Snow bike for ski access?

[panchosdad]

Thinking an electric snow bike might be the ticket for backcountry ski access, primarily on low angle closed roads. E because I like the quiet and don't want to mess with gas engine. Snow bike because I want to be able to put it in my van and not tow a trailer. Here's a couple I've looked at:

https://www.ruffiansnowbikes.com/sho...AaAjFvEALw_wcB

https://moonbikes.com/

Hoping they'd have enough power to tow a skier or 2 in easy conditions.

What say y'all?

[m2711c]

man, them ain’t cheep… could buy a whole lotta lift tickets for that much dosh.


fact.

[heckacali]

What I know about the high power requirements of snow bikes, and the low power delivery of lithium batteries in cold temperatures.
Good luck.

[panchosdad]

man, them ain’t cheep… could buy a whole lotta lift tickets for that much dosh.


fact.

True dat, but also about the same price as a high end E-bike.

[panchosdad]

What I know about the high power requirements of snow bikes, and the low power delivery of lithium batteries in cold temperatures.
Good luck.

Yeah they do say you need to store the battery inside. Could be a problem if you leave it at a trailhead for the day.

[Huskier]

Yeah they do say you need to store the battery inside. Could be a problem if you leave it at a trailhead for the day.

I'm surprised no one has come up with a vacuum-insulated battery pod for cold weather apps with the battery immersed in some kind of warming juice. Like a thermos except instead of chunks of meat in your stew it's a big Li battery.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[singlesline]

Seems like you what you'd really want is a pedal assist snow bike?

Somebody makes one (that just looks like parts slapped on a POS emtb frame):
https://envodrive.com/products/envo-flex-snowbike

Assuming your approach is mostly uphill, you've got fresh+warm battery on the way up. On the way down you've got what's left plus the ability to pedal and a net negative gradient.

bury the battery in snow for insulation while you ski if air temps are low...leave it out on a black tarp if it is sunny.

edit: could you make a kit like that that clicks into pin bindings and uses your own skis as the front runners?

[Trackhead]

I'd love to have one. I bet they have a ton of torque like every electric motor application. Probably fine for 90% of approaches on snow covered fire roads. And agree, the silence of electric transport beats the shit out of the annoying sound of modern sleds echoing all over the woods.

[kinkilla]

Thinking an electric snow bike might be the ticket for backcountry ski access, primarily on low angle closed roads. E because I like the quiet and don't want to mess with gas engine. Snow bike because I want to be able to put it in my van and not tow a trailer. Here's a couple I've looked at:

https://www.ruffiansnowbikes.com/sho...AaAjFvEALw_wcB

https://moonbikes.com/

Hoping they'd have enough power to tow a skier or 2 in easy conditions.

What say y'all?

I've got friends with two moon bikes. The approaches to a lot of the backcountry areas in Central Oregon are exactly what you describe. We chewed through a full battery towing one about 6 miles with relatively little elevation gain but about 18" of untracked snow. So definitely not ideal conditions for towing, and it worked better with a lighter ski partner when the roads were groomed later in the season. If you go this route, make sure to get the double battery because I think it's pretty necessary.

[BFD]

[Shredhead]

I don't think you'll be able to tow.
We sled ski behind 100hp 800-850's and can't always make it up even moderately steep groomed roads. These only have 30 hp.
The video I've seen always show them going down very moderate slopes with a couple of inches of fresh.
I looked into one as a possible fat bike trail groomer. I thought it might be more acceptable to the twig sniffing Nordic skiers.

[panchosdad]

I've got friends with two moon bikes. The approaches to a lot of the backcountry areas in Central Oregon are exactly what you describe. We chewed through a full battery towing one about 6 miles with relatively little elevation gain but about 18" of untracked snow. So definitely not ideal conditions for towing, and it worked better with a lighter ski partner when the roads were groomed later in the season. If you go this route, make sure to get the double battery because I think it's pretty necessary.

Thanks, nice to get some real world feedback.

[Cruiser]

I've towed skiers on sleds and ridden far tire ebikes in the snow but I haven't towed a skier on an ebike in the snow. No way I would try to tow a skier on an ebike in the snow, even on a groomed trail. I can't imagine how fiddly it would be, how slow you'd go, or how frustrating the failures would get, even on easy approaches. I look forward to seeing an edit in which someone shows me how misguided I am but I just don't see it being viable.

[BFD]

My snowbike guy from the video says 30 hp will tow a skier up a road. Personally if I spent $12000 on the Ruffian I would do a little more with it than tow up a road

[panchosdad]

I've towed skiers on sleds and ridden far tire ebikes in the snow but I haven't towed a skier on an ebike in the snow. No way I would try to tow a skier on an ebike in the snow, even on a groomed trail. I can't imagine how fiddly it would be, how slow you'd go, or how frustrating the failures would get, even on easy approaches. I look forward to seeing an edit in which someone shows me how misguided I am but I just don't see it being viable.

Not talking about a fat e-bike, an actual track driven snowbike with a much bigger battery.

[panchosdad]

Seems like you what you'd really want is a pedal assist snow bike?

Somebody makes one (that just looks like parts slapped on a POS emtb frame):
https://envodrive.com/products/envo-flex-snowbike

Assuming your approach is mostly uphill, you've got fresh+warm battery on the way up. On the way down you've got what's left plus the ability to pedal and a net negative gradient.

bury the battery in snow for insulation while you ski if air temps are low...leave it out on a black tarp if it is sunny.

edit: could you make a kit like that that clicks into pin bindings and uses your own skis as the front runners?

Some excellent imagining here, thanks!

[panchosdad]

All kinds of options here: https://gearjunkie.com/winter/10-ele...ways-play-snow

This would turn heads: https://envodrive.com/en-us/products...ctric-snowkart

[Trackhead]

For us old farts that snow cart might fit the bill

[Trackhead]

Great video about moon bikes. They got two hours per battery. Bike holds two. The silent access is very appealing.

https://youtu.be/hdY29QfVAJE?si=CecistSw_IHF3VxH

[BCMtnHound]

edit: could you make a kit like that that clicks into pin bindings and uses your own skis as the front runners?

Please don’t do this. Not only will you fuck up your skis or bindings, probably both, but your backup way out down the trail will be gone.

[panchosdad]

Please don’t do this. Not only will you fuck up your skis or bindings, probably both, but your backup way out down the trail will be gone.

Please do this, and tell us how it goes. That's the only way humanity progresses.

[panchosdad]

What I know about the high power requirements of snow bikes, and the low power delivery of lithium batteries in cold temperatures.
Good luck.

They have a 50W battery heater built in. According to the dealer leaving the bike at a trailhead for 6 hours would consume 12% of 1 battery and 6% of a dual set up. Sounds workable to me.

[garyfromterrace]

Please do this, and tell us how it goes. That's the only way humanity progresses.

hahahah. morning coffee almost ended up on screen. thanks!

[heckacali]

They have a 50W battery heater built in. According to the dealer leaving the bike at a trailhead for 6 hours would consume 12% of 1 battery and 6% of a dual set up. Sounds workable to me.

Sounds like you are taking yourself into it, excellent.
Mandatory TR please.

[Trackhead]

Spendy but if it works for your particular situation it seems pretty awesome