Talk about extreme sports and skiing would be one of the typical activites that comes to mind. Mountain biking is also a type of extreme sport and is massively popular in the Rockies of the United States. Have you considered combining those two extreme sports? In Vail in Colorado, skiers who are fed up about the hot summer period with no snow around have discovered a way to have fun while waiting for the snowy season. They have combined both the sports and have provided some out of work ski-lift workers something to do. If you love cycling and you also love skiing, this great combination of extreme sports is ideal for you.
The skiers get the local ski resort to open up the ski lifts, and for a reasonable fee, they will carry them to the summit of the mountain with their bicycles. The skiers then take the ski-lift taking their bicycles with them. When they get to the top, they jump off the lift – often landing on the bicycle’s pedals with their feet and off they go. They can choose from a number of down hill slopes to zoom down at crazy speeds. The only problem is that a hill with most of the snow gone is usually covered with rocks and bits of old wood. These obstacles as well as the very steep slopes 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. This not a sport for the fair of heart! The bike itself can hurt you if you have a wipe out against some rocks. Handlebars can provide nasty gashes on you. Knee pads are recommended as well as thick gloves. When you fall off your bike going upwards of thirty miles an hour, you will slide a long way – ow!
A way to stay a bit safer is to follow the normal routes on the slopes by following the standard green, blue, black, and double black diamond. It is not wise to go off course because the barrier fence that borders the slope in the winter will probably be gone. New extreme sports participants will find that going down ski slopes on a bike is not as easy as it sounds. You must be manouverable enough to shift your wheels to avoid obstacles and make tight turns.
Slope mountain biking can be done at Colorado and other places along the I-70 corridor. Call ahead and make sure that they 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 ski resorts which are open for the summer purely so that people can hitch a lift and enjoy the view.
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