Being Prepared For Cold Weather Mountain Biking

What is the first thing you think about when you see the frost on the ground and you walk outside and you can easily see your breath in the air? You think about the bike that you have in the garage that is all tuned up and ready to be taken out. Or do you dread the fact that if you venture out into the frigid weather, your fingers and toes might get so cold that they might even fall off. You can buy the most expensive bike or you can find the best full suspension mountain bike under 1500. In any case, you will need additional stuff for riding in cold weather. When I turn on the T.V. in the morning to get the weather report and to my amazement, it feels like it’s winter time. Below are a few questions to ask yourself along with some answers.

How do I dress to be prepared for the chilly weather?

Once the temperatures get low enough to the point where you feel the need to put on extra clothes, feel free to do so. Try to wear a warm pair of wool socks, a good comfortable pair of gloves because your hands and feet will begin to get colder faster than the rest of your body. Also, be sure to have something on your head underneath your helmet because since heat rises, you will lose most of your body head through your head and it’s wise to keep that heat in.

Will I warm up as I get further into my mountain bike ride?

When you start your mountain bike ride and begin to venture out into the single track trails you will feel cold at first being that it takes time to get warmed up and get your body acclimated to the colder weather. This is why I recommend wearing layers of clothing maybe even putting on an extra layer to start out with and then taking it off as you get further into your ride.

What do I do if my fingers and toes fall off due to the extreme cold and the wind chill?

I’ve been out on days when my fingers and toes felt like they were about to fall off and I’m glad they didn’t or I wouldn’t be able to type this article! Should you find yourself at the end of your bike ride and you realize that your fingers fell off due to the extreme cold and you don’t have any duct tape with you then I guess you’re out of luck!

How cold is too cold to be out mountain biking?

Everyone is different when it comes to riding in the colder weather. Some mountain bikers are prepared and willing to ride on days when it gets down to about twenty degrees with lots of packed snow on the ground while others prefer to ride when it doesn’t get below the mid thirty’s and there isn’t any snow on the trails. Whatever winter day you plan to mountain bike on, be sure that you plan accordingly and don’t go too far outside your comfort zone as far as riding on a cold because it’s no fun being out and not being able to keep warm.

Will my mountain biking buddies worship me if I only wear a bike jersey and a bike shorts on a blustery thirty degree day?

If you aren’t into wearing too many warm clothes and just want to show off in front of your friends, then you will definitely get lots of respect and maybe even worshipped!

I hope that the information I provided for you is enough for you to make an educated decision when you see frost on the ground and you walk outside and you can easily see your breath in the air.