Have you ever got lost dancing in the rain as soon as the tiny droplets hit the ground?
Mountain Biking in the rain is no less than living up to that feeling. While dancing, you get lost in the breeze and bliss of the moment.
And during the adventurous expeditions of mountain biking in the rain, you get lost in the serenity of the deep green trails.
Hence mountain biking in the rain could be deemed a way to experience the eternal tranquility of mother nature.
Mountain biking in the rain is as adventurous as riding under clear blue skies.
Although mountain biking in the rainy season is pretty challenging and requires the right gear and detailed planning, it is undoubtedly not like riding over the usual trails and terrains under the sun.
The biker needs to be twice as experienced and have extensive knowledge regarding the technical specifications of the mountain bike.
On wet trails and terrains, the brakes require more power to be applied, and better speed control is highly required.
If you have that intense level of courage to face the fear of wet terrain, you indeed can experience the greatest fun of your life with your best-suited mountain bike.
The mountains seem more vibrant, dense, and serene during the monsoons. Hence, who would really wish to lose the opportunity to feel that adrenaline rush alongside attaining tranquility?
If you are that one passionate soul looking forward to exploring the crazy trails and terrains of the mountains despite the rains, this article is meant for you.
Here, you would get to know all about the basic safety measures to be adapted over wet terrains.
This would include the correct understanding of gears, speed and directions, balance and control, the correct application of the brakes, and much more.
This guide would overall help you with your journey towards mountain biking in the rain with utmost safety and precautions.
So let’s give this piece a good read for an incredibly great experience before the next monsoons.
Some Essential Tips For Mountain Biking In The Rain
Mountain biking in the rain gets the bikers back to their childhood, where they used to enjoy the rains to the fullest.
It is indeed an extravaganza of fun, yet some tips need to be followed to stay safe and comfortable while biking across wet surfaces.
Read the below-mentioned tips for a great expedition in the rain with your mountain bike.
1. Always Choose The Type Of Terrain With Fewer Hazards
To ensure your safety while mountain biking in the rain on challenging surfaces, always choose either rocky trails or trails that have proper drainage.
Avoid biking over muddy trails, as mud along with water is extremely risky and dangerous.
They are equally hard to ride on as they are filthy and full of puddles. The trails full of puddles are prone to accidents and mishappenings.
If the biker crosses a puddle unknowingly, they may fall deep into them, resulting in a severe crash.
Hence always try to avoid such challenging trails that are full of risks and hazards, especially biking in the rainy season.
2. Get Your Bike Prepared For The Wet Trails And Terrain
It is a mandatory rule to get your mountain bike prepared before the expedition.
You need to clean it well and check the proper lubrication and maintenance of the bike’s parts and components.
Other than that, the fitting of front and rear mudguards are very important and required while mountain biking in the rain.
That would prevent the rider from disturbing splashes of mud and keep the bike safe from unwanted wearing and tearing.
3. Always Prefer Fitting Mud Tires With Lower Pressure
Although the mud tires are not suitable for normal and usual terrains, always prefer fitting mud tires on your bike before your expedition on the mountains over wet surfaces.
These specific tires are designed with longer knobs that are capable of rolling over the dirt and mud, providing better control. These knobs prevent the tires from getting the mud deposited over their surface.
The wheel spikes prevent the mud from getting stuck within the tires, hence providing a smooth biking experience to the biker in challenging situations.
4. The Wheels Must have A Pressure In Accordance To The Wet Terrain
The pressure in the wheels must always be according to the type and characteristics of the wet surface.
It is a significant rule in mountain biking to inflate the tires with lower pressure to maintain traction on the rough patchy surfaces.
In the case of mountain biking in the rain, the bike’s pressure must be even lower, usually compared to that in the case of riding over normal terrains.
This is necessary so as to ensure better traction over the slippery ground. Precisely, the lower the pressure of the tires would be on the wet terrain, the higher and better the grip on the ground would be.
5. Better Invest In Good Quality Winter Boots And Waterproof Clothing
In order to stay dry and warm in the rains the best way is to wear waterproof coats and jackets.
While mountain biking in the rain, it becomes mandatory to wear some good quality waterproofs that are equally breathable, light in weight, and which are specifically made to wear while mountain biking in the rain.
The winter shoes act as the best comforter and protector while passing the muddy trails that are swampy and full of puddles.
Hence, such boots keep your feet dry and let you pedal with all comfort and ease.
The riders may also use special onesies or jumpsuits to prevent the mud and water from entering their shorts while biking.
6. Never Bike With A High Or Maximum Speed In Rains
The biker must ride at a slower speed while biking across slippery trails that are equally dangerous.
The reason being obvious, if the bike would cross a wet trail being at the maximum speed, that may result in loss of balance and control.
This would result in a fall or crash, causing a severe injury to the biker. Hence you are always advised to ride slowly or at moderate speed to keep it safe.
7. Replace The Usual Metal Brake Pads With Organic Brake Pads
Typically, mountain bikes are equipped with the usual metal brake pads. But in the case of mountain biking in the rain, these metal brake pads come in contact with the dampness of the atmosphere, easily letting the moisture settle over them.
This affects the performance of the bike and the safety quotient for the biker. Hence, it is preferable to replace these metal brake pads with much better Organic Brake Pads.
These brake pads are specifically designed to face the challenges of slippery trails. They work efficiently over wet surfaces and do not let the humidity affect the rider’s safety.
8. Practice The Use Of Brakes Attentively
The entire braking system plays a very important role while mountain biking in the rain.
To maintain safety and control on the wet surface, the biker needs to know well about how and when to apply the brakes.
While riding over the slippery trails, in order to stop carefully, a moderate speed and smooth application of brakes ensure the biker’s safety.
Hence, to reduce the hazards over wet terrains, always be attentive towards your bike’s braking system.
9. Keep The Mountain Biking In The Rain Expedition Short And Brief
Being passionate is a wiser concept, but looking ahead to its consequences is equally needed.
Mountain biking in the rain sounds extremely adventurous to many bikers, but that is an undeniable fact that biking in such extreme conditions may result in major mishappenings.
Hence, it is always to choose the safer trajectory, terrain with fewer hazards, and eminently, short and brief.
The expedition under rains must be short compared to the usual biking over normal terrains to stay prevented from the toughest of challenges of the muddy and slippery surfaces.
10. Keep A Note Of Better Hygiene For Yourself And Cleanliness Of The Bike
While mountain biking in the rains, always look out for better hygiene. This would keep you protected from unwanted bacterial and fungal infections that are common during the rainy season.
Focus on a frequent cleaning of yourself and your bike, as many bacteria may be resting over your bike’s surface.
Carry a backpack containing a disinfectant spray, cleaning wipes, toilet paper rolls, tissue napkins, and the basic essentials.
Also, keep an extra pair of clothes, gloves, and socks while biking across the wet and muddy terrains.
Conclusion
Mountain biking is indeed a true emotion.
While biking across the eternal serenity of the hills and mountains, despite bothering about whether it’s the sunshine or the dark water-filled clouds overhead, all that you focus on is your passion for biking.
This zeal is what keeps a mountain biker alive from within.
Mountain biking in the rain could indeed be a fascinating and thrilling experience for any mountain biker.
The passionate mountain bikers, when nature calls, embark on the journey despite the fear of dampness on wet surfaces.
The sunshine or the rains cannot hold back a biker if he looks forward to going on an expedition.
Hence, with this article, I have tried to help biking enthusiasts to know and learn about a few of the most important tips of mountain biking in the rain.
The passion for biking may get a mountain biker across any challenging surface, yet safety in mind is equally important in any situation.
Hence, I look forward to helping the riders maintain that zeal keeping all safe while embarking on their next exped.
Also if you don’t know then let me tell you that You can ride a mountain bike on the road as well. But be careful during the rainy season.