How deep in unbroken snow?
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How deep in unbroken snow?
1 1 /2 months ago I went MTB in the snow, I don't remember the exact depth, it was at least 6", could have been as much as 10" but I think it was 6" or 8". It was dry snow. I started on an asphalt path and didn't get more than a few feet. I was trying to pedal and the back wheel was spinning until I fell. I kept trying and trying and fell 6 times.
How deep a snow fall in unbroken snow can you MTB in? Does it matter if dry or wet? Dirt or asphalt?
How deep a snow fall in unbroken snow can you MTB in? Does it matter if dry or wet? Dirt or asphalt?
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This will turn into a pissing contest very soon. I would venture to say though that if your snow were actually dry powder...you would have been able to blow through it. The wet / crusty stuff is the crap that throws you down.
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I've gotten by OK in about 5" extremely dry untracked snow.
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Yep a lot depends on the mositure content of the snow. Usually I'm good riding virgin snow 6 to 8 inches deep. Running studs will help your winter riding especially on ice and hard pack snow.
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I once rode home though snow up to my hubs, and and I've been stopped by 4-5 inches. It depends entirely on the density of the snow.
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I can do around 4-6 inches of wet German snow, but its not to fun.
Dry powder doesn't exist here so I can't say anything.
Dry powder doesn't exist here so I can't say anything.
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Once the Pedals start ploughing through the snow it gets difficult. Snow to the hubs and it is impossible.
But this is British snow. We don't see it very often down here in the South so perhaps it is "Metric" and more difficult to negotiate.
But this is British snow. We don't see it very often down here in the South so perhaps it is "Metric" and more difficult to negotiate.
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I don't know what type of snow we had in England, was about 6" though, maybe a bit more.
I think it's the only time I've used such a low gear. Was spinning like mad and not going too fast but was still great fun.
I think it's the only time I've used such a low gear. Was spinning like mad and not going too fast but was still great fun.
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I tried to ride on about four inches of ice the other day and I crashed all over the placed and scraped up my soft, sensitive belly.. But four inches of wet chrushy snow over short grass was really easy.
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Groomed corduroy rides pretty well . . .
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Like many have said...it depends on the type of snow and it also depends on on your grade. Descending in snow is easier than pedalling on a flat section in snow.
This sucked:
![](https://is.pinkbike.com/photo/1585/pbpic1585393.jpg)
This was a lot of fun:
This sucked:
![](https://is.pinkbike.com/photo/1585/pbpic1585393.jpg)
This was a lot of fun:
![](https://is.pinkbike.com/photo/1821/pbpic1821561.jpg)