Mountain Biking - Does anyone ride in the winter?

I am studing in Detroit and I cannot imagine riding in the winter as I have tried it before for a short distance and my ears frozed although they were covered.

I am just wondering that I heard of some good trails around the area, but does anyone ride in the winter, or do those trails open in the winter?

Here in Queensland, winter riding is not only possible, it's preferable. Sure, summer's fine if you like heatstroke, dehyration and skin cancer, but these are not on my list of favourite things in the world. Of course, they can still be a threat in winter around here, too, but they're easier to overcome then.

Originally posted by Chris L
Here in Queensland, winter riding is not only possible, it's preferable. Sure, summer's fine if you like heatstroke, dehyration and skin cancer, but these are not on my list of favourite things in the world. Of course, they can still be a threat in winter around here, too, but they're easier to overcome then.

Queensland... different from Queenstown in NZ?
Well, I used to live in a country only 42km from the equator and it was just so convenient to ride. It did not matter if it rains or not as the weather will be acceptable always.

I just hate the cold and biting wind when it blows at me, and I probably have to put on layers or clothings to ride:(

So anyone has suggestion?

Hey,
I'm from Ann Arbor and there's a lot of trails around here that are very rideable in the winter. Just dress warn and give it a minute to get going and warm up. Here's a place that'll have trails and how to get there on it

www.mmba.org (michigan mountain bike association)

Here in the UK we have a special technolgy to enable us to ride in winter. Its called "clothes" .
Seriously, take a look at icebike.com, home of the winter cyclist, to see how it should be done, then go out and do it.

It's the best time in Southern California.
Clean, clear, cool, everything 's green, flowers start comming out, much less people in the hills, I could go on forever 'bout this. Only the high elevations are cold & snow on the ground (over 6k ft : What's that in Km?).
This weekend was around 80 degrees! Attached pic looking over ventura valleys toward ocean

It was mid-60's here and awesome on my ride yesterday :)

Originally posted by mjrohnso
It was mid-60's here and awesome on my ride yesterday :)

It was awesome down here too. Still a little soggy (i'm sick of the mud) but all in all a very nice weekend.
saturdays road ride started out C O L D at 29 deg but got hot quick.

Nice ride SoCal!

Originally posted by PeterG1185
Nice ride SoCal!

Thanks :beer:
(but I prefer "ET")

In the midwest we have four seasons and what is fun in the summer is a blast in the winter, camping biking hiking etc give it a shot its worth it, but be warned everything hurts worse in the cold, go to a thrift or army store and look for wool and polyester if your on a budget, good luck

I did a 50 mile on Sunday. I spent the whole day riding!:D

well, i don't know specifically about Detroit, but basically if the trail's not under too much snow you can ride.

i rode 3 winters in Portland OR (not really that cold, just wet!), 1 winter in Mass (we rode trails by 5-25F through mid-Jan when the snowpack set in) and now my 2nd winter in Munich - Alps are out, but local trails are mostly rideable. i did a 2-hr ride Sunday on local trails with about 2" of fresh snow by about -5C.

personally, i don't like to ride much below about -10C(14F) b/c i get cold hands and feet, but then that's probably b/c i've never lived anywhere that cold more than a few days a year. (i just got back from 2 weeks in Russia where it was -20C to -25C so now -10 doesn't seem so bad) this morning's 35 minute commute it was -7C with 2" new snow over 2" old snow (roads were plowed and salted, but i rode some trails too which were obviously not cleared)

there are all kinds of things to try - i have studded tires, neoprene overshoes, plus wear snowboarding gloves and lots of windproof gear (windproof tights, jacket, headband, etc)

keep the hands, feet and ears warm and you'll be surprized how warm you stay even well below freezing - even more so on trails as there is less wind and lower speeds. just try not to take a REALLY long break as you'll quickly get cold.

Thanx for the advice. It seems there are lot's of winter gears to buy. Right now I don't have a bike at Detroit, so I am basically at point zero.

Maybe when I have decided to stay or move on then I will consider getting a mtb. I miss biking so much, haven't done it for a full year!

We ride all winter in south Jersey. Was 18 when we went out this last Sunday morning and had a great ride on about 3000 acres of single track. Anything less than a foot of snow or solid ice is OK. Get a high tech balaclava for your head and your ears and face will stay warm. They wick any moisture away and you stay nice and toasty. Also, good hiking socks and a pair of the chemical toe warmers in your shoes about 30 minutes before blastoff will keep your feet in fine shape. Polypro wicking long john set and several thin layers topped with a good windbreaker and your ready to roll. Don't forget the long-fingered gloves under your regular riding gloves. Enjoy!!