12 Winter Riding Tips to Make the Season Fun
You know what’s great about winter? Absolutely nothing! Love it or hate it, winter is coming so it’s time to brace yourselves. This the season where motivation falters, resolutions are broken and we all get lazy and fat! We may not be able to rail a flat corner for a few months but let’s not write off the winter season yet.
For those with a sense of adventure (and humour) there’s nothing better than blasting out puddles and getting loose in the mud. Here in Scotland we experience winter days scattered liberally throughout the year so have picked up some good tips for the coming cold season.
1. MUD TIRES
Let’s face it, when there is thick mud on the ground a fast rolling semi slick tire is about as much use as a waterproof teabag, rear wheel slides are fun, front wheel slides – not so much! This time of year only one thing should concern you! Penetration. Steady now, a specific mud tire will punch directly through the slimy top layer, and bite into the firmer ground below, transforming your riding in the colder months.
ENDURO Tip: Last year the Michelin Wild Mud Advanced won our mud tire shootout, and it’s still our go-to tire for velcro like traction. The pre-twisted knobs rotate and spring back to help clear mud and once fitted you can keep riding as if it’s hero loam, railing hard while your buddies slide all over the place.
2. LAYER UP
A good baselayer can be the difference between being warm and dry vs.cold and clammy: or a good ride vs. a bad one. The latest baselayers keep you warm, dry and also contain antibacterial odor prevention so your partner will not make you keep them outside anymore.
ENDURO Tip: We have been enjoying the ODLO Evolution base layers, which offer a 3D construction to minimise seams, and body-mapped integrated thicker sections to keep the heat in the right places. Our Scottish testers swear by a good base layer and the ODLO’s are a firm staff favourite.
3. A GOOD LIGHT
Unless you are lucky enough to have a very understanding boss, it’s likely that throughout the winter months you will leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark, so for midweek action you are going to need a light. There are some excellent lights on the market now that really do turn night into day and will transform your trails, and we tested the current best helmet lights here.
ENDURO Tip: There are now a huge amount of great lights on the market for every budget. For a no-nonsense light that will go the distance, the UK team love the Hope Vision R4+ which features 1500 lumens of clean light, a 2h 15 minute burn time at full beam and a burly aluminium construction that has proven crash proof, ouch.
4. A PROPER PUMP AND TUBE
Punctures are pretty rare these days but if you do get a flat, ‘Sods Law’ dictates that you will be a long way from home and it will be raining! A long walk of shame is embarrassing in the summer, but in the winter it can be anything from a sense of humour crisis to downright dangerous. Make sure you are packing a good pump and plenty of tubes.
ENDURO Tip: Winter more than any other season is the time to be prepared. Pack a proper pump and a couple of spare tubes. Chose a big one too, microscopic pumps fit great in your bag, but on the 500th stroke with cold hands you will be cursing that asthmatic hamster power.
5. SUSPENSION SETUP
Unless you have the ability to take your brain out, riding on muddy, wet trails will be slower than the dry, and as such your summer suspension setup may not be optimum. To get the best out of your bike, it’s important to make sure your suspension is set up properly for the conditions.
ENDURO Tip: If you ride technical natural trails, experiment with a few click less low-speed compression to help the bike stick to the trail and find every last hope of grip.
6. MUD GUARDS
Mud is great fun when it’s roosting everywhere, but the last thing you want when barreling into a rock garden is a great big glob of it hitting you square in the eyes. We have yet to find the perfect rear mudguard that can take a beating, but luckily we have some excellent front mudguards, and fitting one will drastically reduce the amount of crap that shot-blasts you in the face.
ENDURO Tip: The Mudhugger Fender FR has been developed by enduro and World Cup racers and it’s a firm staff favourite. The tough mudguard works great to minimise the amount of crud from the trail that ends upon your face and has the benefit of keeping your fork seals clean. Affordable and simple, it’s a great solution for € 32.
7. WATERPROOF SOCKS
No Scottish rider would survive a winter (or summer) without the greatest invention known to mankind, the waterproof sock. Cold and wet feet are about as comfortable as hanging from a bird’s nest by your fingertips, over a pride of hungry lions, but luckily a solution is at hand; the waterproof sock! Using soft membranes the latest generation of socks are much more comfortable that the ‘plastic bag feel’ of old and are essentials in the winter riders armoury.
ENDURO Tip: When it comes to waterproof socks, Sealskinz are king. Their latest mid length socks offer a totally waterproof solution with a Hydrostop silicone free elasticated cuff to keep the last drops of water out. They have a merino wool liner to ensure your toes stay warm, and even though they are expensive at € 43, they will pay for themselves many times over in the cold months.
8. TIGHTS
Scotland is perhaps one of the few places in the world where the wind is so bitter that you can get an ice cream headache – in your knees. Pulling on a good set of tights will not only make you feel like you’re auditioning for the Christmas pantomime but will also keep you warm and comfortable.
ENDURO Tip: ENDURA has always made great no nonsense gear, and their Luminite tights not only keep you warm but have bright reflectors to light you up like an extra from TRON on the road if you commute to the trails. Available for € 74.99 they are great value too.
9. WARM GLOVES
If you neglect to look after your hands in the winter, pretty soon you will end up with numb digits that are as useful as a bunch of frozen sausages. There are some excellent winter gloves on the market designed to suit a variety of climates, and most will keep your fingers nice and toasty. You can check out our winter glove group test here.
ENDURO Tip: Here in the Tweed Valley the descents are very technical and require maximum control, and thick winter gloves don’t always cut it. A lot of riders pop a pair of large ski gloves over their normal gloves for the long climbs, then before dropping into the descents throw them in their packs. After shredding the descent they can be popped back on for glorious warmth.
10. KEEP IT CLEAN
It’s time to face facts – the dust of the summer is gone, no longer can you clean your bike with a vacuum cleaner! As the winter grime does it’s best to eat your bearings and drivetrain, now more than ever it’s time to step up your maintenance. Not only will it keep your bike riding sweet, but will also minimise the costs of wear and tear.
ENDURO Tip: We are big fans of Scottoilers UBS here at ENDURO. Not only does it leave a protective film, but it will not ruin your brake pads should you get a bit over enthusiastic.
11. WHISKY
This would not be a Scottish winter guide if we did not talk about whisky, we are not going to recommend riding ‘while under the influence’ but when a post ride winter warmer is needed, a good single malt will kick start your body’s heater like nothing else.
ENDURO Tip: When it comes to the colder months, few drinks rounds off a ride better than a wee dram of something smoky, one of the Islay malts always hits the spot. Nothing comes as smoky as Laphroaig, a potent venom that will have your insides thinking they are on fire.
12. SENSE OF HUMOUR
And finally the most important tip for winter, you need a good sense of humour. It’s true, if winter was a person they would be hard to love, summer is just so much hotter! But with the right attitude and some proper gear it can be brilliant fun. For those that make the effort, you will be rewarded with endless great stories and muddy faces as you warm up steaming by the fire.
ENDURO Tip: Never let a puddle go un-manualed, never miss the opportunity to cut up your mates on a trail and never let the weather put you off, if you get out on your bike it will be worth it!
