It all started with a Patagonia catalog I saw once.
In one of the photos in the catalog, there was a man on a bicycle, carrying his skis on his back, climbing up a hill.
And he was wearing ski boots, no less.
It was incredibly shocking, and at the same time, I still remember feeling the potential of the bicycle.
It’s become something of a routine for us to go skiing at least once every winter, and of course, we decided to plan for it this year as well. But since we were going to do it, we thought we might as well make "that" happen.
And so, I recruited some friends.
For this day, I had already swapped my beloved RVR's wheels for steel ones fitted with studless tires (which also means I can go fishing at Lake Biwa in the winter), loaded up every bike we could fit on the roof rack, and drove north on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.
We unloaded our bikes at the foot of the mountain pass leading to our target ski resort and strapped our respective skis to our bags.
Unfortunately, there was no snow on the road and we could have easily driven all the way up, but approaching by bike no matter what was important to us.
Living in Nagoya, where it barely snows once a year, this alone was a very fresh experience for us, though those living in regions with heavy snowfall might say we were being naive.
But I believe that there is a world that can only be seen when you do things differently: wearing sturdier boots than cycling shoes, and pedaling with heavier gear strapped to your back or bike than usual.
And so, we began to pedal toward the ski resort.
Bicycles = The best play tools and the best means of transportation.
My body warmed up so thoroughly that I ended up taking off a layer mid-climb—a consequence of dressing too warmly for the ride.
Even if the idea of just going for a ride in midwinter feels daunting, combining it with another activity like this often lowers the hurdle quite a bit.
Above all, if you keep your body moving like this, you warm up immediately.
Thinking about it again, a bicycle is obviously fun as an end in itself, but when you consider it a means to another action, I believe the enjoyment expands two or threefold.
When that happens, there's no need to categorize gear by saying "this is for this" or "that is for that." You just make the most of what you have according to the situation, and what proves purely useful becomes the best tool for that person.
In fact, the gloves I wore while skiing were the ones I use for sub-zero rides, and my base layers were also things I regularly use for midwinter rides.
Things are meant to be used to their fullest—that’s all there is to it.
Having safely cleared the final climb with an average grade of 12%, we arrived at the ski resort, got off our bikes, swapped into our skis, and immediately hopped onto the gondola.
Feeling the snow quality through my skis, I picked the best line and traced it exactly as I imagined.
Honestly, I'm not that great at winter sports, but it feels the same as riding a bike on a rough road.
Above all, going downhill is thrilling and fun.
Ryotaro-san from RawLowMountainWorks participated on a Snowscoot this time, but as a former downhill racer raised in snowy country, he descended the slopes at an otherworldly speed; no matter what he's riding, he's incredibly fast on the downhills.
If you like winter sports and also ride a bike, but haven't tried riding on dirt, please do give it a challenge this spring.
Of course, this also goes for those who haven't ridden a bike yet! Because dashing through trails on a bike when there is no snow is also something truly special.
Whether it's cycling or not, putting yourself in the great outdoors like this, facing nature while moving your body, is truly fun.
This time it was an attempt to go skiing with a "BIKE to" mindset, but for example, if you're looking to enjoy various activities—like using a lodge as a base to go skiing or going for a ride—why not bring your bike along?
Even if it’s not for skiing, your bike can fully demonstrate its power as a transport tool when you decide to do activities like fishing, hiking, or trail running.
In Minneapolis, where I was until last week, I was able to experience firsthand how effective fat bikes are for riding on roads covered in deep snow. While those bikes don't get much real-world use in Nagoya, BIKE to Ski is still a very interesting way to enjoy the winter.
I've already decided in my heart to dig deeper in a different way next time and give it another go.
And I’m really looking forward to seeing your #BIKEtoSki styles, too.
Bike to Ski Photo Archive
TODAY’S RIDER
Shige【Circles】
-BIKE SPECS-
| Bike | KONA | Unit |
| Handle Bag | Porcelain Rocket | Nigel Front Pack |
| Frame Bag | Porcelain Rocket | Custom Single Compartment Frame Pack |
| Tire | WTB | Ranger 27.5×2.8″ |
-WEAR SPECS-
| Helmet | SMITH OPTICS | Fore Front |
| Goggle | SMITH OPTICS | I/O Mag |
| Tops | PATAGONIA | Nano Air Jacket |
| Inner & Mid Layer | ACLIMA | Merino Wool |
| Bottom | PATAGONIA | Snow Shot Pants |
| Bag | TRUCE | DropLiner M |
TEXT by Shige ／ PHOTO by Shige & Monjya & Eri Tanaka