Just wondering about something. Trained hard all winter and rode when I could. Was dry for several months. Then it snowed, rained, etc. and got everything all sloppy. I went riding and rode like crap! A couple times actually. I'm talking about getting very winded on hills etc. Man was I bummed.
Then it dried up again and I went out and rode like a freakin' maniac. Felt faster than ever.
So my question is, has anybody else noticed this? Does the extra rolling resistance of the mud plus the slipping of the rear tire pedaling up hills make that much difference?

Yep!

I rode a trail once with the mud so thick it gobbed up along the frame and the forks so much you couldn't even pedal the bike! It was like riding through mashed potatoes. It wouldn't even come off when dropping the bike. I had to get a stick and scrape the stuff off!

That night I slept like a baby. I was whooped!

L8R

Hey...my ears are burning.

Wassup guys?

I recall reading in one of the UK magazines recently that mud can add upto 6lbs onto a bike...

Richard

mud is a rare occurance here, but soft sand that's a killer to your speed, as soon as you hit it you lose all momentum... after you ride in it a while you get used to the feeling though, and it doesn't really matter, but terrian will slow you down if it is not hard and flat

Hey Dirtgrinder, the local trail here is loaded with sand, and whenever I ride I think, "geez, I am out of shape". Then I go ride a trail with hard pack, and ra! I am flying! I think any loose condition slows you down.

Ha ur l;ucky too have mud.

The soft sand here sure does slow you down. On my first ride at Blue Diamond I got stuck in it a couple times from not shifitng down quick enough.