How Snowbikes Are Taking Over The Slopes This Year
It has been waiting in the background, slowly growing in popularity and support, and now it is ready to be unveiled on the world properly.The sport of snowbiking involves traveling down a traditional ski run on a modified bicycle. The idea was conceived over 50 years ago, but people found that using a conventional bike was ineffective and rather dangerous. For many years ski and snowboard fans have been working on advancing designs in the hope of developing something that worked. After years of trial and error, and a few accidents, a snowbike design was finally conceived that was both functional and practical.
A Canadian firm currently offers the best bike on the market and they have announced the first snowbike world championship will take place next year. Rather than being built for tricks or jumps, snowbikes are normally purpose-built for control and carving ability. This will be reflected in the world championship events that will be based around slalom and speed competitions. Most of the snowbikes on the market have adopted a shape and design like a snowmobile. Steering comes in the form of a front-mounted large blade which is attached to handlebars, and the bike is lower to the ground than conventional bikes. This enables the rider to turn relatively sharply, but instead of having an engine at the back propelling the device, it of course relies on gravity to build up momentum.
Snowbike manufactures admit that snowbiking is not the easiest of extreme sports to master, but that it is well worth putting in the hours to master. Apparently learning how to snowbike shares similarities with learning to ride traditional mountain bikes. Although a very different movement and balance is needed, once you learn the skills, it will be something you never forgot.Now that adult snowbikes have proved a success, women’s and children’s snowbikes are starting to be manufactured. A portable fold-up version of the snowbike has also now been made that can fit in a regular backpack.
There will be a temptation for many proficient snowboarders and skiers to tackle the hardest runs straight away, but manufacturers urge people to start of small and build up, no matter how good you think you will be. Snowbikes are much harder to stop than snowboards or skis, and if you havent mastered the technique you will not only be risking your own safety, but you may be endangering the safety of other winter sports enthusiasts also.
In fact there have been a number of ski resorts in America who have banned snowbiking from their slopes until they have done their own safety tests. The majority of locations however are understanding to snowbikers, but still suggest that everyone is careful until we know just how safe they are. Whatever resorts think of the bikes, with a reported 30,000 snowbikers worldwide, this one seems like a trend that is going to stick (or slide as the case may be).
