Snow can vary tremendously, and be treacherous (ice) or a lot of fun (powder). Use a similar technique as in sand or mud. Let a little air out of your tires and run about 25-30 psi. The front tire will tend to move sideways quite a bit, and want to nosedive as well. It can be quite a balancing act just to keep the bike upright. You can sharpen a lot of biking skills in the snow. It improves cornering, and teaches you to conserve momentum. You can also get first tracks alot easier than your favorite ski area. Consistent pedal pressure is needed and it teaches you to avoid surging because you will loose traction. You get wonderful balancing skills in snow, and learn good pedaling technique. Stay in the saddle, especially when you are just starting from a stop. Conditions vary depending upon snow depth and consistency, and anything over 12" - 14" may be difficult or impossible. Even the slightest hill can pose a strenous problem in deep snow, so select fairly level terrain for your ride. Also, stick to well known trails and terrain in case of an injury or difficult conditions, and consider having your cell phone handy in case of emergency...in the matter of a few hours, conditions may change dramatically, both with the snowpack your are riding on, as well as the weather!

Be sure your pant cuff or gaiter will not get caught in the chainring, and don't forget your balaclava or hat under your helmet. Dress warmly and have fun! Remember to have some storage area on your bike in case you want to shed a layer of clothing - you can also fold up your outer layer if thin, and stuff it into a water bottle holder!! Very often, you can get too HOT on a snowy ride due to the amount of exertion necessary to just pedal. If you like to bike on ice, please consider adding spikes to your set of tires, or chains, to improve traction. (We can provide you with studded tires for ice if you need them, just give us a call!!) Stick your foot out in a turn and reduce speed. Falling on ice will frequently result in bruising, so be careful. Many northern riders have a BLAST on ice riding on frozen lakes.