As I sit and watch a pathetic amount of snow drool from the sky here in Austin, I’m reminded of all the people that have to deal with getting dumped on regularly during the winter. What do these fine folks do every year when some of their favorite summer activities get snowed out? Well, they do them anyway of course!

This is definitely true of mountain bikers. With a little bit of preparation and planning, you can be on the trails again in no time!

As you can imagine, one of the most important bits of equipment that will need an upgrade will be your tires. Switch to a much knobbier tread and use the widest rims you can find. Some retailers even sell studded tires for travel over ice! Also, adjust your tire pressure to a lower PSI than you would normally so that you’ll get better traction. Not so low that your tire is in danger of coming off of your rim, of course!

Getting momentum is key! When you’re in snow, try to keep moving forward at all times. Your momentum will decrease rapidly if you stop pedaling. Think of it like biking through sand or mud. When you slow down it’s a lot harder to build your speed again. BRAKE EARLY!!! You’re much more likely to slide and lose traction when you’re in snow and ice, so give yourself extra time to come to a stop or slow down.

Check your chain lube. There are chain lubricants on the market that are made specifically for cold weather climates. Definitely look into them as you don’t want your bike chain freezing and locking up while you’re in the middle of nowhere.

One final piece of advice: Attach a small lamp or two to your bike if you don’t have one already! The winter days are shorter so don’t get caught way out on the trail with no light. Bring a flashlight as well.

Happy biking!

Check out this video to see some people being certified badasses in the snow!