Embrace the Elements

Just because there’s snow on the ground, it doesn’t mean you need to hang your mountain bike from the ceiling. Bone-chilling temperatures and seemingly dangerous terrain can be intimidating, but with the necessary gear, proper technique and a few simple tips, riding in the winter can be a fun way to maintain your fitness.

What you need

Just like with cars and winter boots, the key to high performance bicycle tires in snow is large knobs or studs. Studded tires allow for the best possible traction when plowing through blankets of snow and the further the knobs or studs are set apart, the less chance of snow getting packed overtop the surface of the tire and creating a spinning slick. A front studded tire helps immensely. Before you commit to expensive new tires though, try adjusting your tire pressure. On fresh powder in sub-zero temperatures, lower pressure will allow your tire more flex and traction and should reduce slipping substantially, especially when the snow is fresh and not yet packed down.

A customized mud flap is useful when snow, salt and mud are churning through your gears. Protection for the crankset and front derailleur is crucial as they are the most susceptible to clogging and essential to the mechanics of the bike. A front and rear light set is also a good investment since daylight is short-lived come winter. Finally, visit your local bike shop and pick up a bottle of wet-weather chain lube.

Technique

Perhaps the biggest deterrent for most people from riding during the winter isn’t cold, but fear. The key here is to go out prepared, stay within your comfort zone and keep loose. Skidding on snow is much like blazing down a hill: you have to let the momentum take care of itself because ill-timed over-reliance on braking can cause a spill.

First, keep your butt on that seat. Make a conscious effort to keep weight off your handlebars when moving through powder because the back tire will need the extra mass to keep it from spinning. Riding across ice and other slick surfaces is like riding downhill at high speeds. You can’t depend on a simple squeeze of the brakes to save you from uncomfortable speeds and situations. Grabbing a handful of brake lever, combined with forward momentum and unsure ground will likely result in locking the wheels – which is a sure bet for an uncontrollable mishap. Instead, stay loose, try to stay in a straight line and wait until the ground levels out and your wheels find some traction to put any significant pressure on the brakes.

You will fall, and there is only one thing you can do about it: embrace it. There are perks to the winter rides here. You move slower, the snow is soft and your clothes are thicker. So don’t worry about falling.

When choosing a location to ride, stick to paths and trails you’re familiar with. Try to wait until others have ridden them so there is a track to follow which will provide both a guide and a lane of packed snow. Stay clear of steep downhills, wooden bridges and other obstacles that can be dangerous in the winter. And remember to have fun.

Kris Kantrud is a freelance writer born and raised in Western Canada. He writes about and participates in a variety of outdoors sports and loves riding his bike, regardless of the weather.