Bikskiping:

When a Single Idea Sparks a Collective Adventure

What if a single social media post could lead to a multi-sport winter adventure with complete strangers? That's exactly what happened.

Alexe, Marketing Specialist at Auclair, put out an open invitation, with no particular expectations beyond finding a few people who shared the same vision. The response exceeded all expectations: six people, well-equipped and equally motivated, answered the call. A team of seven came together, almost naturally, ready for a weekend of cycling, ski touring, and winter camping, pushed to -10°C.

In the days leading up to departure, logistics became a challenge of its own: what to bring, how to set up the bike, how to manage weight, and how to prepare for the cold. This is where the group's collaborative spirit first emerged, advice shared, setups tested together, questions asked freely, setting the tone for the entire weekend.

The Concept: Bikskiping

Bikskiping combines winter bikepacking with a ski touring ascent through remote wilderness, followed by a night of camping at -10°C, a 100 km challenge completed in full autonomy, with all equipment carried on the bike.

The concept, in short:

• Set out by bike
• Carry all your gear
• Include a ski touring ascent
• Sleep in a tent in the middle of winter

Equipment: The Foundation of the Experience

In conditions like these, gear selection makes the difference between an enjoyable adventure and an uncomfortable one. Hand protection was a key priority throughout.

The Synergy 2-in-1 Glove proved essential: its modular liner and shell system delivered the dexterity needed for handling equipment and braking, along with reliable wind protection on the bike.

The team also relied on the Otter Shell, a waterproof layer that fits easily over any liner or mitt, keeping hands dry in snow or rain, an important factor when comfort depends on staying dry.

Day 1: From Sherbrooke to the Summit, and Into Camp

The journey began in Sherbrooke, heading toward Mont Hereford: 56 km with significant elevation, more than 10 climbs, including a 2 km ascent with sections at 15%. With all the gear, tent, sleeping bag, clothing, skis, every pedal stroke counted. The team alternated between riding and pushing the bikes, an honest, demanding effort, and exactly what they came for.

At Mont Hereford, the ski touring segment began via the Quad trail: an atypical route of climbs, descents, and constant relaunches. Given the icy conditions in the woods, the trail offered the safest path up, frozen but clear, with enough control to progress safely. Some even kept their skins on for the descent. At the summit, a 360° view, among the most beautiful in Quebec, and a feeling of freedom that stayed with the group long after.

After the descent, the team set up camp at a spot discovered along the way, in the middle of nowhere. This is where thermal management became a discipline in itself: removing a layer before sweating, adding one back the moment movement stopped, and keeping everything dry, a coordination exercise for a group of seven, and the moment a real team dynamic began to take shape.

Managing the Cold: A Defining Element

Winter conditions required constant attention to layering and thermal management. The team followed a simple principle: remove a layer before overheating, add one back as soon as movement stops, and keep all clothing dry.

At night, strategies such as wearing dry merino layers, using a sleeping bag liner, and storing gear inside the sleeping bag helped maintain warmth through temperatures of -10°C and below.

Day 2: Morning Cold and the Magic of Winter Roads

The cold woke the team before the alarm did. At -10°C, everything was frozen, the air was dry, and the hands were the first to feel it. But the system held: a liner for dexterity while breaking down camp, a shell for protection against moisture and cold, a simple combination, and a remarkably effective one.

Once the camp was packed and the bikes reloaded, the ride continued, and the weekend shifted. A light snow began to fall, just enough to transform the landscape. For nearly 15 km, the group rode a gentle descent through winter scenery of striking beauty, the kind of moment that justifies the entire adventure.

The reward came at a stop in Saint-Édwidge, at a local spot called Matante: eggs, ham, sausages, pancakes, and maple syrup, the best breakfast possible after two days of effort.

With 46 km left to complete the route, the return felt different: bodies adapted, minds steady, and the group moving with an energy and cohesion that contrasted with the day before. The journey home was smooth, without incident, just a team returning together, with pride.

Key Takeaways

Looking back, the experience left a mark well beyond the physical challenge:

• The strength of the collective. Strangers became a team in 36 hours, without protocol or imposed structure, adaptation, support, and encouragement emerged naturally.
• Thinking outside the box. The boldest ideas, the ones we hesitate to put forward, often create the strongest memories.
• More capable than we think. Cold, distance, and discomfort became secondary once fully engaged, the limits anticipated were rarely the limits encountered.

Want to Try Bikskiping?

A few tips to get started:

• Prioritize your equipment — it's what makes the difference between enduring and enjoying.
• Test your setup before departure — no surprises on the day.
• Master layering — it's a skill in its own right.
• Go with others, at least for a first experience.
• Embrace the discomfort — it's part of the process.

In the End

Bikskiping is more than a sport. It's a different way of experiencing winter, slowing down, connecting with nature and with others, and pushing past what feels possible in a setting that's anything but ordinary.

A dream turned reality, and likely just the beginning of a long series.