Reader’s Rig: Joe’s Moots Frosthammer

Words and photos by Joe McManus (@redrocksjoe)

Hi, I’m Joe from Moab, Utah. During the day, I work in computer security, but when I’m not at work, I take advantage of every second outside that I can. I’ve always loved bike riding, but my affair with the outdoors was ignited with a one-week backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail when I was a kid. After that, I could not keep out of the woods, usually on my mountain bike.

While I love bike riding and I love backpacking, never the twain had met. I went on a few old-school bike touring trips that never really lit the fire for me. With the new style of bikepacking and living in a hub for bikepacking, I can’t get enough of it.

I was living most of the year outside Rocky Mountain National Park, where the season for fat biking was long, and the conditions were incredible. After a few years on a Pugsley, I upgraded to this Moots Frosthammer. At the time, I only rode it in the winter, which was eight months long. Originally, it had an aluminum Salsa fork and BB7 cable discs.

When I moved full-time to the desert, I thought I might sell the bike. Who needs a snow bike in the desert? But what started with cruising around the old 24 Hours of Moab course on fat bikes opened up a whole new world of adventuring. I also realized I had to change a few things on the bike since rocky sandstone is different from the snow-packed trails of Peaceful Valley in the Indian Peaks. I swapped to a carbon Salsa fork and XT Brakes, two-piston rear and four-piston in the front. Other than that, most is the same as when I built it up.

• Frame 2016 Moots Frosthammer
• Fork Salsa Carbon
• Rims DT Swiss BR710
• Hubs DT Swiss 350
• Tires Maxxis 26 x 4.8″ FBF/FBR
• Handlebars Thomson Ti
• Headset Chris King
• Crankset Next
• Pedals Race Face Chester
• Cassette Shimano 11-speed 11-46
• Derailleur Shimano XT
• Brakes Shimano XT 8000
• Shifter(s) Shimano XT
• Saddle WTB Volt Ti
• Seatpost Thomson
• Stem Thomson
• Front bags Oveja Negra Bootleggers, O.N. Front End Loader, O.N. lunchbox
• Rear bags Oveja Negra Gearjammer, PDW bindle rack for snowshoes
• Accessory bags Soulrun original tool roll, Oveja Negra Chuckbucket, Swift EDC
• Other accessories Niterider Lumina 1100

In Moab, everyone gravitates to the classics like the Whole Enchilada, Amasa Back, etc. But the real adventure begins when you find a random two-track and start riding. A great source of inspiration is any black and white guidebook from FA Barnes. You can see the coolest things on a fat bike in Moab.

Keep up with Joe’s desert adventures on Instagram @redrocksjoe.

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