Winter MTB Training

[brianW]

Sackattack,

Snowshoeing is best, in my opinion, when you make your own trails throuh the woods. Great way to explore the woods, forests aroung were you live without getting lost. It is supricing how many animal sings are out there. My kids used to love to id and follow the tracks. -brianW

[Sackattack]

[mnetz]

All good advice! I am actually not dreading winter now!

[TravelX]

All suggestions are great, but if you want the best way to stay in shape over the winter months, try Plyometrics. This exercise regime will get your legs in the best shape ever for explosive power needed for the next season.

[Asfyxiate]

I'd also have to agree with snowshoeing. I find it's the equivalent of hiking, and it tends to be more solitary, at least it seems like that with how quite it can be. It's also super easy too learn, just about anybody who can walk can do it.

[maddslacker]

Here in Colorado we ride our bike for winter bike training

Sorry, just had to rub that in...

steve32300, except for today of course...
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[spazjensen]

[JDH]

Last winter was the first year I rode year round, mind you I didn’t ride half as much in the winter as I do in the summer but it is very feasible to ride in the winter. You just have to get over the cold factor. I can bet that very few people on this site sit indoors all winter long, we all get out and enjoy the winter either snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing… whatever it might be. So why stop riding just because it is cold outside?

To ride in the winter you just need to dress like you would for any cold weather activity and remember that you will heat up just like you do during the summer rides so don’t over dress and remember cotton kills in cold weather.

Last winter I rode with no problem once the ground froze, I just had to dress for the weather. And when the snow fell I bought a pair of snowshoes, in itself snowshoeing is fun but it leaves a nice trail of packed down snow that can be, with a few snowshoe treks over the same trail turned into a good hard packed surface to ride on. A good pair of studded tires, wool socks, gloves and a layer or 2 of good quality moister wicking clothes and I was riding my favorite trails even in the dead of winter. Granted I ended up pushing my bike up some of the more steep climbs and had to watch my speed a little on the down hill curves but it was still fun.

Believe it or not, here in Anchorage there are “Fatbike” clubs that have organized trail rides all winter long. And there is a growing community of year round bicycle commuters. I’ve seen people on bikes up here even when temperatures were around -20.
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Falling is fun, the sudden stop at the end of the fall is what sucks!

[steve32300]

[maddslacker]

It's pretty fluffy down here...about 16" so far and still coming down.
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[steve32300]

You mean it's not wet snow where your at slacker??I brushed off the snow off my explorer after work and it was nothin but water at the base.
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quick,,,ride across the rainbow,before it turns to black.

Clydesdale Rider @ 300 plbs.

2007 Stumpjumper elite with a 2008 Fox Talas 32mm.RLC fork.

[maddslacker]

well I haven't been out in it, but I watched the dog go out and it appears pretty non-wet...

I might be higher elevation than you though as I'm over 6,000 feet.
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