Biking With Kids

It has been cold with very little snow here in the North East.  While the lack of snow has put a damper on the skiing and snowshoeing, the conditions have been perfect for mountain biking.

Riding on the Lake

I have made a couple of key adjustments to my wardrobe and bicycle since I started winter mountain biking last year. The first change is for my feet. I tried using my normal clipless pedals with booties, but I just couldn’t keep my feet warm enough. I now use hiking boots and regular pedals, which keep my feet much warmer and allow me to ride longer.

Rigid Voodoo

In addition to swapping out my clipless pedals for regular ones, I also swapped out my full suspension bicycle for my fully rigid one. It turns out that freezing temperatures and bicycle suspension just don’t mix. Last year I ended up having to take apart my rear shock because the seals had gotten too cold, causing the shock to be “stuck down”. I really haven’t missed the suspension, all of the snowmobile trails are quite smooth, as is the lake.

Here is a video and a few more pictures from my 2010 winter riding:

You can ride ice with no studs, if you keep the tires clean of snow

Ice Crystals

Fresh Tracks

Frozen River