How to Compete in a Snow Bike Competition

Snow bike competitions are a new thing. While the sport has been around for a few years, only recently has it become so popular that more and more riders are ready to compete to showcase their expertise. If you want to join a snow biking competition, you should be ready for a grueling experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Join a Competition

1. Make sure you have experience. Competitions for snow bikers include a mix of tricks (like riding on ice or riding with your feet off the pedals), technical maneuvers and endurance. Others cover a wide variety of terrain, mixing ice with fresh or packed snow and uphill or downhill sections.
2. Check the requirements before you sign up to compete in any race. Some require a specific type of bike or certain adjustments in tires, riding seats or heights. Others have a minimum or maximum age required of the riders or are specially created for either women or men participants.
3. Attend a few competitions to get a feel for the various riding styles. Some areas are more concentrated in skills and tricks, while others emphasize speed and technique. Knowing what to expect before you compete will give you an edge over competitors.
4. Look for amateur competitions, which are often organized in small towns and off-road near the back country. Many of these competitions are unregulated and offer small prizes, but they are a great way to get you started.
5. Join the Iditarod Trail Invitational if you have the experience and courage to try something extreme. The 350-mile (short version) or 1100-mile (long version) race takes participants across Alaska on a multi-day challenge that only the experts should attempt. The world's longest winter bike race, the Iditarod is held on wild country, without using man-made roads.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not ready for a full-on competition, try Chicago's Icicle Bicycle Festival, a non-competitive event which attracts snow bikers from all over the country. The annual event, held in January, offers participants the chance to learn snow biking tricks, ride in groups and attend special events.
• Make sure you choose a race that fits your level of experience, health and equipment. Pay special attention to technical requirements, as they may get you disqualified faster than any other aspect.
• Some competitions are now asking for a medical release before letting you sign up. This is because the conditions of the race (especially those focusing on endurance) may be too difficult for some people to bear.