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Snow Bike heaven
What a difference 24 hours makes in the mountains. Overnight snow and sub zero temperatures had dramatically improved riding conditions for the second stage of the Snow Bike Festival. The snowpack was harder and infinitely more rideable, both up and down than it was on Stage 1. It was one of those riding days where you actually look forward to heading out for a few hours in the cold.
After no more than 300m we headed upwards for a 6km climb to wake up the legs and warm the core. The higher we got, the deeper the trail side snow became and the more spectacular the views as we entered the Turbach valley. A brief singletrack descent cracked open the smiles for the day: the snow was mostly firm and fast with full on drifts around each turn. We weren’t quite done with climbing yet though, rolling through hillside villages where a second home for winter and summer activities would be perfect!
Scott plugging on in Stage 2 of the Snow Bike Festival. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Perfect Conditions
What was unrideable yesterday was rideable today. Fast descents were the order of the day and it was easier to forge lines through the snow without so much ‘front wheel wander’. Even the steeper descents were rideable – rear brake on full, sliding downwards. The views through the Lauenen Valley were stunning, The snowy trails flowed up and down, grip was perfect, and on every climb the tyres gripped the compact snow.
The circuit from Lauenen – snow bike heaven
The circuit from Lauenen was probably the best of the day with more stunning views and flowing trails through the trees. The climb out of the village to Lauenensee meandered at a pleasantly steady gradient before dropping back onto more rolling trails. Fast riding, wooded, hardpacked snowy trails with high walls of snow each side – brilliant! It was one of those routes you’d happily go and ride again and again!
The circuit dropped back to Lauenen for the 2nd feed station and the inevitable cowbells before the final 10km. Losing height out of the village, the 4km descent was slow going. As I have come to learn, after numerous offs, brakes don’t help much on super hard packed snow. Interrupted by a steep singletrack descent through the trees, it was otherwise steady as she goes all the way down and a fast roll along the valley.
Climbing on a fat bike is generally quite a slow experience. Photo:Wayne Reiche
A slight climb brought us to a final bit of fun in the snow, down a piste! I’m pretty sure the perplexed skiers didn’t know what to make of cyclists riding down their piste. Drifting down, rear brake on full lock, leaning the bike inline with the slopes contours got you down without an off! The final 1km back to the festival village was the same as Stage 1, but at least this time it was more a ‘sprint’ back on the harder snowpack.
What a day!
This may be a race, but when the conditions are just so perfect for fatbiking. The fun element almost outweighs the competitive aspect! At the end it’s all smiles and tales of the day’s riding around the dinner table.
This was a tough test for my Gore Bike Wear Primaloft jacket and trousers having to function under highly contrasting conditions. Perspiring hard on the climbs and then sub zero wind chill temperatures of long descents. The Squirt low temperature lube kept the drivetrain running super smooth all the way through.
Alpine views aplenty and on a fat bike, you typically have plenty of time to take in the scenery. Photo: Scott Cornish
Last modified: 25th January 2018
