Season Conditions What to expect

Make the Adjustments

Your bike reacts completely different to wet ground. Make sure to adjust your set-up for these conditions.

Winter Season Riding

In summer, going riding is easy. You grab your bike, throw on your helmet and gloves, and off you go. When you get home, it’s just a case of putting your sweaty clothes in the washing machine and stashing your bike in the shed. But what about when it’s 3°C outside and the trails are axle deep in mud? You’ve got to have preparation skills to stay warm, dry and stoked. But it’s worth it!

The first thing to get right is your underwear. A decent base-layer will remain comfy even if you get sweaty or soggy, 3/4-length bib tights under your baggies will keep your muscles warm and waterproof socks will stop you getting trench foot when your shoes are waterlogged. If you run hot, go for knee warmers or knee pads rather than bibs. If you feel the cold, grab some full-length tights and layer up your torso.

Next is your mid-layer. Unless it’s really cold, a standard riding jersey will do the job, ideally with long sleeves, so that your skin’s not in contact with your outer layer. Go for synthetic fabric or merino wool – cotton will just get wet and cold. Your outer shell needs to keep the elements from getting in and warmth from getting out. On cold but dry or drizzly days a lightweight wind-proof jacket will work well, but for really grim weather, go for a breathable waterproof jacket. Waterproof shorts are also a must when it’s soggy and cold, they’ll protect your backside from water and dirt flicked up by the rear tyre, keeping it warm and dry.

Your hands are one of the most exposed parts of your body. A good set of winter gloves will keep your fingers toasty when it’s cold. Just make sure you can still feel feedback from the bar. A neck tube is a good idea too when it’s really cold, to stop vital body heat escaping. Things like this make bigger differences than you would think. A front mudguard is a must, even if you wear riding glasses or goggles. It’ll stop the spray and grime covering your bike, torso and face, looks cool too. The Fender offers the most protection, but the simple plastic cut-outs do a good job too.

If it’s wet and sloppy, you’ll be riding slower and will need more grip on the wet ground. Letting some air out of your tyres and softening your suspension is an easy win.

Mud and slop can form a grinding paste. Lubricate your bike’s chain and other moving parts to keep things running smoothly.

During the winter rides you should make every effort to drink in small sips and at regular intervals. Dehydration can cause loss of focus, cramps and decreased performance. With respect to nutrition, the same rules apply as per usual, but you should consider an increase in calorie burn due to cold conditions, at breakfast you could prioritize foods high in fats and protein and, instead of bars, start carrying with you nuts, chocolate, etc.

Winter rides offer a great chance to discover new places, spots that during the summer are too busy or we have ignored because bike parks were open. Regardless, even a ride in the local woods can offer a very different experience if it is done in muddy conditions or there is snow around. It is useful to consider the possibility of shortening the ride, make detours, or having to make some hike-a-bike. Pre-planning your ride is useful at all times; in winter, it is also important to have a plan B and perhaps a plan C. Getting changed immediately after the ride, possibly in a warm place or at least not outside, is also very important. This could mean the difference between getting sick or not, after your winter ride.