Mountain biking in winter comes with a unique set of challenges, but if you prepare properly it can also be a huge amount of fun.
Endless bike washing, muddy or frozen trails and the need for hardy winter kit can sap your motivation when compared to the carefree joys of riding in the summer.
Pivot Factory Racing main man and three-time Red Bull Hardline winner Bernard Kerr knows more than most about mountain biking in winter and he gave us eight tips to keep you on the bike through the most hostile months.
Once you've absorbed Bernard's words of wisdom, check out our test team's sage winter mountain biking tips and kit advice.
1. Get out there and ride
Honestly, I really love riding bikes, so it’s actually kind of easy to stay motivated to get out. When you’re travelling to races and resting in the week, you don’t get to ride a crazy amount, so I love the off-season.
I ride everything and anything, from my hardtail to my ebike, my enduro bike to my DH bike. Riding too much is one of my downfalls.
2. Suit up
The winter kit we have now is light years better than what we had before, so riding in the wet doesn’t have to mean getting drenched and cold. Check out the Leatt HydraDri 5.0 Mono Suit – it’s a game-changer.
3. Try some moto
I like to mix it up by riding motorbikes in the off-season. Ploughing through mud’s a lot more fun with an engine.
I’m getting way more into [moto] enduro now, as all the motocross tracks in the UK seem to be disappearing. I’m not really sure how you get into MX in this country now, without being naughty.
4. Find some winter sun
I’m a bit soft when it comes to cold weather, and I also have a Kiwi girlfriend I miss, so I’m about to make a quick two-day stop in California to see Crankbrothers, and then head on to NZ for a while. It’s gonna be nice to see the sun again.
5. Explore other interests to keep fresh
For me, that means cars. I have a few, ha ha! A Porsche 911, a Reliant Robin, a Ferrari Testarossa, an American school bus, a 1974 US postal van, a Land Rover Defender, a MAN van, a Mercedes Vito, a 1984 Honda City, a 1998 Ford Transit with ‘banana’ engine… I just bought a 1987 Toyota Hilux in NZ for when I get over there. I’m so hyped on that!
6. Stay healthy
I like being healthy now. Going to the gym has become really fun and, as a racer, it’s nice to cook at home after spending so much of the year travelling and eating out.
It can be tough to balance eating well with enjoying yourself, though – I wish I didn’t like chocolate or beer! I try not to drink alcohol in the week, but sometimes that’s hard – particularly if you’ve had an epic day with the crew…
7. Find time to relax
If I’m not riding, playing with cars or out with my dog Lada, I’ll do as little as possible. I’m trying to get into watching TV and movies more, as I’m normally quite busy, but I think chilling more would probably do me some good!
