Bicycles

BikeBoards take your bike skiing

BikeBoards take your bike skiing
BikeBoards recently debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
BikeBoards recently debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
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BIkeBoards adjust to various tire sizes
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BIkeBoards adjust to various tire sizes
Built like a regular ski, BikeBoards have a steel edge and sidecut
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Built like a regular ski, BikeBoards have a steel edge and sidecut
BikeBoards says its ski offers better float than even the fattest bikes out there
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BikeBoards says its ski offers better float than even the fattest bikes out there
BikeBoards recently debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
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BikeBoards recently debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
The BikeBoards attach to the front tire via a pin system
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The BikeBoards attach to the front tire via a pin system
To prevent the tire from moving, the BikeBoards kit includes a strap to lock the brake down
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To prevent the tire from moving, the BikeBoards kit includes a strap to lock the brake down
BikeBoards put to the test
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BikeBoards put to the test
Keeping the rear tire free allows riders to bike on flats and climbs
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Keeping the rear tire free allows riders to bike on flats and climbs
BikeBoards in the field
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BikeBoards in the field
Using BikeBoards on both tires transforms the bike into a full-blown ski bike
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Using BikeBoards on both tires transforms the bike into a full-blown ski bike
A new way to bike all year long
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A new way to bike all year long
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Bikes designed for snow, ice and weather have really become all the rage over the past few years. A new Colorado-based outfit thinks it has a solution for snow biking that's considerably better than fat tires. The BikeBoard puts a ski underneath the front tire, providing float in deep snow and metal-edged traction on hardpack. Bikes have officially gone skiin'.

When we took a look at Maria Leijerstam's Antarctic fat trike, several readers suggested that a ski system might be more effective up front. In fact, according to reports we read later, Leijerstam did carry front skis for negotiating deep snow. And she achieved her goal of becoming the first person to bike to the South Pole.

BikeBoards agrees that a front ski makes more sense than a tire for biking in snow. Its front bike ski is designed to convert a bike into a more capable snow tourer. In place of a sinking, sputtering front tire, the rider enjoys the float and glide of a short ski.

"[In deep snow] even a five-inch tire is bogging down," BikeBoard's Brian Hannon tells us. "This [BikeBoard] is gliding up and over the top – you're spending less energy, you're going faster. We've got video of going through 16 in (41 cm) of snow."

The BikeBoard uses a simple pin and strap system to adjust to and secure around the front tire. It is designed to fit tires with widths between 2 and 5 in (5 to 13 cm). The ski can be mounted in three positions based on snow and riding conditions – mounting it farther back will keep the tip out of the snow and deliver better float. Like a ski, it has a full steel edge, a bit of sidecut and curved tips, providing float in deep snow and grip and carving on harder, slicker snow and ice.

Keeping the rear tire free allows riders to bike on flats and climbs
Keeping the rear tire free allows riders to bike on flats and climbs

Unlike other full-blown ski bikes that entail removing the wheels entirely to replace them with skis, the BikeBoard offers the advantage of maintaining the bike's fully geared drivetrain, allowing the rider to bike on flat and uphill terrain, as well as downhill. Also, since the front wheel stays on, the BikeBoard can be removed on the go should the snow give way to dry ground. It can then be strapped to a backpack or thrown on a bike rack until it's needed again.

We assume that the BikeBoard will work smoothest with a fat tire in back, but the company also says that the board can be used on other bike styles, including BMX and regular 26- and 29-in mountain bikes. If you need more traction than a bike tire can provide, we could see rigging a KTRAK in back and BikeBoard up front.

Another interesting possibility Hannon mentions is using a BikeBoard with a motorized dirt bike, as a sort of snowmobile bike. He says Pedego is offering a BikeBoard-powered "electric snowmobile" version of its Trail Tracker fat bike in Europe. You can see that e-bike in action in the first video at the bottom of the page.

A variety of bikes means a variety of riding styles. BikeBoards envisions using the boards for everything from flat commutes in deep snow to adrenaline-spiking downhill riding.

Hannon compares snowy downhilling on a regular bike with a BikeBoard-equipped bike: "Imagine yourself going downhill, two wheels are sliding sideways, you got a leg out, you're trying to tripod it. With this, you put your weight up a little bit forward, now you've got weight on a metal edge and you're carving downhill."

BikeBoards haven't earned their South Pole chops just yet, but the company has discussed its idea with Eric Larsen, who abandoned a South Pole bike attempt last year after being slowed to a crawl by deep snow. We reached out to Larsen to pick his brain, and he tells us he likes the idea on paper but would have to put the boards to the test to really say whether or not they're an improvement over the regular fat bike he used.

BikeBoards debuted at this week's Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show. They're available for order now, starting at US$375 for a complete kit.

The second video below shows some general BikeBoard action, including both front- and dual-tire configurations.

Source: BikeBoards

Pedego & BikeBoards

Board Biking!

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5 comments
5 comments
Rehab
I am for anything bike, but would prefer electric drive over this. 16" of powder not likely! With electric drive you have both feet sliding on the snow or ice to keep you upright. Bikes are the future keep trying!
Slowburn
Great until you hit exposed rocks or pavement.
marty@bozeman
Sketchy at best
turbolove
did you see the price?!?!? yikes. not sure this is going to be a hot seller. totally overpriced. good luck though.
bike-on
Have you checked out the prices to build up conversion kits or to buy a ski bike? The price posted for these is way less expensive. And I don't worry about rocks or roots when I'm skiing or snowboarding. In the least if you are interested in serious winter biking these seem to show they have the flexibility to be of use when needed and easily removed when they're not. Think I could have some fun.