This
sport can be very stimulating and exciting, provided one follows correct
procedure. Be sure to wear
light but insulating clothing and definitely heavy
socks, because when you find yourself in 4 inches of
snow, things get cold quick. Drink plenty of
liquids before the ride, especially if you are out in the
extremes for more than an
hour. Water is your friend,
dehydration your enemy, and in cold temperatures, one cannot be too
careful.
Now on to your riding equipment. Proper tires are key. One can
garner some dirt tires at their local
bike shop, which, due to their aggressive
treads, are adequate for the job. Alternatively, for the more
economically blessed, get a hold of some
studded bike tires.
Nokian sells the
Extreme 296 (26” x 2.1). Each individual tire contains 296
studs, which makes for some excellent
traction, even on
ice. Setback is about 99 dollars for each tire, but well worth the added
cost if you are an
avid biker. With your studded bike tires, you will find that the increase in traction will result in about a 15
percent increase in available speed over traditional dirt tires. More speed = more
fun!
The amount of snow one can ride in varies with the amount of speed one has.
Personally, I have found that going down a fairly steep
incline at around 10 mph, I can get through roughly 5 inches of light powder.
Optimal riding conditions are about 3 to 4 inches, any more and you need lots of
speed. Also try deflating your tires a
bit to obtain a wider “footprint”. A
major benefit of snow biking is the existence of a
buffer between you and the ground. Falls can be quite fun, especially when you are
aiming for what you think is a six-inch base, only to
discover it is about 14 inches, and poof!, you go over the
handlebars and into the snow! You can also make some
neat designs in untracked
areas like empty parking lots, etc. Try your
initials, or
crop circles :)
Art on wheels.
There is nothing quite like that
perfect night, the stars shining and just you and your bike, making
fresh tracks through the newly
fallen snow.