Attaching skis to my bike

[goofycc]

So now that the snow has begun to fall en mass here in Houghton (approx five feet in the last week), I've been using my cross bike to commute quite a bit (faster and cheaper than a car). I'm also a nordic skier, who is getting tired of walking to the trails every day. Does anyone have a good method to attach skis to your bike, or know of any racks that might allow me to do this?

Thanx

[arcticbiker]

I wish I had an easy answer. I ski as well. A good ride to the trail would be a great warm up. The ride home when you are cold and sweaty might be a killer though.

Have you thought of a trailer arrangement? It could be a short version of the bob.

[Hummeth]

do it like this (https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html)

[revolator]

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=57911&d=1194142161

This was posted by a fellow member Bekologist.

[Bekologist]

Houghton, eh? nice...... man, i miss convenient access to both skiing AND pasties.


A Tubus Cargo rack lets you simply wedge a set of (lower profile) xc skis in the rack. Seriously, they just wedge right in it, solid!

I've also strapped skis to the top tube, points backwards.

If you have a rack already, for just a few bucks you can easily build a very viable "Summit County" ski carrier out of some 2 feet or so of 4" PVC tubing, end cap for the bottom with a little foam padding glued to it, and a couple of hose clamps to attach it to the rack.

[goofycc]

do it like this (https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html)

Holy crap, a perfect way to combine my two favorite sports! Thanks!

Have you thought of a trailer arrangement? It could be a short version of the bob.[/url]A bob might work, but I have to ride up a large hill. Oh well, that's what my legs of steel are for:D

Have you thought of a trailer arrangement? It could be a short version of the bob.


Houghton, eh? nice...... man, i miss convenient access to both skiing AND pasties.

Exactly why I moved up here. And I'm amazed that someone knows where that's at.

A Tubus Cargo rack lets you simply wedge a set of (lower profile) xc skis in the rack. Seriously, they just wedge right in it, solid!

I'll have to give that a look.

I've also strapped skis to the top tube, points backwards.

Thats kinda what I was thinking, but does that give you enough room to pedal comfortably?

[StephenH]

Don't people sometimes just strap 'em to their backs when hiking uphill? (I assume you mean, "How do I carry a pair of skis while riding my bike?" and not "How do I make a ski-bicycle?")

[goofycc]

Don't people sometimes just strap 'em to their backs when hiking uphill? (I assume you mean, "How do I carry a pair of skis while riding my bike?" and not "How do I make a ski-bicycle?")

You assumed correctly, however, the ski-bicycle idea isn't half bad . . .

[velo2000]

I carried my snowboard on my bike once when I needed to drop it off for a tune-up on the way to work. I just used my backcountry backpack designed for carrying a snowboard. Maybe a backcountry pack designed to carry a pair of skis would work. Especially one of those packs that carries the skis at a diagonal across your back, that way the ski tails wouldn't hit your back tire.

[littlewaywelt]

a pvc tube with a screw on cap end can be zip tied to the non-derallieur side of the bike.

Drill a pair of holes in the tube and using strong zip ties, attach at the chain stay so your foot can still clear in the pedal motion

Drill another pair of holes and and also attach on the seat stay. If you do it correctly it will be very sturdy. It should angle slightly backwards and create a small triangle between the seat stay, chain stay and pvc tube.

I'd also recommend gluing some dense rubber to the side of the tube at the contact points with your frame.

The PVC tube should be about 2ft long.

Drill another set of holes on each side and use a bungee or cargo strap to go over the toe piece or heel piece of the binding to keep the ski from popping out on a bump.


The other option would be to get a backpack that carries the skis diagonally across the back. www.mgear.com (http://www.mgear.com) sells several. You could use almost any pack that has an ice axe loop that's off to the side rather than centered and then connect the top of the skis to the other side's side compression strap.

[mitchogden]

People have different opinions on the xtracycle, including what the extended wheel base does for riding in snow, but that could provide other ways to rig your skis (and give you more hauling options in general).

http://www.xtracycle.com/

[John Wilke]

The other option would be to get a backpack that carries the skis diagonally across the back. www.mgear.com (http://www.mgear.com) sells several. You could use almost any pack that has an ice axe loop that's off to the side rather than centered and then connect the top of the skis to the other side's side compression strap.

There 'ya go. I've tried simply wearing a ski bag like a backpack. Works okay while hiking, but I think the tail would hit the rear tire. If you had a luggage rack or fender covering the back tire, it might be workable.

I've thought of this for years, but never did it.

:D

(I just started hanging out on this group ... whoa ... other people who actually LIKE winter like me! ;) )

[mike]

Why not just turn the skiis on their side, bring the tails of the skiis as far forward toward the down tube as possible and bungee cord the skiis to the rear carrier? The skiis will be hanging pretty far off the rear of the bike (probably need a red flag in it), but I am guessing it will work.

I am going to try it tomorrow with telemark skiis - three pin bindings and a little more camber than downhill skiis, but I am hopeful this will work.

Has anybody else tried this simple method?