Ventana El Gordo Fatbike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB and Gates Belt Drive

El Gordo hardtail build in Orange

This sharp looking orange Ventana El Gordo went to a happy customer in Delafield, WI. He had been running a Gates Carbon Drive belt system on a Trek Sawyer set up single speed and loved the low maintenance aspects of the belt but wanted additional gears. He had considered putting a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 on the Sawyer to get more gears, but he really wanted to run wider tires than the Sawyer would allow. He was excited when Rohloff introduced the SPEEDHUB XL - the fat bike version of their gear hub - last fall and contacted us to put together a no-fuss fat bike for year round trail riding including his snowy Midwest winters.

Ventana's rocking dropouts provide solid wheel positioning for tensioning the belt

Ventana's US-made El Gordo frame is a great starting point for a fat bike, and our Cycle Monkey edition offers clean integration with Rohloff's SPEEDHUB, Gates' belt system, and dropper seatposts.  This build is very similar to the bike we built for in-house use with the exception of a dropper seat post.

With huge tires and a suspension fork, this bike inspires a lot of confidence, especially on steep or loose terrain. The 4.8" tires absorb many of the impacts that you would usually want a full suspension frame for. Adding the suspension fork makes you feel like you can hit pretty much any line you come across. Fatbikes have really entered a new phase in their development with the introduction of the Bluto fork, and the Rohloff SPEEDHUB and Gates belt drive are a great compliment. With a Rohloff/Gates drivetrain, you don't have to think about the weather report before taking off on an offroad adventure!

Halo Tundra Alloy fatbike rims, Vee Rubber Snowshoe XL tire

For this wheelset, we used Halo's Tundra 80mm rims with weight saving cut outs like many other fat bike rims. These were laced to the SPEEDHUB XL in the back and a Hope Pro2 Fatsno up front.  Vee Rubber's Snowshoe XL 4.8" tires finish the wheels off, fit great, and provide lots of traction on a variety of trail conditions.

Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL, Belt Drive

The drivetrain on this El Gordo gives you the same effective gear range as a conventional MTB drivetrain without any duplicate gears. The shifting mechanism is sealed inside the rear hub shell, so you don't have to think about cross chain shifting, unexpected chain drops, lubrication, or worn cassettes. An annual oil change is the only suggested routine maintenance, and with the Gates Carbon Drive belt system, you can ride upwards of 7,000 miles (20,000 on the road) before you need to replace the belt and sprockets.

Ventana El Gordo with Rock Shox Bluto

If you are interested in an El Gordo, get in touch to discuss the options for building one up to meet your needs.  We have several pre-selected parts kits available as well as offering full custom build options.

Build Details:

• Frame: Ventana El Gordo
• Fork: Rock Shox Bluto
• Headset: Hope Tapered
• Stem: Thompson X4
• Handlebar: Thomson Alloy Riser
• Shifter: Rohloff Twist Shifter
• Grips: ESI Chunky Silicone
• Seat post: Thomson Elite Setback
• Saddle: SQ-Lab 611 Active
• Seat Clamp: Ventana
• Front Hub: Hope Pro 2 EVO FatSno
• Rear hub: Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL 500/14
• Spokes: Sapim
• Nipples: Sapim Brass
• Rims: Halo Tundra Alloy 80mm
• Tires: Vee Rubber Snowshoe XL 4.8
• Cranks: Race Face Turbine
• Pedals: Acros A-Flat
• Bottom Bracket: Race Face X-type
• Chain ring: Gates Carbon Drive
• Rear Sprocket: Gates Carbon Drive
• Chain: Gates Carbon Drive CDX
• Brakes & Levers: Magura MT
• Rotors: Magura rear, Magura Front
• Extras: Rock Shox lockout remote