We all complain about bad weather and inclement conditions that may prevent us from bike commuting.

You likely know by now that central to the Ten Speed Drive / Ellsworth mission is decreasing our environmental impact. Well, turns out skiing/snowboarding – with its long schleps to mountains, snow-making, lift-running, etc. – has some of the same environmental drawbacks that bike racing can. But, what if pedal-power helped to lessen the weekend ski warrior’s load?

Three pro snowboarders – Louie Fountain, Scotty Wittlake, and Travis Parker – were toying with the idea of biking from Portland up to Mt Hood with their gear strapped to their backs. It’s about a one hundred mile ride with some good climbing at the end and, odds are good, worsening weather as they go up. Really, it started off as a joke.

Once Louie’s brother, Joseph (JT) got wind of it, the joke became both a reality and the subject of a cool documentary film project. Before the group knew it, they were off on an 850+ mile pedal-powered adventure to ski resorts in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in their own, custom-made, four-man Bikecar!

Here’s a quick clip of the lead-up process. This shows the test-drive - Eventually the car donned an exterior shell and a bit of a more finished look.

So, next time you’re thinking about wimping out on your next ride due to weather, remember these snowboarders, get some tips on proper clothing selections and layering from the heart of Alaska (where else?), and keep on pedaling.

For more on Bikecar, visit their website and check out this (pdf link) feature article in Snowboarder magazine.