View Full Version : OK....snow bikin' pics from today! Lots of pics
Me and a buddy Jake. I finished building one more getto ski bike. Total cost ~20 feet of welding wire. Beats paying $600 for those crotchrocket full suspension things, and mine has pedals!
The side of the hill we were hitting the other day melted away pretty bad, and exposed most of the rocks we were dropping off of, so we couldn't do them. It also exposed a ton of little stumps and rocks that we never saw....scary!
I'm the fool with the helmet, my buddy Jake is the punk in the red, and Mojo (Aaron) from A1 bike shop is the dude in the tight stuff. He showed up to check it out, and even gave it a few runs! I think he liked it, he was gigling like a little kid!
Here's the pics-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02671.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02672.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02673.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02674.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02675.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02682.jpg
Nothing too "extreme" today, but it was still a blast:laugh:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02681.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02680.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02679.jpg
whitt_travis
03-20-2005, 06:55 PM
A ha!
That looks like a blast! How do they handle? Did you just hack skis and proceed to brace them so they pivot back during drops and such?
This is my next project now, hehe. Any rough plans or anything you went off of? Or did you just model it after the expensive counterparts?
Basically, I used what I had. I used old skiis, cut in half. I shaved a bunch of the material off the hind end of the ski so it would flex a little more too. Then I took a couple steel hubs and bolted them into the forks (used an old bottom bracket for one!). I had to center the rear hub in the dropout due to the offset for a freewheel. Then, just find some round or square tubing, weld it to the steel hubs really good. I measured the height of the bike so it would be the same as a stock ride height at the axles.
I then took 1/4" steel plates, about 2-3" wide and 6" long, or whatever I could find and welded them to the tubing. Drill 1/4" holes in the steel plates for mounting to the ski. I did four per plate, one in each corner. I picked up a bunch of ski screws for holding bindings on from the local ski shop. Drilled small holes in the skiis and screwd them in place.
Then, I got some really heavy duty springs. HEAVY DUTY! I welded an old mtb axle to the fork, and then welded a washer to the end of the axle for the spring to clip to. Now you have to position the ski so the tip is higher than the tail, and weld a washer to the tube for the spring to connect to. You want the spring to stretch when the ski sits flat, so it will spring up when you go into the air.
For the rear, I used a small piece of cable with a spring on the end of it. I connected the spring to the base of the tube on the rear, and to the rear of the .BB yoke. So the rear ski will not drop when your in the air.
I can take better pics for you later if you'd like. It's ugly, but it works and is a lot of fun. They handle surprisingly well, and most of the people that try them like it. I like having the cranks on for the real "bike" feel. Most people that try them are really scared at first, but after one run they usually are comfortable, and don't want to give 'em back.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/beau_layman/DCP02669.jpg
The expensive ones as seen at the Coffee mill race seem kind of odd. Most of the weight is on the front ski, which is good for turning quickly, but I don't like it. I would never take one of those off any jumps. Also, you sit like you're on a crotch rocket, and not a DH ride, so it seems kind of odd ***please keep in mind that I have NOT ridden one, this is only what I have observed***
My buddy has the kit from www.winterxbike.com (http://www.winterxbike.com). It uses really short mounts for the skis, and lowers the height of the bike so the BB is about 6" off the ground (probably good for groomed runs). Instead of cranks, it has pegs like a moto-cross bike. It seems to work well, but in deeps snow, his feet would drag and slow him down, While I would just glide right through. I think the winterx XC kit would work better myself.
PC OUT
bikemike
03-20-2005, 08:13 PM
http://www.winterxbike.com/ The $129 set and find some kids ski's at a swap meet.Work great. Kinda like a bike for riding but not realy.Thats what cody had on the bike he took over that jump that broke his handelbars.
mountaincyclerulz
03-20-2005, 10:07 PM
dude! thats the same kit I was lookin at getting! I actually did ride one of the snow bikes at coffee mill and they ride great! he rips it up on the big jumps at spirit to!! Big air!! but I am getting one of those kits for my bike though. My dh bike will ride like a caddie to!!
shourtt
03-21-2005, 01:23 AM
I know what is going on my christmas list for next year. Do any of ski resorts close to Saint Paul/Minneapolis area allow you to ride a ski bike?
manual63
03-21-2005, 01:58 PM
I'm the fool with the helmet,
Sorry...that just cracks me up......:)
So, those bikes. Hmmm, how tough is it to make one? Can you make something that just bolts onto the dropouts or do you have to actually modify the frame. I guess I wouldn't mind setting up my Freestyle bike in such a way for winter.....as long as I can return it back to normal during the summer.
Those pictures remind me of that John Cusak movie "Better off dead"? With the paper boy kid going down the mountain on his ski bike yelling "I want my two dollars!".
It does look like fun though.
Yeah Beau,
That is awesome, I just got back from sledding, the snow down here is perfect for making hits! We built a ramp up a tree and were doing the high mark thing...good stuff snow it good stuff!
L8R
Buck
Sorry...that just cracks me up......:)
So, those bikes. Hmmm, how tough is it to make one? Can you make something that just bolts onto the dropouts or do you have to actually modify the frame. I guess I wouldn't mind setting up my Freestyle bike in such a way for winter.....as long as I can return it back to normal during the summer.
You can easily fit it to any bike with out a mod. I just did it that way cause it was easier. The second bike I built went together in two hours! I'd be happy to help anyone out. You find the skiis, I probably have the rest. They're ugly but work.
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