DISCLAIMER: The intended purpose of the following information is solely for explaining why it is a good idea to have a weight rated leash with you at all times, regardless of the rules and requirements of the mountain you are riding at. This information does not express our view on whether or not leashes should or should not be used while riding, or if they should be worn while on the lift.
One of the hottest debates today with skibikes gaining popularity is the requirement and use of leashes. There are pros and cons to wearing a leash while you are riding the bike just as there are with using one while riding the chair lift. We are not discussing that here. We want you to think about a different scenario.
Let’s say you are having an awesome day riding. You’re relaxing on the lift for another run when suddenly the lift stops. As the minutes pass it becomes clear that there is something wrong with the lift and it’s broken. It won’t be turning again today. Every single skier and rider must now be evacuated by ski patrol, being safely lowered to the ground with a special repel system that you sit on to lower you from the chair. Skiers and snowboarders have their equipment strapped to their feet and they get lowered with their boards still attached. If you have never seen this done, check out the video IN THIS LINK . What about your bike? How are they going to get that down? If you drop your bike you will probably damage it, not to mention run the risk of it hitting somebody and hurting them.
If you have a leash that is weight rated (like the ones we sell that are made of rock climbing tube webbing and an actual rock climbing carabiner), you can attach one end of the leash to your bike and the other end to the rope that is used to lower the person down. Once your bike is safely lowered and resting below you, Ski Patrol can now safely lower you. The key here is having a leash strong enough to hold the weight of your bike without fear of it snapping or breaking. Our bikes weigh, on average, 30 LBS. If you are using a retractable dog leash with a carabiner that is only rated for 5 LBS, guess what? Your bike might go crashing to the ground once it leaves your grip. Would you rather spend $25 for a solid weight rated leash that you yourself could repel with, or $1000 fixing your broken bike?