There are two types of British mountain biker.
Those who want the snow to stay.
Those that want it go away.
I’m firmly a member of the latter.
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Yes, it’s all very nice and lovely and scenic out there. But if I want nice and scenic experiences in the snow I’d rather do it on foot.
Riding a bike in this much snow is just a good walk spoiled. Like golf.
I miss riding in The Filth. Riding in Filth can be brilliant. Sketchy. Dangerous. Testing. Rewarding. Everything goes faster when you go wrong in Filth. And you have more of say in if/when/how you go wrong. And the landings aren’t comfortable. There’s no safety net.
I’m sure I’ll miss it when it’s gone but right now I say No to Snow.
Bah humbug.
Snow means clean bike but unpredictable bicycle behaviours.
Filth means dirty bike but consistency.
I like a clean bike… but I also like consistency…. but which is better….
Hmmm, we’ve not had too much down south, trails are only underneath about an inch of fairly packed down and frozen snow – probably grippier and faster riding than the usual conditions for this time of year actually 😀
I say ‘More please!’
I’ll be the other 50% then. I’ll take snowy slideyness over wet filth any time.
Snow is unpredictable but it’s very safe unpredictableness. There’s no penalty for failiure.
I guess I’ve always been more “thrills ‘n’ spills” than “views ‘n’ cruise” with MTBs…
Bring back the filth. I like the challenge of riding the various conditions you find on a filth ride. With snow its pretty much just snowy. Until you hit ice, and theres not much challenge to that, other than coming up with new interesting ways to slide on your arse.
Hmmm…bit on the fence here, like taking my board out and playing on the powder but missing my normal riding…too much of a slog thru 5/6″ of soft stuff!
“but which is better….”
That’ll be neither (fight or not), completley dry has clean bike and the consistency
I don’t mind a little snow, it makes a nice change to the mud (though not as good as frozen trails), little enough that it compacts pretty easily not affecting the friction much more than a set trail (not a really sloppy one), its when the best trails are buried in a snow drift (for eg, the dark peak), or tbh anything more than about 6inches. When will rideable trails return?
I’m not frantic about the issue but I prefer frozen ground with no snow. It makes a lot of routes doable again viz…. those sneaky chalk climbs on the north side of the South Downes that leave you totally clagged out in Spring and Autumn. And there is less bike washing to do.
Just did 14 or 15 miles of off road today in the snow and it took me 2hrs 30mins. Normally the route would have taken an hour and a half. Did about six miles the other night with a minor mechanical and somehow managed to take an hour and a half. It was just plain ice in parts though.
I guess different is sometimes good for you!
Did 12 miles yesterday. Hard, slow work. Fell off twice with a few near misses. Overall we had a great ride with clean bikes and a warm pub at the end, the alternative would have been ‘cabin fever’ in front of the TV. I dont think you can really compare snow to mud too closely, just great to be out.
It’s hard to do regular uppy downy roundabout XC in it. Fun for a bit in the woods though. Rather be sledging I reckon
Its only a couple of weeks of the year that we have this much snow so we should all enjoy it because we’ll sure get alot more chances to ride in the rain and mud.
Your riding tastes seem to be narrowing Ben, just embrace whatever is out there today (although perhaps not literally today). Different conditions all the time in the UK, that’s what makes so many UK trails “never the same twice”.
“Riding a bike in this much snow is just a good walk spoiled. Like golf.”
Walk this…
http://www.vimeo.com/8677713
Snow = great.
“Your riding tastes seem to be narrowing Ben”
Not really.
My riding opportunities are greatly reduced so I’d rather do more of my favourite type of riding…
“I guess I’ve always been more “thrills ‘n’ spills” than “views ‘n’ cruise” with MTBs”
I’m jey for pay 😉
Snow is fun, but its so slow it gets boring fast. The same for the filth to be honest.
Hate cleaning me and the bike so keep the snow on the trails but off roads and pavement!!!
Riding in the snow = YES GREAT FUN
Daily life with the snow = NO! pain now
If your snow rides are safe then your rides are in the wrong place.
“Its only a couple of weeks of the year that we have this much snow so we should all enjoy it ”
Bingo. Take it all head-on – the good and the bad. Hard work and a little bit of discomfort is good for you. And a bad day’s cycling is better than a good day’s work.