I seem to be having the same conversation over and over again. It starts somewhat like this, “Cool, is that one of those snowbikes?”. All right, I think, this guy gets it. But then after I answer all his questions, you know the typical, “How much, how heavy, how fast” list, I get the bomb dropped. “Huh, well I ski in the winter” I hear come out of a face that mixes a look of superiority with more than a hint of pity for the poor cyclist who chose to live in the Rocky Mountains and suffer through the long powder cycles not possibly understanding why every one else is so excited to go skiing when all he wants to do is turn the cranks on his Frankenstein answer to snowy roads and trails. This is where the potential to fall into the category of oh how should I put it, close minded idiot, comes into play.

Here’s the truth of the situation. I moved here to ski. I could care less if I don’t bike one wheel length from November to April. Yeah that’s right, since I was a kid skiing called to me more than its summer “time killing ’til winter comes again” counterpart. So why in the hell do I think snowbiking is cool when it could easily fall into the snow blading category of pass times? Because it is. And I had no idea either until I tried it. In fact, I was right at the front of the “biking is for the summer, skiing is for the winter” class until my good friend Chris E uttered the words that changed my attitude for good, “When the high pressure hits I go Skate Skiing, what do you do?” OH, BUSTED. Ok, I love skiing… but mainly in the backcountry.

So, therefore, sometimes the skiing sucks. Inevitably we get trapped in the high and dry cycle that leaves us with the options of ice, sun crust, or really tracked north facing Styrofoam. Of course when I even start down this road of logic with skeptical guy from above I get slapped with more of the same holier than though attitude that goes something like, “I always have my little spots to get freshies. I never have to ski bad snow.” Sure, I know, this guy has obviously been here longer, skied more lines, found more stashes, never waits in line at the coffee shop, always gets the green light when he’s late, and oh yeah, apparently always has a full day to go hit his “secret stash” that requires skiing four ridge lines back through what… shitty snow.

My reality is, I often only have an hour or two to get some outside time. Sure, my first choice is to ski the Pass, but that’s sometimes just not that sweet. So instead of putting on a funny little beanie and ripping around the track wondering how I could possibly look at my heart rate monitor while skate skiing, I grab the snow bike and bang out a Hagen - Putt Putt like I was on a summer time lunch ride.

And that’s just one example of why snow bikes rule. They are a sweet back country approach vehicle, winter commuter rig, and the best errand running townie I’ve ever had.

Sure we all want to feel like we’re getting the “goods” when we’re in the “cycle”, but sometimes, just maybe, it’s ok to have another winter sport to carry you from cycle to cycle.