Iditabike is an event for the hardiest. Ride 100 kilometers (62 miles) over snow in Alaska? And in February?

A scene like this one makes me wonder what it would really be like to ride through the snow on a fat-tired bicycle. I’ll never know, I suppose, unless I moved well away from Southeast Louisiana; but I guess it takes a lot of energy to push through the snow. Especially a heavy, wet snow.

If a short ride on a snowy day takes extra care and planning for most folks, what must it be like to participate in Iditabike? Imagine riding over snow, in temperatures that can get far below freezing. One of my cycling books mentions the race, and tells of it being a “clear night”.  Yes, it looks as if Iditabike doesn’t stop for a little thing like darkness. I wonder, do the riders get to see the auroras? I think  would be beautiful to ride under those Northern Lights — if I could stand the cold.

I’ll bet my thoughts would turn to hot chocolate, if I were out there. And a warm room, with a cozy chair and a blanket to snuggle into. And a good book to read! But daydreaming could be perilous on the Iditabike trail; possibly fatal.

Maybe my imagination is running away with me; but I suppose Iditabike riders would need to stay alert to wildlife. I would not like to be struggling to ride through snow with a kodiak bear chasing me. From what I know about bear encounters, it’s best to avoid bears if possible. Part of that is making some kind of sound so you don’t surprise the bear.

Jingle bells, jingle bells🎶…