Six unique sounds of winter biking
The crunch of fresh snow and the squeal of brakes: mountain biking sounds different in winter
Mountain biking may be a predominantly visual sport, known for action sequences set to stunning natural backdrops, but there are certain sounds that are instantly recognizable to anyone who’s spent time with tires on dirt. When snow starts falling, these sounds change, but they’re no less distinct.
Here are six unique sounds of riding bikes in snow, and why each of them are so great.
1) Fresh snow crunching under tires
There are fewer sounds more satisfying than the sound of tires quietly crunching through fresh snow. It is simultaneously calming and exhilarating. Like listening to a tape of whale noises on the way to the top of a roller coaster, its relaxing but you know the rides about to get wild when gravity takes over.
4) The heavy “clunk” of shifting a half-frozen derailleur
The smooth “click” of a crisp shift turns to a solid “ka-CHUNK” when the mercury drops too far below zero. Buck Miller discuses this sound in the current issue of Canadian Cycling Magazine (Vol. 10 Issue 1) when giving his tips on how to plan a winter bikepacking trip. Miller was one of four riders that recently completed a 630km fat bike expedition from Attawapiskat to Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. The crew faced -35-degree Celsius temperatures on the ice roads, so I’m guessing they were happy if the bikes were warm enough to still make that sound.
3) slightly less fresh snow crunching under tires.
Not quite as satisfying as riding through fresh snow, the loud crunch of day-old, well worn snow is the soundtrack to the majority of winter riding. It’s also the comforting sound of traction. When you don’t hear it, there’s a good chance your now riding on ice.
3) Squealing brakes
Whether disc or rim, brakes don’t really love snow. The difference is when your disc rotors stop squealing it’s because they’ve warmed up enough to melt off any snow. When your rim brakes stop squealing it’s because the pads, the rims or both have completely iced over.
5) The silence of a heavy snow fall
Every Canadian has a soft spot for the silence that falls over a city or forest when a heavy blanket of snow is falling over the city. It’s such a magical experience that it’s frequently used to set the scene in movies. Riding your bike through a muted city or a quiet woods is surreal and amazing, if occasionally a bit chilly.
6) Wild, uncontrolled laughter
While enjoying the first wave of Vancouver Islands recent snowstorm, our group had stopped to take in the view across the valley. Then, from behind, we heard “Coming in hot, because I can’t stop!” and the laughter of our friend sliding up to, and through our group before finally slowing to a halt, somehow still upright 10 feet down the trail. Riding bikes in snow is fun and hilarious in no small part because it makes you feel like a kid again. Sliding through slippery berms and skidding across snow-bound trails with friends is made all the more fun by the chorus of hoots, hollers and laughter that comes with it.
