Win Winter on Canyon’s Speedy Dude Fat Bike

Win Winter on Canyon’s Speedy Dude Fat Bike

As far as I can deduce, the Canyon Dude isn't an homage to Jeff Bridges's character in The Big Lebowski. And it's not named after the bike industry's Dude, alter ego of Wick Wickster—an iconic fixture in the​ ​PNW cycling scene​.

"Dude" just doesn't fit with the rest of the German brand's model names, which are more intense sounding like Ultimate, Strive, Torque, and Exceed. Dude sounds laid back and mellow, which is out of character for a brand that focuses on racing and high-performance bikes.

But after a few rides, it is evident that this dude is more of a DUDE! This light, quick, and race-oriented f​ at bike​ ​is totally in keeping with Canyon's focus on speed.

2019 vs. 2020 Dude The bike reviewed here is a 2019 model. For 2020, Canyon is selling one model in the USA with a different build that my 2019 review bike. The 2020 Dude CF 8.0 model uses the same frameset—albeit

in a fetching red and not the dull black of the review bike—with different parts.

The most significant parts change for 2020 is the 4.8-inch Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tires—2019 came with 4.0-inch—which will improve its floatation and traction. Other differences include Shimano MT420 brakes (SRAM Guide in 2019), DT-Swiss BR 2300 (80 grams heavier than the 2019's wheelset), an aluminum seat-post on the 2020 model (2019's Dude got a carbon post), and an SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with 11-50 cassette instead of the 2019's GX Eagle with 10-50 cassette.

The differences will make the 2020 bike a bit heavier, but it's also $300 cheaper—$2,499 VS. $2,799 for the 2019 model—and comes with better (wider) tires.

Smaller Wheels Larger-diameter tires have infiltrated​ fat bikes​, just as they have every other category. Larger-diameter tires, in most cases, roll faster and more smoothly, but fat bikes are all about floatation and the widest tires—anything over 4.5-inches—are for 26-inch wheels.

The 2020 Dude rolls on 4.8-inch tires, which happens to be the maximum stated clearance. Canyon doesn't explicitly say so, but I suspect it might take 27.5 wheels wrapped in skinnier rubber if you felt like investing in another wheel and tire set.

Low Weight and High Value It's not just the tires that are fat—fat bikes usually weigh a lot too.

There's just a lot of big stuff on a fat bike—wider rims, big tires,

wider thru-axles and hubs, wider crank spindle. But the 2019 Dude with its carbon frame and rigid carbon fork alighted on my scale at just 26.25 pounds (size medium). And that's with tubes—a tubeless conversion should drop a bit more weight.

It's not just the tires that are fat—fat bikes usually weigh a lot too.

There's just a lot of big stuff on a fat bike—wider rims, big tires, wider thru-axles and hubs, wider crank spindle. But the 2019 Dude with its carbon frame and rigid carbon fork alighted on my scale at just 26.25 pounds (size medium). And that's with tubes—a tubeless conversion should drop a bit more weight.

2020 with its down-spec build will weigh more, but should still be one of the lighter fat bikes in its price range. That's because Canyon's value story is at work here—it is one of the least expensive full-carbon fat bikes you can buy. However, don't forget

to add Canyon's shipping charges—$89 when I checked—when comparing prices to other bikes.

Compact Frame The Dude has an aggressively sloping top tube, which makes for a smaller front triangle. This has its tradeoffs. On the positive, more standover clearance is extremely welcome when you have to put a foot down in deep, soft snow. Negatives include less room for frame packs and room for only one water bottle inside the triangle.

Frame details of note include a removable front derailleur mount, routing provision for a dropper-post remote, and 197/150mm (rear/front) hub spacing. The rear dropouts feature a chip that lets you shorten the stays, but the short position is only compatible with narrower tires. A stop built into the headset protects the top tube from damage caused by the bars colliding with the frame.