Fat bikes require specialist parts such as tyres, rims, hubs and cranks. These can be more expensive than comparable parts for regular bikes and are often harder to come by, meaning there is less of a choice when it comes to speccing your bike.

So, yes they are easier to ride if you're a beginner, compared to a standard MTB. However, if you're looking for pace and to get up tricky climbs and down trails, then the weight and size make it much much harder to ride. You'll be exerting much more energy and therefore it's a harder ride.

Terrain Adaptability Fat bikes are designed to excel in environments where 'regular' bikes might falter. Their wide tires provide exceptional flotation on soft, unstable terrains such as snow, sand, and mud—surfaces where narrower tires would sink.

Big brands are still rolling Somewhat surprisingly, most of the major bike brands and even many mid-size brands still have at least one fat bike in their line, which shows there is still plenty of interest in the category.