The wet weather this July hasn’t stopped us from riding, but the conditions do take their toll on the bike and the rider. Here are a few tips which should make your muddy rides easier for you and your steed... you might even start to prefer it !
The rider :
- Adapt your kit, a rain jacket + trousers will keep you reasonably dry (make sure not to over dress underneath to avoid condensation) and most of all will keep your clothes clean... your washing machine will be thankful for it ! To clean your rain kit, hose it down before taking it off and Bob’s your uncle !
What we use : Patagonia Torrentshell jacket + trousers
- Keep the extremities warm, Merino wool socks are a must and a pair of neoprene gloves (not too thick) will make a big difference when the temperature drops.
What we use : Seal Skinz socks, Mavic Cyclone gloves
- Keep your vision clear, it’s the biggest problem and unfortunately, there isn’t a perfect solution, but a dry clean cloth kept in your sleeve will allow you to wipe your glasses/goggles every time you stop.
- Do not hose your muddy shoes or they will never dry again ! Just let them dry (you can stuff them with newspaper) and then brush the dry mud off.
The bike : - Use the right lubricant, use a wet conditions lubricant before you go out. A silicon lubricant applied to your frame (kept away from the brakes !) will stop the mud sticking on it... at least for a while ! After your ride, lube every nook and cranny of your bike (transmission and suspensions of course but also suspension knobs, shifters, brake levers,...).
What we use : Muc Off Wet Lub and GT85
- A small mudguard under the arch of your fork will keep most of the projection away but will also protect your fork’s joints.
What we use : Marsh guard
- Mud tyres make a massive difference ! If you don’t have the budget or if you need to pedal, change just the front tyre, you will feel a lot more in control.
What we use : Maxxis Wet scream or Specialized Hillbilly
- You can make a small “cover” for your rear brake caliper to stop the mud getting in (mud means pads wearing more quickly and pistons getting dirty), I personally use some blister plastic (Hope’s brake pads do a great job !)
Here is a posh example :
photo by : my-new-stuff.com
The skills :
- Choose different lines from usual to avoid the biggest obstacles (roots, ruts,...), don’t be afraid of staying away from the most obvious line to find “clean” spots to brake and turn.
- Keep some pressure on your front wheel to get the most grip out of it.
- Keep your braking smooth.
- Stay loose on the bike.
- Speed is (still) your friend ! If you ride too slow, your tyres are going to clog and you won’t move at all anymore... remember to keep your braking smooth though !
Well equipped, riding in the mud is fun... and there’s only one way to get better at it - get out and ride !!
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