For the last fifteen years my only bike has been a road bike, and I love that thing. But just this last November I bought a Surly Krampus, which I used for commuting all winter. Now the local bike trails are thawing out and I can finally ride on them (I tried in the snow, but I didn't get very far).

Just today I went for my very first ride ever on an actual bike trail, and it was, well, muddy and slow. My fitness is pretty good, but I was too chicken to try to take those twists and turns at a high speed. But I did discover something I hadn't really noticed before: the small chain ring. Amazing how much easier it makes things.

All winter I was grumbling to myself, wondering if I should have bought a true fat bike, asking myself if I made the wrong choice. But now that spring is here, my regrets are drying up with the snow.

Be careful that you aren't tearing up the trails. That will ruin it for everybody.

Crap, I never even thought about that. Maybe I'll just lay off until the trail system doesn't look like a swamp down there.

Yeah I never had either until I moved to Chicago and the local mountain biking club warned me ad nauseum... Plus riding in mud is no fun!

Me too.

Off-road riding is cool. Sometimes I ride on trail which is such, that it's rather hard even to walk. So many puddles and mud. It's crazy, some times even my helmet was dirty. Wheels threw up mud to all sides. And it was when I used mudguards, custom mudguards. It's the best of guards which I've seen.

I like drifting in mud. In general, when it's raining and many bikers feel sad, I want to ride there.

But I must admit, I had to go to carwash after this, because I and my bike were so filthy after riding, that if I had wash it myself, it would has took me for a pair of hours.

Anyway, XC is cool.

By the way, could you show a photo of your trail?
I just want to compare. I've never seen a dirty trail, which is actually used by bikers, except mine.

Are you kidding? Riding in mud is awesome! After my first time out, you couldn't even tell what colour my bike used to be.

Uh...Anybody seen my bike ?

I tip my hat to you, sir. Anybody who can double their body weight in mud is A-OK.