Winter has arrived in earnest for many of us in the northern hemisphere, with plummeting temperatures paired with the occasional touch of frost and plenty of rain.
Around my neck of the woods, the trails have been particularly muddy in recent weeks, but the arrival of frosty conditions changes their characteristics for the better.
I typically ride more on the road in the winter because many of my local clay-based trails become boggy. It’s never fun cleaning a bike after a winter ride, let alone a mud-encrusted one.
However, with frosty and icy conditions, I leave the road bike stored comfortably inside to avoid the risk of slipping on black ice. Instead, I up the mileage on my gravel bike and love every minute of it.
Here are four reasons why you should follow my lead and head off-road when the temperatures drop below freezing.
- Read more: How to get your gravel bike ready for winter
Frozen mud = anything goes
Previously sloppy trails take on a totally different character once frozen, and cold weather means you can ride trails you would typically avoid when they’re wet and boggy.
The surface becomes hardpack-like and line choice on technical sections isn’t quite as critical – a cathartic experience that (almost) reminds me of summer.
Tyre choice isn’t so critical compared to when riding in the mud – gravel tyres designed for hardpack conditions are hopeless in the mud but rideable in the snow.
You will need to adjust your tyre pressures accordingly to the conditions – I found I needed to increase my pressures slightly because I was running them a bit softer to conform to the mud.
Your bike doesn’t get as filthy
Once frozen, mud won’t cake your bike in the remnants of the trail.
There’s nothing worse than riding sodden trails and having to stop regularly to de-clog the underside of the fork crown or the stays.
Finishing frozen rides with the bike more or less in the same condition it went out the front door in is a thrill – after only a brief wipe down, the bike is ready for its next sojourn.
Cold weather breathes new life into familiar trails
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut riding familiar trails but, when frozen, it affords them a new quality that can make you fall in love with them all over again.
Getting to ride in these conditions is an infrequent treat in the UK and the Narnia-like aesthetic not only makes for arresting vistas, but also prime content to share on Instagram.
Less expectation of performance
Braving Arctic temperatures is an achievement in itself, so any thoughts about training go out of the window.
Some rides are just about getting out and enjoying the scenery and reminding yourself why you took up cycling as a sport in the first place.
It’s easy to sit on the sofa and eat Christmas chocolate, and heading out on the trails will help you earn the sweet treats.
