While mountain biking commonly takes place on dirt or gravel terrain, it is also possible to do it on snow. You should observe additional precautions, however, as snowy terrains bring with them some complications and obstacles. You need to have the skill set to mountain bike in the snow and the knowledge to avoid slipping, getting stuck on snow, and other potential risks.

advertisement

What You’ll Need Riding in the Snow

Riding in the snow requires more than just having the right mountain biking skills. You also need to have the things to make your ride smooth and pleasant including:

Warm clothes to keep you warm which may include a beanie under your helmet and two socks

The right boots preferably snow boots

The right tires that are made for the snow like carbide-studded tires

Emergency equipment and supplies including snowshoes and food and drink you’ll need when something goes wrong

Helpful Tips when Riding in the Snow

Here are tips to help you ease into snow mountain biking:

1. Bike in firm snow.
2. If the snow is soft, make sure it isn’t too deep and that there’s the firm ground beneath it.
3. Be observant. Watch out for obstacles in the way like trees, pine cones, and the like.
4. If you are not skillful at biking on ice, avoid snowy terrain.
5. Look at the ground ahead to check that the snow has not melted and become icy. Brake when you see that the road ahead is icy.
6. Fat bikes are one of the best options especially in an area that gets lots of snow. The wide rubber lets you float on newly fallen snow and avoids ruts in icy streets.
7. Observe the right cycling techniques on snow. To start, bike in a straight line without wobbling around. To do this, move your body side to side, which will keep your bike tracking. Keep your weight back a bit to keep you more upright and prevent you from falling forward.
8. Slow down and stay loose for slippery surfaces. On slick surfaces, brake only on the rear wheel to avoid spin outs.
9. Be careful and execute everything perfectly. Avoid being rough but be gentle with your biking.

advertisement

Riding in Powder.

New powder deposited over hard ground or packed surfaces provides good traction for tires. Powder is light and fluffy after a storm, but over time it gets saturated, and feels like riding through wet concrete. After a storm with the perfect powder, you have only a couple of days to hit the trails. Typical skinny MTBs can handle up to 4-6 inches of powder. If you usually ride at 10 mph, get used to grinding at 3-5 mph. You’ll have to work harder. Even though fat bikes are technically better at riding in snow, navigating powder can actually be more difficult with a skinny bike. With fatter tires, you move more snow out of your way. One of the biggest problems with riding skinny bikes in powder is leaving trails as deep as the snow because they leave skinny tire-width-wide paths. Your first ride will be pretty easy. The rut you just made becomes almost an obstacle if you turn around and come back. The tire wants to follow the track, but following a 2″ wide track is impossible, so you just slide back and forth. Powder tracks are nice on fat bikes. Be sure you are following a fat bike if you ride behind someone. Even fat bike tracks can be difficult to follow if the snow is dense and you are sinking 4 inches or so.

Wintertime mountain biking is feasible and can be fun when you have the skills, proper equipment, and the right preparation.

advertisement