Picking up/rotating bike

[thewwkayaker]

What are people doing to make the following easier/faster?

1. Picking up your snowbike when it's on it's side, not on a hill, in deep snow. With a friend and by yourself

2. In a closed in area turning the bike around 180 degrees. With a friend and by yourself

So basically what have people found to make it easier to move your non-moving bike around or picking it back up? In snow (not hard pack) picking up the bike you end up 3 feet tall and the bike is heavy so a few times of this and (I am) dealing with a messed up back. And when you find that the route you took ends and it's way too tight to turn around in you have to flip the bike 180 degrees to get back out which again is tough in the snow given the weight of the bike as well.

 

[dooman92]

If there is a secret move for these scenarios this almost 70 rider is all ears. I've been in these predicaments many times, very taxing. On the pick up the bike in the snow, I find if I dig a trench under the track I can more easily lift push the bike vertical. Depending on snow conditions, in the end of the line too tight scenarios, I either lay the bike on its side and spin it 180 pulling the ski, or if the snow is firm I sometimes grab the track on both sides at the very rear and I lift the rear and side step a bit. it can take several lifts and works best if a buddy is keeping the bike vertical. hope this helps.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Maybe a SXS with a crane off the side following you around would work.

Spend way more money and get an ultra lightweight snowbike.

 

[M5-]

Get a webbing strap to throw around the bar guards. Pull the bike up with one guy on the seat side and one guy on the strap. Use the webbing strap to to ski pulls when stuck as well. It is also extremely useful to have a large friend, comes in very handy.

M5

 

[thewwkayaker]

Is it easier to rotate a bike standing up or laying down?

I figured that yes a strap is handy.

 

[thewwkayaker]

Get a webbing strap to throw around the bar guards. Pull the bike up with one guy on the seat side and one guy on the strap. Use the webbing strap to to ski pulls when stuck as well. It is also extremely useful to have a large friend, comes in very handy.

M5

Yes - much easier with 2 people. But how about by yourself?

 

[dooman92]

M5, yeah the strong partner is best option, hardly have to strain with two. 80 percent of the time I am leading and riding with sleds. As we know, sleds can't always follow the bikes so I end up stuck alone. I came up with the digging a trench in one of those scenarios where I had no help and could not pick or lift my flopped over bike. I found that if shoveled a relief or trench under the ski and track that is was much easier to roll the bike up as there was nothing under the track or ski to resist the uprighting of the bike. I have to use that maneuver several times a season. Several times a season I will be out frt and run out of options and gotta turn around by myself. Most of the time I grab the ski with left and bars with right and pull the bike while trying to keep it from flopping over. Yeah, not easy on back and was a lot easier in my fifties. Take time and energy but get it turned. If bike is or does flop on side I pull ski or rear attempting to spin the bike on its side. nothing easy I'm aware of. try that trench under track and ski, bike will go up with a lot less effort.

 

[laneends]

So, I'm not a snow bike guy. However, I am REALLY interested in them. Is a snow bike harder to get unstuck than my '22 165" turbo freeride? I suppose rolling it over would be more difficult, bit a bike has to be like 200 lbs lighter I would think....

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

So, I'm not a snow bike guy. However, I am REALLY interested in them. Is a snow bike harder to get unstuck than my '22 165" turbo freeride? I suppose rolling it over would be more difficult, bit a bike has to be like 200 lbs lighter I would think....

It's an awkward situation if the bike tips over in deep snow on flat ground.

A friend is VERY helpful.

MX bike based Bikes are light and tall but the center of gravity is high.

I built a bunch of different high powered snowbikes and the weight up high when dumped over was a horrible situation when alone.

Sleds are more like rolling a cube than flipping a mattress.

When the only access to an area is pinched onto single track sled trails this might be the worst experience on a Snowbike.

 

[dooman92]

Laneends, I find getting snow bike un stuck easier than a sled for most stucks. bike will pull out of a hole with one man ski pull. bike will pull out up hill where sled will not . yes both loaded up, bike is close to couple hundred less. I also get stuck less on the bike than I did on sled.
Sheetmetalfab, yeah rolling a mattress, great description.

 

[needpowder]

The bike is usually way easier to get unstuck. I joke and say I only have to get it half unstuck.
Some days I will flip my bike half a dozen times or more. Obviously this is not on flat ground.
Deep, deep Hollow Snow on flat ground and being stuck in it is the worst. Better start stomping! same thing, picking it up on flat ground stomp stomp stomp. Dig out under the track and ski and hope that it will drop down a little.

Oh yeah. And just like a sled when you go to Lift or pull, give that thing 100% every time.