Mention extreme sports and skiing would be one of the typical activites that would come to mind. Mountain biking is also a part of extreme sport that is massively popular across the United States. Have you ever thought about combining those two extreme sports? In Colorado, skiers who are fed up about the hotter summer season with no snow around have found a way to get over it while waiting for the snow to arrive. They have combined both sports and have given some off work ski-lift workers something to do. If you adore biking and you love skiing, this potent mixture of extreme sports is just for you.
Once the ski lifts have been opened up for the skiers, and for a small fee, they carry them to the top of the mountain with their bicycles. They then catch the ski-lift taking their bicycles with them. Once they get to the top, they dismount the lift - usually landing on their bike’s pedals with their feet and off they go. They can choose from a selection of down hill slopes to speed down at break neck speeds. The only difficulty is that a hill with most of the snow gone is often covered with rocks and tree trunks. These obstacles as well as the very steep grade make this sport risky and exciting - and of course - extreme!
If you have never tried this or any other extreme sports, you should ride with an expert the first few times. Protective gear is necessary which should definitely include a helmet and pads. You are on a bike and not skis! The bike itself can hurt you if you have a wipe out against some rocks. Handlebars can cause serious injuries. Knee pads are advisable as well as thick gloves. When you fall off your cycle going faster than thirty MPH, you will slide a long way - ow!
A way to stay a little safer is to follow the normal routes on the slopes gauging the amount of difficulty and grade by the standard green, blue, black, and double black diamond. It is never wise to go off the course because the orange barrier net that surrounds the slope in the winter will probably have been taken away. New extreme sports participants will discover that racing down ski slopes on a bike is not as simple as it sounds. You must be manouverable enough to jump your tires to avoid obstacles and make tight turns.
Dry ski mountain biking can be enjoyed at Vail, Colorado and other places in that locality. Always call ahead and make sure that they do allow the bikes on the ski lifts. It is also worth asking how much it will cost to buy tickets. Quite often, you can find places that are open for the summer purely so that people can hitch a lift and enjoy the view.
