Bear-safe Mountain Biking.

I recently started mountain biking and love to explore Yukon's boreal forests, alpine and river valleys by bike. This means that I'm often travelling in bear country.

I have a healthy respect for the black and grizzly bears that live in the wild spaces around my community. Generally, I follow bear safe tactics and am able to avoid bear encounters. But, moving quickly on a bike means that there is more potential for startling a bear.

Having bear deterrent near to hand is one part of safe bear practice when mountain biking. This adaptation to bear spray helps to keep the deterrent close rather than locked away in a backpack when you may need it most.

You will need:

• water bottle carrier attachment for your bike;
• old water bottle (I found one for free at a garage sale);
• Utility knife;
• Stuffing (I used a garbage bag);
• bear deterrent spray.

You may already have this on your bike - in which case, don't worry about this step.

I bought a simple water bottle bike attachment at my local hardware store.

Using the bolts on the bike and my bike tool, I attached it to the frame of my bike.

Cut your old water bottle in half using a utility knife - being sure to cut away from yourself!

Place the bear deterrent inside the bottom half of the water bottle. I used a garbage bag wrapped around the bear spray to fit it securely inside the bottle. You won't want any potential for this to fall out.

Now your bear deterrent fits on the frame of your bike inside your easily accessible water bottle attachment!

Happy bear-safe biking!