch bigger than the shoes I go backpacking in snow. Of course it handles fine in the snow! lol. BTW I bought a Coros Dura based on this channel's review of it. So far I'm impressed at the battery life. 9 rides in I think it's still at 89% battery, and most of my rides are late afternoon into dusk. It says it's charged about 3.5% via solar during that time. The scroll wheel isn't perfect but it's far, far better than trying to use a touchscreen with gloves - tis the season.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thanks for sharing, pretty excited to have Coros help support this channel for 2025. It's such a great product, and I believe there is another impressive firmware update coming soon.

[@vander82]

This looked exhausting!

[@Jl454w]

wow... love the white sand there... lol and yes, I really like that FB!

[@___IG]

Gorgeous ride

[@jordan_calderon88]

Would love to see a comparison between the Voytek and Moonlander! Great video as always Neil

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

That Voytek on those groomed trails is an absolute blast.

[@kimmoniemimuukko4194]

More Moonlander videos 👌🏻

[@tiberiumnp8030]

PSI seems a bit high for those conditions? But I’ve ridden max 5” Veetire Snowshoes so not sure how different that would be, looks so wild!

[@whirving]

That looked like it took those rough bits like a champ. Seems like the snow we have up here in interior Alaska, dry, no structure but sets up really easy once its worked. Also...I tried to talk to the moose about their trail etiquette and they didn't appreciate my concerns, at all.

[@gregmittelman3600]

wild bike! but i need them sunglasses

[@switchbackboy]

Interesting bike! I miss Hartmans. Its been 30 years or more since my last ride there.

[@curtis.strange]

The sounds it makes would drive me mad haha looks like a damn good time nonetheless

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

one of the best sounds in the world is the crunching of snow under the tires.

[@GHinWI]

@@BIKEPACKINGcom: that was some primo squeaky snow.

[@emile345]

A 12 speed or even 18 speed Pinion would serve this bike even better, it seems

[@martinschwartz7342]

The 18 speed Pinion is a lot more expensive than the 9 speed. The 12 speed is only a little more expensive. I think Surly should have gone with the 12 speed. I would like a Moonlander with the Pinion MGU the gearbox/electric motor combo. The electric motor paired with the 6.2 inch tires would get you through a lot that you can’t peddle through on any other fat bike.

[@funvids6377]

Would be a fantastic setup!​@@martinschwartz7342

[@KwadSkwad]

head on shot at 3:02 makes the q factor look monstrous. do you notice that any or is it just my eyes?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

it is pretty monstrous. I would much prefer something a bit more narrow, but can't complain given the massive tires.

[@russellzauner]

omg i want to see the tiny snowplow they use to groom the single track also i am designing an adaptive trike around these tires and rims so I can go overland like walkin folks

[@K9Manhunters]

How is it that you were alone in a place like that?! Such beautiful landscape and fun video to watch! Every year I think about getting a fat bike, but here in Switzerland we get less and less snow (except in the mountains) and i found that on hard packed snow I was still able to ride my hardtail with 2.4 tires BUT it can be a bumpy ride😂

[@vanderhovenhaven]

I think I will do that tomorrow on my "normal" fatty. Fun video

[@MouthfulOfDonuts]

Video Idea: winter overnighter bikepacking with the Moonlander

[@mustclime5311]

cool video, question, what do you think about the handle bars?

[@rafaeldegiacomoaraujo8778]

fun stuff!

[@TimR123]

Beautiful. A great example of just messing around on a bike for fun. On day one, what was that trail groomed for? Didn’t look like XC ski. How much extra resistance are you experiencing (vs normal dirt riding)? The sound made it seem HARD How’s the braking?

[@biosfearmag]

Damn, that looks fun. But, I can't justify owning a bike like this in Portland, Oregon. Portland Maine would be a different story.

[@williamschultz298]

How do they even groom the snow on the trails?

[@monsieurgarage]

Was about to ask the very same question. I hope someone will tell us....

[@DrewPeabawls]

@@monsieurgarage they just hop on a boulder and ride it around like the good old days

[@slowwerthensnot]

Good thoughts Neil, do you think different handlebars and position in that long wheelbase would help in softer conditions?

[@monsieurgarage]

@@DrewPeabawls Oh damn, I didn't expect it to be that easy. Thanks a lot 😄😄

[@TimKugler83]

Gunnison Trails grooms 20 miles of winter singletrack out at Hartman Rocks using a tracksled from TracksUSA called the Trail Tamer. A labor of love, but the winter trails are pretty unreal

[@JamesDobsonMedia]

Would you do the ITI on the moonlander? Id love to see someone take it on this year.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

The 1000 miler, yes. I would try and lighten some things up on it, but it seems like the perfect tool for the job.

[@cowymtber]

26psi? Shouldn't you run at 4psi in snow and sand?

[@jacekgoda2731]

I couldn't read the gauge reading in the video and was wondering if "two six" meant 26PSI or 2.6PSI, as both are doable even on 26x4 tires in a pugsley :P though the last is definitely for clear soft sand. I would also go 2.6PSI rather than 26PSI in these conditions. It's like riding an MTB with 80PSI - doable, but pointless. @edit: anyway it's way better than Seth from berm beak. He didn't even have a pressure gauge and used the moonlander for trail mtb stuff - I guess one of the least intended usages for this bike, save for maybe road and gravel

[@putrid_swamp_juice]

I wonder why Surly opted for the 9 speed instead of the 12 speed. Is there such a huge price difference? I'm hoping they will make more pinion frames though.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

I assume price point had something to do with it.

[@chuffhanson]

Less pressure, 1-1.5. Maybe then it would float?

[@stevekelly6544]

What kind of boots are you riding in out there?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

45 NRTH Öland Boot been really loving them. great for around town and on the bike.

[@Incorruptus1]

Lol you just can't get enough of the big tires aren't you? HAHAHA I can so imagine the use of it, but even for snow I can't use it in the Netherlands. Maybe on a beach is all. And I don't live near one that close unless it is a lake side beach sand depository. Such. Forest. But I rather use 2.6 s.8 for those. :D So no still can't use it would ride it.❤

[@jonathanbenn2241]

Phat biking on frozen sand dunes locally. Beats the basement.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

no doubt, better than the trainer.

[@wlstump]

That was good, well done. However... there are conditions it's best to go xc skiing rather than fat biking.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Do what you love, and don't let anyone tell you what activity you should be doing.

[@marekhlina74]

Power assist Bimotal and you have ultimate setup

[@mikecuriak6140]

C'mon Neil -- quit messing around with the kid stuff! You have a huge motor, you just need to leave the town trails behind and COMMIT to lower pressures. 2.3psi is dirt pressure in those meats! Get down below 1psi and *then* start experimenting! Go park at Pitkin and ride to Taylor via Tincup. Maybe continue over Cottonwood if you have a night to spend. If a sled has ridden there, you can too...

[@patmarlin2935]

I hit a moose track the other day on 26 x 4in tires and it darn near dislocated my shoulder.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Its the worst!

[@mazditzo]

Surly always 2 cutting corner at the wrong parts for their full-time release sigh... should give us more gears option for this,

[@ChesterChi3]

Getting Ali G vibes from the first shot with the glasses and hat...

[@GHinWI]

Thing with fat biking is groomed trails are the best, and while this bike looks cool, it’s not really the best thing for groomed trails. It’s an interesting concept, but the use case is really specific.

[@kevinhodgson2085]

You should have tried going down to 1psi for a proper test in ungroomed snow. On a 6.2 inch the rim shouldn't be bottoming out at 1psi.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

maybe you’re right, but i just think the conditions were impossible with zero moisture and deep snow.

[@thomreynolds1318]

Fourth not forth folks

[@reeceholmes8546]

that bike would be so cool with an electric assist and I don't like electric bikes, thanks Neil I love snow

[@marnig9185]

Pinion MGU;)

[@vanderhovenhaven]

Your grandma called, she wants her e-bike back.

[@reeceholmes8546]

@@vanderhovenhaven haha right on

[@MrFiercetrim]

Yes, as @marnig9185 said there is an electric version of the pinion gearbox they make and it should be compatible with the frame, according to Pinion's literature. I have a big fat dummy that I have an electric front hub and a Rohloff rear hub. The Moonlander now puts that to shame 😢.

[@nicholaslafferty3928]

Downvoted😂

[@gregknipe8772]

three things. 1) you need a revenue maker. 2) surly desperately needs revenue.so here we are, ins surly limbo. 3) there are annoying surly fans who will take these bikes where we may not want to see yet another bike fanatic, places that dont have bikes, where we can get away by foot. and be alone. without bikes. wish surly had made a bike that its fanatics (and others) could actually use in normal daily life, like efficient commuting to work and shopping. surly desperately needs bike sales. this pinion set up would have worked on anything that surly makes that has a practical daily use. 4) July fanatics are a huge turn off. have you become one?