pedaling the ski slope ?

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mimis

I'm planning to ride on snow ground this winter. How realistic is my idea of doing so on a ski slope? I have a full susp klein mtb with spd's and soft sole shoes with treads.Of course i will change the tyres to studded ones. Anybody that has tried it before could give a tip?
I think that fresh powder has the most fun (if passable) but i could settle with packed too

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Bekologist

I've done it; some buds and I would blitzkreig our local ski hill back in the 80's with our mtn bikes... It's fun and way different. Firm snow, spring snow pack still frozen in the morning is the best. Once it gets soft, its pretty tough.

Anticipate diving front wheel, the inability to steer, and generally falling a lot.

Saying "it's got no front end!" is an understatement.

Mtn Mike

I've ridden on cross country trails before, but not down hill slopes (at least not in the winter) I think that the conditions will dictate what your tire set up should be. If the slopes are hard packed and icy, then studs would be the way to go. If conditions are soft, or warm, without any ice, then I'd run as wide a tire as you can find. On the cross country ski trails, I found that my 2.4 WTB moto raptors, run at 15-20 lbs worked great. I just got studs this year, and I'm waiting for a good freeze so that I can try them out on icy ski or snowmobile trails.

khuon

http://www.bikesonsnow.com/

http://bikesonsnow.homestead.com/carves_op_420x466.jpg

I'm sure there are plenty of others. Just remember to scream, "I want my two dollars" as you go plunging down the slopes. :D

ajay677

I've done ski slopes in summer, but winter? I don't know about that.

kuan

Bekologist

Oh, and most ski hills won't let you ride on the slopes when the ski season is on. Head out prior to them opening, go on a ski 'carnival' day, or hit the snow after the lifts have stopped running for the season. Sometimes our 'blitzkreigs' would consist of rushing the lift op and hopping on the chair with shouldered bikes, our season passes in hand....the local ski patrol HATED us.

That bike/ski setup Khuon posted would definetly help with the lack of steering and the front wheels's tendency to dive and throw you...nice one!

Mtn Mike

That's just inconsiderate. I don't downhill ski but I cross country almost every day and I hate it when people walk their dogs on the trails or even snowshoe. These are the same trails I ride in the summer. There are tons of places for you to downhill riding and there is a place for everything.

It depends where you are. At real ski resorts, with actual groomed trails, where people pay to ski, I can see your point (although I might not feel obligated to follow the advice) :D . But in state parks with multi-use trails, there is never a designated sport of the season. It gets on my nerves when people assume cycling is a summer time sport, and should not be done in the winter. There a few trails by my house that are multi-use in the summer, but are dominated by xc skiers in the winter. Not that I've had any complaints, but I'd question anyone who told me I couldn't ride my bike there in the winter.

TrekDen

I've seen it done as an organized sport on TV. Probably the X-Games, or something similar. Like it's said above, ski resorts reserve the warmer months for cycling activities. If you find one that will let you do it, go for it. It looked like fun on TV.

fruitless

the ski patrol generally frowns on it, at least in the winter

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