I don't have a car and think about biking to ski resorts. So the question is how to carry my XC skis on a bike. Have anyone tried doing this and what was the solution?
Thanks.
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Sign up to join this communityI don't have a car and think about biking to ski resorts. So the question is how to carry my XC skis on a bike. Have anyone tried doing this and what was the solution?
Thanks.
I have seen people trailer them, but for a local race here, many people go car free and strap them to the top tube extending back behind the seat, usually onto the rack.
Found many images using google image search for "carry skis on bike" http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5471607772_40dc377ed0_o.jpg
When ski touring we often carry skis on our backpacks - tied together at top and one each in loops each side. Very stable except in high winds. No reason this would not work riding a bike. Here is a pic
I myself just put my x-country skis and poles in a lightweight ski bag with a shoulder strap and rode short distances without issues. Was even able to carry a mid-sized backpack alongside the ski bag. The trick is to put the shoulder strap over your head so that the skis won't fall off or hit your bike.
However, I recently came across an interesting commercial product called the Gunslinger that also seems to solve this problem:
https://defiantpack.com/products/gunslinger-ski-carry
There is a model made for cross-country skis, alongside ones for different types of downhill skis.
Though to be honest, the solution seems to be similar to other answers here about strapping the skis to the bike frame, except that the part of the skis strapped to the bike is protected.
Depending on the length of the skis a "Sandwich" of skis with the frame in the middle can work, using bungees to strap them together. also if you have a rack over the rear wheel this will further support them... Wouldn't try this for my old Downhill boards. by my newer and shorter Slalom boards would do the trick.
The Burley Travoy trailer is an interesting design and is a good deal more compact than a traditional trailer.
The trailer folds down to keep it convenient while still being able to carry a good deal of stuff. The benefit of a trailer mounted at an angle rather than parallel with the ground is that you wouldn't need to drag along the length of your skis - it'd only trail by a few feet. In mounting skis you would have to angle them upwards so as to avoid whacking yourself in the head, but with the right arrangement of luggage I don't see that as being a problem. This might be the ideal option if you were to carry more than one pair of skis in addition to your standard gear.
Disclaimer: I am quite fond of my Burley Flatbed trailer and can attest to Burley's design, but have never used the Travoy (it generally gets pretty good reviews, though.)
Surfers here in San Diego carry their boards to the beach with this little side or rear-mounted rack on their beach cruisers.
I would use bungees to secure them to the rear rack and let them stick out behind me. As their weight is minimal, the bike's handling should change very little.