Heading out into the trails to mountain bike in the winter can be a lot of fun and very exiting due to the fact that you now have the privilege to ride on snow covered trails.
Unlike riding in the summer time, there are a lot more challenges that you have to be able to overcome.
Mountain biking in the winter time on the snow packed trails will also make you a better mountain biker do to the fact that you have less traction and not as much stopping potential.
But, after a few months of riding on the trails though out the winter, I am very confident that you will most definitely become a better trail rider.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you head outside on a snowy day to ride your favorite trails in winter.
#1.
You want to be sure that you have a good pair of tires on your bike due to that fact that with the proper tires, you will have superior traction and also enough tread to be able to stop when needed.
Personally, the tread on the bike that I own, is not adequate enough to be able to ride on snow covered trails.
With the fact that there is no where near enough tread on my back wheel, it makes riding up long hills very tough and I have to be extra cautious when going around a turn that is downhill.
So, if you choose to use tires that don't have a whole lot of tread on them like me, you will have to work on your handling a lot more and know that there may be the potential for crashing may be higher! #2.
Be sure that you are wearing the proper clothing and you may even want to keep some extra clothes in your car.
For myself, I have noticed that I wear a little bit less clothing when mountain biking than I do when I'm out cycling on road.
The reason for that is when I'm cycling on road when it is thirty degrees outside and I'm averaging twenty miles per hour that is the same as standing still on a thirty degree day with a consistent twenty mile per hour wind and therefore that would create a wind chill factor of seventeen degrees.
On the other hand, when I'm out riding the local single track trails on a day with the same temperature, I will not be going as fast and I'll be in an area that is in a forest so there wont be any wind either.
That way there wont feel like much of a wind chill factor.
So the reason that I wanted to bring that to your attention is when mountain biking unlike cycling, you still have to wear some layers to keep warm but not as many as if you are out cycling on road.
So head out and wear some layers and if you get too warm you can then take a layer off or if you have an extra layer in your car, you can put that on also.
#3.
In the winter time when the trails are packed down with snow and there may also be the potential for some slush in some spots, you are forced to become an excellent bike handler.
When I say this I mean that unlike riding in the summer time on a day where you are on hard packed dirt, you have to become acclimated to winter time very quickly and be able to make split second decisions so that you and your bike are as one.
You may have to ride out of the saddle more often so that you can shift your body easier and more quickly to react to your bike moving in a way that you don't want it to.
As you will soon figure out from riding all winter long, your bike handling will improve drastically and when the snow melts and you are out rippin' up the trails in the upcoming spring, summer and fall, your buddies will be complimenting you on how well you are able to mountain bike due to mountain biking in the winter time.
Unlike riding in the summer time, there are a lot more challenges that you have to be able to overcome.
Mountain biking in the winter time on the snow packed trails will also make you a better mountain biker do to the fact that you have less traction and not as much stopping potential.
But, after a few months of riding on the trails though out the winter, I am very confident that you will most definitely become a better trail rider.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you head outside on a snowy day to ride your favorite trails in winter.
#1.
You want to be sure that you have a good pair of tires on your bike due to that fact that with the proper tires, you will have superior traction and also enough tread to be able to stop when needed.
Personally, the tread on the bike that I own, is not adequate enough to be able to ride on snow covered trails.
With the fact that there is no where near enough tread on my back wheel, it makes riding up long hills very tough and I have to be extra cautious when going around a turn that is downhill.
So, if you choose to use tires that don't have a whole lot of tread on them like me, you will have to work on your handling a lot more and know that there may be the potential for crashing may be higher! #2.
Be sure that you are wearing the proper clothing and you may even want to keep some extra clothes in your car.
For myself, I have noticed that I wear a little bit less clothing when mountain biking than I do when I'm out cycling on road.
The reason for that is when I'm cycling on road when it is thirty degrees outside and I'm averaging twenty miles per hour that is the same as standing still on a thirty degree day with a consistent twenty mile per hour wind and therefore that would create a wind chill factor of seventeen degrees.
On the other hand, when I'm out riding the local single track trails on a day with the same temperature, I will not be going as fast and I'll be in an area that is in a forest so there wont be any wind either.
That way there wont feel like much of a wind chill factor.
So the reason that I wanted to bring that to your attention is when mountain biking unlike cycling, you still have to wear some layers to keep warm but not as many as if you are out cycling on road.
So head out and wear some layers and if you get too warm you can then take a layer off or if you have an extra layer in your car, you can put that on also.
#3.
In the winter time when the trails are packed down with snow and there may also be the potential for some slush in some spots, you are forced to become an excellent bike handler.
When I say this I mean that unlike riding in the summer time on a day where you are on hard packed dirt, you have to become acclimated to winter time very quickly and be able to make split second decisions so that you and your bike are as one.
You may have to ride out of the saddle more often so that you can shift your body easier and more quickly to react to your bike moving in a way that you don't want it to.
As you will soon figure out from riding all winter long, your bike handling will improve drastically and when the snow melts and you are out rippin' up the trails in the upcoming spring, summer and fall, your buddies will be complimenting you on how well you are able to mountain bike due to mountain biking in the winter time.
SHARE
