| Hi,
I love riding my ATB in snow. It is great fun. Just make sure
you're well padded, in case you slip on ice. I don't know how careful
snowmobiles are where you live but around here (Eastern Mass) I stay
out of areas where they are likely to show up. Also you need to
dress for walking in snow as you may have to push the beast, sometimes
no tire can provide you with traction.
Have fun
Joe
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| Thanks for the advice. I thought about riding my ATB in the street
but I think I'd have better traction than most cars in the snow, well,
at least more control and I'm not fond of the idea of becoming a hood
ornament. I'm wondering, though, if the tires can get enough traction
in snow that is fresh (not packed). I guess I'll just have to
experiment this winter. Happy riding...or should I say sliding.
Mike
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| > I'm wondering, though, if the tires can get enough traction
> in snow that is fresh (not packed).
Three years ago, I used to ride my touring bike through the snow on a
daily basis. I used the specialized tricross 27x1-3/8, which are
narrow knobby tires.
When I had trouble it was most often with getting a low enough gear,
and not with traction. I would be standing on the pedals in a 42
inch gear and not moving. Other times the trouble would be with pedal
clearance, but perhaps an ATB wouldn't sink in as much. Occasionally
when the snow was really hard, I would have difficulty as the wheel
would break through the crust unpredictably.
Ice, of course, is the toughest part. If you see an icy spot ahead,
try to set up for it so that you will be coasting through in a
straight line. Try to do any turning or braking before it or after it.
In general, try not to brake and turn at the same time.
I take off the toe clips because they drag in the snow when you are
trying to get into them. Besides, the boots don't fit in very well.
The Soubitez generator worked over the knobbies, but was noisy
Also, its hard work so you might want to have someplace to stow your
extra layers.
-Jeff Bell
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| More on the snowmobile trails...
I have found that riding snowmobile trails can be
some of the best riding there is! You do have to
plan with the weather because soft or wet snow is
really hard to travel through. But if you get a
snowfall which is packed by the machines, then a
warm spell and finally a cold spell, the track gets
hard and incredibly fast (at least 100mph!). This
is also a great time to practice the "endo" because,
if you wander out of the track, the bike will just
dissapear into the snow. You can roll ofer the
handle bars, and come up laughing. (This is actually
a good way to fall on a Mtn bike in the summer to
minimize the blood). Happy trails!
mark
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