Fatbike is Dialed In

Six years in, and the Northrock finally feels properly dialed.

What started as a $496 gamble in 2020 — just to see if I could get back on a bike and feel even remotely comfortable — has turned into something I genuinely look forward to riding.

The biggest transformation came from the drivetrain.

The first piece — and honestly the hardest to find — was a 10-speed thread-on freewheel. Once I tracked down an 11–36T, the rest of the plan could fall into place.

From there:

• Shimano Deore M5120 derailleur (with clutch)
  
  

• Shimano M5100 10-speed trigger shifter
  
  

• 10-speed chain
  
  

• 32T oval chainring (same tooth count as the old ring)
  
  

• Orange RockBros flat pedals
  
  

• Dillinger 4 tires – 26x4.2
  
  

• 203mm brake rotors
  
  

The original setup was a 36T chainring paired with an 11–28T 7-speed freewheel.

Now it’s a 32T oval with 11–36T out back.

That’s not just an upgrade — it’s a meaningful jump in usable range.

The old lowest gear ratio was 36/28 (1.29).
Now the lowest gear is 32/36 (0.89).

That’s roughly a 31% easier climbing gear.

On paper, that’s numbers.

On the trail?

It means hills are no longer something I brace for. I just spin.

The 32T oval chainring smooths out the pedal stroke beautifully. Combined with the wider cassette range and the Deore clutch keeping things tight and quiet, climbing feels controlled and steady instead of grindy and awkward.

The 203mm rotors are a drastic improvement in braking confidence — especially with a 4.2” tire trying to keep rolling once it gets momentum. And those Dillinger 4s? The grip compared to the original stock tires is unreal. Sand, loose gravel, shoulder-season slop — they just hook up.

After a few small tweaks to bar position and some micro-adjustments to the derailleur, it’s about as close to perfect as this bike has ever felt.

Six Years. $1,100 CAD

All in — including the original purchase — I’m sitting at roughly $1,100 CAD over six years.

For something that has helped me stay active, mobile, and outdoors? That feels like a win.

Cycling has real benefits for neuropathy and degenerative disc issues. It’s low-impact. It promotes circulation. It strengthens core and supporting muscles without the compression that comes with running or heavy lifting. It keeps things moving — physically and mentally.

And that’s what this bike is about.

Not speed.
Not distance.
Not Strava stats.

Just getting out there.

Slow miles.
Steady spin.
Moving forward.

Here’s to another six years of enjoying an entry-level fatbike that refuses to quit.