5 essential tips for riding MTB in the rain
Nobody likes riding mountain bikes in the rain! However, if you follow our 5-step wet-weather ‘MTB in the rain’ survival guide, you can splash some fun out of nature’s silly season.
It’s raining outside… again! We sit and we wait. We scroll through endless Netflix shows in search of something new. Day after day, week after week, we sit there, hiding inside. Our waistlines expand and our motivation falls to the malaise of the inactive. We wait for the day when the clouds disperse so we can ride dry trails once again.
Rain is the death of adventure, dampening our riding stoke like water poured on the embers of a campfire. An irrational fear instilled from childhood, when we were ushered back into the classroom at the first sign of drizzle. “Playtime is over, it’s raining, get inside.” As adults, our approach is the same. “Nah, let’s skip it, it’s raining”.
But what would happen if we changed our mindset? What would happen if we ventured back out into the playground? We would find that the forest is richer in the wet – more vibrant, more alive even. As rain falls on the dusty ground tiny air bubbles are released from the surface, each drop fizzing like a glass of champagne and filling the damp air with a fresh forest scent. Greens grow greener as trees sigh in the afterglow of a drenching. Roots glisten as pools of water explode under our wheels. Once we accept that the weather that ruins one rider’s day can transform another, with the right gear and mental attitude there are no bad days.
True, it’s not easy to head out for a ride in the rain. We dread the icy chill of water sprayed inside clothes and rain as hard as knives falling from the sky. But should we venture out, should we brave the storm, invariably we’re always glad that we did. So don’t let the rain be the death of your riding fun this winter. Join us as we splash through our 5 essential wet weather recommendations. Let it rain!
A good mudguard will save the day
Nobody gets excited about a mudguard. Fitting a mudguard to your sexy bike can feel like dressing a supermodel in wellingtons, but damn, they really work. Unless you enjoy endlessly wiping your goggles or picking mud out of your eyes, a front mudguard will transform your winter riding. Even the most basic options dramatically reduce spray from the front wheel. However, if you want one that combines great coverage, an uncloggable design and can be fitted and removed quickly and without tools, our current favourite is the CRUD Fender XL. Or, if you want the factory look and have a compatible fork (most FOX, the new Marzocchi, Öhlins and SR Suntour forks) the new RRP PROGUARD bolts on using the mounting bolts of the fork crown. Whichever mudguard you choose, make sure it is secure and offers good coverage.
It’s time to fit a mud tire
It’s a pain swapping tires, especially if yours are set up tubeless with inserts (which they should be). However, if your trails get muddy, we would strongly recommend running a mud tire during winter. A mud tire is designed to have longer knobs to bite down through the slimy surface mud to the more stable dirt underneath. Also, the knobs will be further apart to allow the mud to clear as the tire spins, reducing clogging. On hard ground, mud tires will roll slower than an all-round tire but will dramatically boost confidence on muddy trails. All major tire manufacturers have a dedicated mud tire in their range but our favourites are the intermediate Maxxis Shorty which offers great grip in mud, without rolling too slowly on the climbs. You can run mud tires front and back, or just on the front, depending on how much grip you’re looking for. If you want more tire information, you can check out our comprehensive MTB tire group test.
Invest in some winter boots
Everything that makes your riding shoes great in the summer, like big vents and breathable fabric, make them terrible in the rain. You can use fabric tape over the vents or waterproof socks as a ghetto-fix, but nothing says ‘unenjoyable’ more than wet, freezing cold toes. If you want to ride year-round, a good pair of winter boots are a great investment. The best winter shoes will feature a waterproof membrane like GORE-TEX and have a high waterproof cuff to stop spray and rain from seeping into the shoe from the top. With aggressive soles, winter boots are better for hiking in wet mud and you will not feel like you have two heavy sponges at the end of your legs should they get soaked. We tested 6 of the best clipless winter shoes and 3 of the best flat winter shoe models and our favourites were the Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex and Five Ten Freerider Elements
Protect yourself with the best waterproofs
We’ve all heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather.” Well anyone who says that has never experienced their face being blasted by rain while clinging to the side of a mountain by their fingertips – sometimes the weather is just shit. In these situations, a good jacket can be the difference between a humorous story in the pub and a dangerous situation, especially in the colder months. We put 13 of the best MTB waterproof jackets to the test to find out which could handle the pressure. Our team favourites were the ION SCRUB AMP and Endura Singletrack II. Winter is the season for riding in pants too, so if you want to find out which we recommend, you should check out our MTB pant group test where we pitted 8 of the best options against each other.
Rock a onesie this winter
If you want maximum protection and you’re sick of digging mud out of your underpants, a onesie offers the ultimate in all-weather coverage. For many years the onesie was the ultimate fashion faux-pas but things have changed. The onesie is back – and they flipping rock! Even though we now have awesome waterproof jackets and trousers to shred in, mud and spray will inevitably find its way between the cracks. With no join between the trousers and jacket, a one-piece suit keeps you protected like Fort Knox leaving no chance for muck and spray to get in. For bike parks, and deepest winter riders onesies are a revelation. We put the super technical, but also super expensive, Endura MT500 One-Piece against the peoples champion Dirtlej Dirtsuit Core Edition, to find out which onesie is king.
When riding MTB in the rain, how do you keep your bike clean?
Getting your bike filthy can be great fun. Cleaning it again, less so. The best time to wash your bike is immediately after you finish riding, washing your bike while the mud is still wet means it simply falls away. If you wait until the mud has baked dry then you are better off using a chisel. We joke, but cleaning your bike immediately after a ride halves the workload. Our current team favourite is the JetWet portable pressure washer, packing a 10L reservoir and a powerful adjustable spray, it has enough capacity to clean two bikes and is compact enough to easily keep in your car boot. If your rides end at home, the Muc-Off bicycle washer makes cleaning bikes fun. Once you’ve unleashed the joy of the snow-foam lance, you will have to look forward to the post-ride clean, check out our Muc-Off bicycle washer review.
There you go. Those are our top tips for riding MTB in the rain. Don’t let bad weather get you down, get out there and get wild in the wet
