For many, biking is a great way to get around anywhere you go and a great form of exercise.
However, biking in snow trails or on sufficiently snowy paths can be difficult even for experienced riders. Snow impacts the way you ride, your stability, balance, and many other factors that if not compensated for in the right way, could lead to an accident or injury.
That’s why we want to discuss some safety tips for riding in snow trails and what you can do for yourself and your bike to make sure that you can ride comfortably and safely, reducing the risk of an accident.
Make Sure You and Your Bike Are Equipped to Handle Snow
Depending on the amount of accumulation and your style of bike, investing in snow tires or winterizing your bike may be necessary to provide maximum comfort and safety while on a snow trail. This goes for yourself as well.
If you know it’s going to be cold and that snowing is a possibility, then gearing yourself accordingly is a good idea. The more treacherous the trail you are on, the more you need to prepare for it.
Lower Your Tire Pressure to Maintain Traction
Tire pressure is meant to be at a certain level most of the time to keep the tire properly inflated so that it can make contact with the ground and roll forward. However, traveling on snow is different than traveling on asphalt or dirt.
This is why experts recommend decreasing the pressure in your tires so that it is easier to move through the soft snow.
If you’re unsure or just don’t know how much pressure to take out, ask at your local bike shop before going and doing any extensive riding in the snow.
Balance All the Weight on Your Bike
If your bike is geared for speed then you may want to change things up a bit, but even if you have a standard bike, you want to make sure that any weight attached to the bike from bags, cargo carriers, etc, is evenly distributed.
This will keep you firmly planted on the ground and reduce the risk of you tipping over or falling sideways in the snow.
Lower Your Seat So That You Can Touch the Ground With Your Feet if Necessary
Stability is key when traveling on snow. If you start to lose balance or worse yet, hit a patch of ice, you may need to stop more quickly than your bike will allow.
Being able to contact the ground with your feet can save you from an accident and a big headache if you end up traveling and losing control while on a trail
Since you can’t judge the thickness or depth of the snow at any given point on a trail, having a quick and easy way to stop is important so that you’re not traveling at a decent rate of speed and then all the sudden go out of control and can’t stop yourself in time.
Stay Seated and Take it Slow
Our last tip is about how you ride. First, stay in your seat at all times. When you’re traveling through snow you shouldn't be worried about coming out of your seat or changing positions, your focus should be on riding normally and keeping your balance while on the snow.
This also means that you don’t have to ride fast or aggressive either, just keep a normal pace or pace with the people you’re with and maintain your safety.
To Sum Up
These are some of our tips for keeping yourself safe while riding your bike on snow trails. With a little effort and patience you can still enjoy a good ride no matter what the weather decides to do.
