Zan

the trails are not as enjoyable when it's all snow and ice. sure, it's doable, but you have to deflate the tires so low that it feels like you're pulling a car while you travel 'long the path...

i can't believe it! i got hurt! and... it wasn't even while riding! i was approaching a fairly technical sloped part that was iced over. i thought to myself "nah, i'll walk it - it's too dangerous to ride." get off my bike and my biker shoes, of course, slip on the frozen dirt... down i go.

it's just not as fun. the wheels would fall through the ice on the path, and the water would splash up, some of it onto the discs... and then my discs would be iced over. no braking power. i don't think riding in the sub-zero temps is too good for the bike anyways.

anyone ride during the winter regularly - during the winter in parts of the world where there actually is a winter?

never

I do most of the time. Here's the V10 during a hike-and-bike last Feb-Mar.



January shuttles





Winter cornering session




Could go on and on...lots of riding opportinities over the winter. Elevation (i.e., descents) make snow riding easier but I have a trail just out my door that is great over the winter because hikers/walkers pack down the snow.

never

Another one with a bunch of snow...you can see my neon helmet in the distance...

legalize

I hate the ****ing winter

ca7erham

Packed snow/ice is fun. Heck even powder is fun, but the slush we get sucks because its so heavy.

Zan

i s'pose since it's just the beginning of the winter that there hasn't been enough snow to actually have snow to ride on. i just don't like the sheets of ice... sure they're not a problem - until you have to make a turn... and then it's fun!

i might be a little more daring and pump up the tires so i can go faster.

i don't have any experience with bikes and the cold - are there any special maintenance concerns i should be aware about when it's cold out?

ca7erham

One of the guys at the LBS said that I shouldnt fall because hydro lines were brittle. Ice on the trails doent sound as good as an Iced over parking lot, IMO.

never

If you're riding a lot on ice, get/make some studded tires.

I just give the bikes a better post-ride wipe over the winter.

never

That's BS.

ca7erham

Really? (I'm actually asking, not being sarcastic). I'll take your word for it, because you live in a much colder area then me.

sirtigersalot

i demand more snow pix

Terrapin Ben

Looks like its just about time to get yer skis tuned and waxed. Hooray winter!

Dannihilator

What, riding season is just starting.

Oh the joys of having a fixed gear.

Zan

i passed a neighbour today coming home from the ride. my bike was covered in mud and i was wearing my camelbak - it was clear i had been trail riding. the neighbour was unpacking from a snowboarding outing out of his van. hah!

ed 

Heading to the trails with the daughter last winter:



Already posted this one, but it's mah tahrs:

Shadiyah

Winter is best experienced on planks of wood, not tires.

scrublover

Sure. Lots of ride time to be had in below-freezing temps. My personal cutoff is single digit F temps. Not too hard keeping the body warm, but my lungs wuss out when the air is that cold, and I hate riding with a face mask.

Winter here around me is night ride season as well! And snowshoe backpacking time is coming as soon as the mountains and forests a bit north of me get enough of a snow dump.

Will be riding home from work soon; ought to be about 20F on the way home.

Shadiyah

Oh baby.

scrublover

Exactly! The last two winters (one here, one in CO) were mellow enough that I kept riding and never did any snowplay trips. Itching to correct that glaring oversight this winter. Not being a skier, this works for me. Backcountry snowshoe backpacking = no (or very few) people, and no bugs. Both nice features here in the northeast.

Shadiyah

Snowshoeing is one of the most amazing and easy things one can do in the snow. I'm hoping to make at least one snowshoe yurt trip this year. And nothing can beat running down a powder filled hill.

scrublover

Thanks for the reminder that I now live in the land of icy crust.

My wife has done one hut trip with me, and is open to doing more - but in huts. I'm more of a bivy bag or solo tent kind. Nasty enough here that I'll be too much a wuss to sleep totally exposed in winter.

legalize

Chris_F

Studs plus packed snow mobile trails = ride on! Nature transforms during the winter. If part of what you love about mountain biking is enjoying nature then you're only getting half the experience if you don't ride in winter.

Zan

where do you get studded tires?

never

Go check out MEC, they have some cheaper ones and more expensive ones.

Alternatively, make your own if you have some tires you no longer need.