Have you ever wanted to go sledding with dogs, but struggled because of a lack of snow?
There is an alternative; "Bikejoring" a Norwegian invention, allows people to be pulled along on a bicycle by dogs.
The sport is a way to combine two things I love - spending time with my dog and mountain biking. It doesn't really matter how fast you go, but we're out in the countryside, out in the fresh air. It is being part of a team.
The sport is a way to combine two things I love - spending time with my dog and mountain biking. It doesn't really matter how fast you go, but we're out in the countryside, out in the fresh air. It is being part of a team.
Bikejoring with a husky involves a lot of extra skills and knowledge beyond Husky behaviour. You need to learn the Husky’s body language in order to communicate with her and to guide her. She must be trained to run in front of a bicycle and to stay on the trail, starting at say five months of age, daily on foot, semi harnessed on a leash and once a week hooked to the bicycle, while pushing the bike (she must feel comfortable with the bike behind her), till she reaches an age of 1 year. Then she must be taught to run with a bicycle, fully harnessed to a bungee tow rope.
You must be able to maintain your bicycle on a daily basis, perform safety checks on the bicycle, the anchor point for the tow rope, the tow rope, the bungee cords and the carabiners. Adhere to traffic rules at all times. You have to be alert and safety conscious throughout the exercise. It involves 100% concentration from the rider not to run over the husky, monitoring traffic, watching out for stray dogs and cats, because a husky is a natural hunter, etc.
The trainer must be very patient, but strict during this whole training process. Only a few commands must be drilled and awarded with a treat when obeyed.
Please remember that this daily Bikejoring outing, should be enjoyment for both of you, and more importantly for the Husky, it's very important for a Husky to be involved in an early morning mild workout, to keep her calm and relaxed throughout the day, they get bored and frustrated easily, otherwise they might destroy sections of your house, furniture and garden. VERY important to do this in a cool to cold temperature (Better below 11° C and definitely NOT above 16° C), early in the morning. Then also, the Husky must be on a healthy diet, with a healthy BMI, inspect and look after her paws, joints and her body condition!!
Bikejoring is a sporting activity, be it for enjoyment or professional racing.
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| Thanks to a great dog; Skye, our Siberian Husky - best friend. |
We watch as she explores her land, where nature moves to the rhythm of change and seasons.
Our canine family is still deeply connected to the patterns of nature.
If we listen to them and allow ourselves to learn, we can grow deeper within our own wildness.
We can find ourselves again and experience the fulfillment we’re looking for...
YouTube LINK: Bikejoring on the gravel road at the Islands Spa
Bicycle pedals can cause serious injury to the shins...
Our thoroughly cleaned bikejoring bike had a mechanical inspection and lube service,
the antenna bracket was modified and the bike is fully equipped to accommodate a 750ml
fresh water bottle (fitted a water bottle rack), a Collapsible Travel Bowl, a Self Defence
Pepper Stream Spray canister and some First Aid stuff.
Ready for the next morning's outing...
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| Daily checks include Tyres, Chain, Brake Pads, Brake and Derailleur Cables and CHECK FOR LOOSE bolts! |
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| Keep the bike clean... |
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| A Collapsible Travel Bowl that fits in a trouser pocket. |
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| Self Defence Pepper Stream Spray canister |
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| The mounted Self Defence Pepper Stream Spray canister |
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| Rear Derailleur Guard (falls are imminent) |
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| Custom built Non Stop Bike Antenna (A necessity) |
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| Bicycle Stand (A necessity) |
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| Tube Sealant and Tyre Liner |
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| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) |
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| More gear - Husky Sledding Harness, Braided Tow Rope, Bungee Cord, Carabiner, etc. |
Bikejoring is related to skijoring:
Skijoring (pronounced /ˈskiːʃɜːrɪŋ/) is a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog (or dogs) or a motor vehicle. It is derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring meaning ski driving.
There are no reins or other signaling devices to control the dog; the dog must be motivated by its own desire to run, and respond to the owner's voice for direction.
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| Shin Protection - Hockey Shin Guards and Football Socks. |
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| "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" Bikejoring is also called dryland mushing. |
YouTube LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toSjhjK8Wr0
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| Please Scan the QR Code - it contains a safe URL to our YouTube video - Thanks to a great dog, Skye. Thanks for watching, go have some fun with YOUR dog on bike! |
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| Our turf - Aliwal North Aerial Photo December 23, 2020 |
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