Mountain Biking - What do you guys do after it rains?

The trails by me are covered in puddles like 3 or 4 days after it stopped raining. What do you guys do when the trails are covered in water. Do you just wait for them to dry or ride on the streets?

If it goes too long being wet, I've got to hit the road. Its been a fairly wet spring (now that its summer, probably won't get much more rain) here, and has been frustraiting at times not being able to hit the trail.

Mud. I'd rather not. . . but I always feel great at the end of a ride all lathered up in sweat covered in yuk head to toe. Makes me feel like a mountain biker. . . a real one.

Riding in mud will introduce you to chain suck. It will help you understand the limitations of your tires and brakes. It will improve your bike handling skills. . . descending on a slippery trail. FORCE you to clean your bike, especially your drivetrain. Get you out of the house when you'd rather watch another episode of Rosie. If you race, or want to race, it introduces you to conditions you will see in a race.

You will ride slower in mud. You are more likely to crash. You may have to hike-a-bike through the worst of it. But, it's part of mountain biking.

Originally posted by Mambwe
The trails by me are covered in puddles like 3 or 4 days after it stopped raining. What do you guys do when the trails are covered in water. Do you just wait for them to dry or ride on the streets?

Hit the trails!! I actually have a lot of fun riding in the mud. There is a 100-yard mud bog at a local trail where I used to live in CT. Whenever I rode there I was sure to hit it at least two or three times throughout the day and If I go riding after or while it's raining I'm not shy of the puddles either. Like WoodyUpstate said, it will also help improve your skills. Don't worry about getting dirty, that’s part of the fun!


LaZy

In some parts of the world, if you wait for the ground to dry up, you never ride.
Put some fenders /grunge guards whatever on your bike, and get out and ride.
You may want to switch to mud tyres, and to wax your clean frame.

Just came back from some muddy trail riding. Since here in S. Florida, is has been raining hard the past 3 days. What was weird was that when I going through this trail, I saw the motherload of mud. As I went through it, my brakes got full of mud and my front wheel stopped. The weirdest feeling is when your bike is sinking into the mud, like quick sand. (guess that's what happens with a 40 lb. mtb).

Mud is part of Mountain Biking, always ride in every condition.
:D

Living in a very wet province if you don't ride in the mud you won't ride much. I just go and get wet and muddy and have some fun. You definately leanr the limits of both your bike and you own skills. I don't find a whole lot harder than a fresh rain (I like riding in the rain too) on roots while climbs a mountain :)

Actually, some of my favorite rides are when it's pouring down rain and the trail is nothing but mud. Of course, where I live that's basically any given day from September thru July...

I loves me some mud. what can I say, I loved to get dirty when I was a little kid, now I just have to find a excuse. :D

What do you guys do after it rains?

Rain?? What is that??

If it would ever really rain here again in Colorado, we would all dance in the street in joy.

Riding in mud is fun, but it's hard on equipment and even worse- hard on the trails! Where I live we already have limited trails, and they are constantly closing more of them off to mountain bikers. Now there is a proposal to the city to develop the one place in the entire city we can race!

So as much fun as it may be, I try to avoid muddy trails as much as possible and keep to the road. The last thing we need are worn down trails with deep tire marks in them if we want to keep the trails open. So I ride when it's dry, warn hikers with a bell or yell "Hi!", and always pass slowly with a smile and an "Excuse me.....thank you!". But then I'm Canadian..... ;)

I would have to add that I would ride in the mud if they didn't frown on that greatly on all the trails around here. They usually close the trails after rain. Otherwise I would love to do some playing in the mud.

When I go out to play in the mud, I go to a near-by off road vehical park. Most of the motorcycles/4 wheelers stay home when it's raining, but I'm still not doing nearly the damage to the trails while their wet, that the motor guys do even when it's dry.

But again, where I live if they closed trails while their wet we'd never ever get to ride. :rolleyes:

I can actually remember a time when it used to rain occasionally around here (true!). After rain I do the same thing I do during the rain..

RIDE!

In some parts of the world, if you wait for the ground to dry up, you never ride.
Put some fenders /grunge guards whatever on your bike, and get out and ride.
You may want to switch to mud tyres, and to wax your clean frame.

what kind of wax to use?

I don't mind riding in the rain. It's the "wet coast". Hahaha, west cost.

I take to the streets after rain. It's been doing that alot here latley :(

streets? how boring. trails! i really need some fenders though..

To me, riding is riding. No matter where you do it. Sure riding in the mud is fun and all but I rather spend the time riding, than cleaning the mud off my bike.

4 year old thread alert...

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