Wetass Sport #43–Icebiking: It makes sense, sort of. You love to bike. So why stop for winter? A little cold, snow and ice never (okay, almost never…umm, okay, quite frequently) killed anyone. So put some fat, nubbed tires on your bike, and hit the trails, Dude. But before you do, check out the “Icebike” website (“Home of the Winter Cyclist…And Other Crazy People”). It has tons of info on how to get started, how to dress, and how to (mostly) stay off your ass in snow and on black ice (“As long as you can steer you have a good chance of remaining upright. Braking must be done with great care…”). Really? Anyhow, some icebikers just commute, and others go out and half kill themselves in torture-fests such as the “Iditasport Impossible,” where the icebikers race the Iditarod Trail. Here’s where that sort of hubris can lead (courtesy of icebiker Mike Curiak):

“Without a trail I floundered hopelessly in the waist deep snow, reaching up to grasp my handlebars. Anxiously searching for a platform to walk on, I broke through the ice and into the river. Instinct took over: I flattened myself on the ice to spread my weight out, then wiggled forward, pulling my legs out of the water. I crawled a short distance to what I thought was solid ice, but when I tried to stand I broke through again. I’ll never forget the sensation of struggling to get myself back on top of the ice as the current of the glacier-fed river tugged at my legs below. I spent an exhausting, hyperventilating eternity crawling to a safer spot, dragging my bike behind. Regaining the trail on the north side of the river, I brushed the congealing slush and snow off of my suit while collecting myself; several minutes passed before I stopped shaking and normal breathing returned. Sharp pain in my left ankle brought me back to reality: I’d wrenched it forcefully when I broke through the first time, but only from the relative safety of the trail did the pain begin to register. A few stars appeared overhead as I limped gingerly through that night, arriving at Skwentna as a hint of dawn came into the eastern sky.”

Whew. Are we having fun yet? You can read Curiak’s full tale here. Icebiking. I like it. I like it alot…



“What I love about this sport is you never really feel overheated…”

(Photo: Mike Curiak)