Biking in the snow and then for a race? How it works and whether it's fun, I'll share these experiences with you in the coming days here on ride.ch.

I'm packing my suitcase...

Four days of racing await us at the Snow Bike Festival. But for me, packing at home already felt like a race stage - pure stress! What do you wear at minus ten degrees? Will my feet and hands freeze? And what kind of bike will I be riding? Fatbike, plusbike, or even a cross-country file? The many possibilities almost overwhelmed me a little.

Unusual challenges

On Thursday, the first day of the race, a prologue with individual start was on the program. There were three laps to complete on a flat, 2.5-kilometer circuit. This looks like an easy task in the announcement, but when you have to roll through deep ruts in the snow, you need a lot of balance, good coordination and even more concentration.

A shock at the start of the season

The 26 minutes that the prologue lasted were a total shock to my body system. After hardly riding my bike once in the past month because the weather conditions didn't allow it and I've mainly been working on my fitness on cross-country and touring skis or with jogging, my legs didn't feel quite as crisp on the bike today. I was happy when I could focus on not being thrown off my bike in the deep snow. But that's exactly what I like: full concentration on the riding technique, so that the burning in my legs and lungs is completely forgotten. Fifth place for me today - a great start to a hopefully sunny race weekend in the mountains. Did I mention that the Swiss Alps are simply breathtaking?

Outside the flutter tape

Of course, there is a lot to do at such stage races besides cycling. In addition to media work, getting clothes ready for the next day and preparing bikes, socializing is one of my favourite activities. You should also enjoy such a happening to the full. But more on that tonight.

About our guest blogger

Nathalie Schneitter started her international mountain bike career in 2004 by winning the junior cross-country world title. Since then, she has been racing full throttle on the world's circuits. In 2008, she qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing and in 2010 she took home victory at the Cross-Country World Cup in Champéry.
Since autumn 2016, she has been part of the organizational team for the Bike Days in Solothurn and the Urban Bike Festival in Zurich.
Nathalie also goes full throttle off the race track: she laughs a lot, is a bit crazy (in Nathalie's own words) and dances in every possible situation. She has been racing for the "Rose Vaujany fueled by UltraSports" team since 2015.