Rick LaBelle, Rocky Mountain Snow Biker

My good friend Rick LaBelle, who's currently commuting between Teton Valley, Idaho, and Park City, Utah (where he's opening a storefront for the Baffin boot company), is one avid bicyclist — road bike, mountain bike, and now snow bike. I interviewed him recently about this cold-weather style of riding he most recently added to his cycling quiver.

MM: How did you get into snow biking?
RL: A friend in Driggs [Idaho] introduced me to it, back in 2006. I had introduced him to mountain biking several years earlier, and he then returned the favor with snow biking. My wife and I were both immediately hooked by the novelty, fun, and workout aspects. It has been a great winter alternative to skiing.

MM: What kind of bike do you ride, and what's special about it?
RL: I ride a Surly Pugsley, 18-inch frame with Endomorph 3.6-inch tires. The super-wide tires are run at low pressure, creating flotation on the snow. It has disk brakes, platform pedals so you can wear big warm boots, grip shifts, and regular mountain bike gearing. It's like pedaling a monster truck!

MM: Could a person snow bike with a regular mountain bike under some conditions?
RL: Yes, but you would need well-packed trails, and would have to run your tires at very low pressure.

MM: How do you stay warm?
RL: It varies tremendously depending on the temperature. For my body, I dress like I'm XC skiing plus a little more. The tricky part is feet and hands, which are exposed and require more warmth. So, I usually wear winter pac boots and very warm gloves ... and often change out a layer during the ride when conditions change. Sunglasses and beanie hat are fine on mild days, but cold days require goggles and a balaclava.

MM: Where's your favorite place to snow bike?
RL: I would have to say the Horseshoe Canyon to Packsaddle Canyon trail west of Driggs. It's a nice mix of up and down, and receives regular snowmobile grooming, which keeps it in good shape for snow biking. Plus, you've got frequent, priceless views of the Tetons to the east.

MM: Any memorable experiences you can share?
RL: Fortunately, my rides have been breakdown-free for the most part, so no near-death survival experiences yet. The most noteworthy experience, really, is the novel reaction I get from others I see out there. Their mouths drop open, and there's usually a remark about the huge tires and questions about the unique bike. You can see their minds open up to new possibilities.

MM: Where would you go for your dream ride?
RL: Wow, great question. Alaska would be awesome if I was into 30-below conditions ... but since I'm not, I'd have to say the trails around the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The combination of snow, riding a funky bike, and those huge views would be something special.

Snow biking photos courtesy of Rick LaBelle

--

BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that — just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to more than 40,000 readers worldwide.