Foldable Bikes Party: Complete guide to winter mountain biking, part 2

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Complete guide to winter mountain biking, part 2

http://ift.tt/21iNf24

Summer may well be a long distant memory, but a cold and wet winter is no excuse to leave your bike in the shed while your waistline slowly expands. With the right kit, preparation and advice winter riding can be a thrill rather than a chore. Here's what you need to know.

Updated February 2016

In part one of our guide to winter mountain biking we explained the bike handling skills you need to stay rubber side down in this slippy season of slop, but there's no point having perfect technique if you're too cold to function and your bike is falling apart...

1: What to wear

As British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes once plainly put it, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” While that might seem a bit rich coming from a man who has lost a fair few digits to frostbite on his extreme travels, the sentiment is totally accurate. Being warm, dry and comfortable will a huge difference, both physically and psychologically.

Waterproof shoes

Chilly beans: Always have a beanie in your riding pack and put it on as soon as you stop. Don’t cool down ﬁrst – layer up straight away.
That's handy: Take some latex gloves with you in case things get really cold. They make perfect glove liners.
Soggy bottom: Take a carrier bag with you to sit on at the pub and then to stash your kit in when you reach your front door.
Wash off: If you don’t have a hosepipe, wash your muddy kit in the shower before putting it in the washing machine – and clean the filter regularly. Also, wash your bike when it’s still wet, because it’s far easier than allowing dirt to dry on.
Feet first: Fill some old socks with silica gel and then use them to take the moisture out of your riding shoes, eliminating the damp smell. Failing that, use news paper and change it regularly!

2: How to prep your bike

Saddle drop: In severe conditions, try running your saddle an inch lower. This lowers your centre of gravity and makes things easier to control when the going gets sloppy.
Quick fix: Don’t suffer while ﬁxing a ﬂat when it’s hammering with rain. Buy some CO2 cartridges and use them to get out of the cold and wet quickly.
Lube up: After wet rides, spray water-displacing lubes, such as WD40 or GT85, into bolt heads and around moving parts to help reduce the chance of rust and seized bike kit.