You’re probably wondering what sets muddy mountain trail biking apart from other types of cycling. Different types of bikes and sets of gear are made specifically for each and every type of cycling. You wouldn’t want to underdress for the occasion to eventually find yourself unable to steer past the challenge of mud trails. In this guide, I’ll show you how you could prepare and conquer mud trails through proper preparation!
How do you prepare before mountain biking on a muddy trail? Use a trail bike with clip pedals for trails with jumps or steep descents. Cross country bikes with flat pedals are perfect for uphill and more technical muddy trails. Suit up with the appropriate functional protective gear for your head down to your footwear.
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to prepare for a muddy trail session, you need not to look for more once you read through this article. With this guide, you’d be geared and dressed properly for the occasion. I’ll be showing you the bike types and their components that make them suitable for the job. You’ll also be introduced to the perfect protective set of clothing that meets the functionality needed for muddy trails
Gearing Up For Your Muddy Mountain Experience
Good preparation begins with having the right bike. Road race bikes certainly do not belong to muddy trails the same way that a race car on slicks running on a dirt track would prove to be a disaster.
Since you’re going on a muddy trail, you have to consider and be ready for the conditions ahead of you. Mud and water go hand in hand. You need to put on something that would deflect or absorb the soaking you’re going to encounter. Visibility plays a significant role if you want to traverse muddy trails safely so be sure to protect your eyes at all costs.
While it is natural for any biker to avoid accidents, these instances are unpredictable. Invest in protective gear for your head, elbows, and knees to protect yourself from further injuries in case of crashes. Doing so can prevent you from sustaining an injury that may stop you from pursuing mountain biking in the future.
Gearing Up- Thrills For The Trails
After choosing your bike, you have to suit up with gear to protect you and allow you to have the confidence to conquer muddy trails. You can opt for a set of gear that could match your bike’s theme and color if you want to add a bit of a more personalized taste. More than the aesthetics, your equipment must protect the head, eyes, elbows, and knees, which are the most vulnerable parts of your body when biking.
Comfort should not be separated apart from functionality. It is essential to fit the right sizes for your gear. An over or undersized set of protection is just as bad as having no protection at all.
Helmets
For your helmet, you can opt for an open or full face. Full face helmets could take some time to get used to but offer a broader coverage of protection for your head. Your helmets should also come with ventilation so as to prevent a shortage of breath while pedaling hard. Helmets with ear chambers are also available if you want to maintain your hearing at a hundred percent while having your helmet on.
To complement the rest of your gear, be sure to grab a helmet with goggle strap retainers to keep your eyewear intact while riding.
Eyewear
Mountain biking through muddy trails means you’d have mud water splashing, pebbles, and other kinds of debris flying past you. Glasses are comfortable while biking but provide minimal amounts of protection compared to full-blown goggles. Goggles are more secured on your face, especially if your helmet has strap retainers. Get a pair of goggles that offer UV protection and come with interchangeable lenses to prepare for varying lighting conditions.
To prevent fogging around your eye area, be sure to get a pair of goggles that are breathable and come with ventilation.
Gloves
Protect your hands to sustain riding comfort. Having a set of protective gloves while mountain biking could influence how you would control your bike. As you encounter steep descents or jumps in your muddy trails, your hands could sustain blisters and chafing if you’re not wearing protective gloves.
Given the muddy condition, there’s a great chance that mud and water could get in the way of your grip. Wear gloves to prevent your hands from slipping away from your bike and avoid injuries.
Knee Pads
If you lose your balance, your knees are vulnerable to injuries. Wearing knee pads is a great way to keep your knees away from injuries. If you want comfort without sacrificing protection, go for strapped pads made from d-30 material. These pads are naturally soft but contract and become a hard shell upon impact. Having this kind of padding makes sure that your knees are not constricted.
Strapless knee pads are also available if you want a lighter option but do not offer as much protection as strapped ones.
Top And Bottoms
For your top, wear a long sleeve water resistant jersey to avoid feeling heavy once you soak in the mud from the trails. Dri-fit jerseys are great tops when mountain biking because unlike conventional fabrics, they do not absorb as much liquid upon contact. The long sleeve option is also great to protect your skin from mud and heat. Your jersey should also come with mesh panels for added breathability.
When it comes to your bottoms, baggy mountain bike shorts are a great option. Having them at a baggy fit would allow you to move your legs comfortably while maneuvering your bike. They should also be water resistant and tear resistance in case of crashes.
Footwear
There are two main types of prescribed footwear for biking depending on the kind of pedal on your bike.
One type of footwear for mountain biking are flat pedal shoes. They have flat rubber soles that are full of grip. If you’re going for flat pedal shoes, make sure to get one with soles that are not too flexible. Although flexibility is comfortable most of the time, it could increase resistance and lessen pedaling efficiency.
If you have clipless pedals on your bike, go for cleats. Although they are outrightly more secured, they could prevent repositioning of your feet for comfort.
Go Crazy In The Trails With The Perfect Bike
As previously mentioned, mountain biking on muddy trails requires specific types of bikes. The two main types of mountain bikes are cross country (XC) and trail bikes. The choice between these types of bikes depends on the trail you’re planning to ride on. You have to consider factors such as travel, wheel size, and strength.
Travel is how far moving parts like the seatpost and suspension move or travel. Full suspension mountain bikes feature both front and rear travel. Some are hardtails that only have front suspension. Travel is important in determining a bike’s capacity to absorb impact from rough terrain and give the rider a balance between comfort and functionality.
When it comes to tires, narrower types have less aggressive traction and durability but are favorable for handling, maneuverability, and speed. Lighter does not also always mean better. In mountain biking, bikes with robust frames capable of taking much harder impacts are generally heavier.
Cross Country (XC) Bikes
Cross country (XC) bikes are suited for your uphill and more technical muddy trails. In general, stock tires that come with XC bikes are bigger in diameter (29”) but are narrower (2.2”) than those found in trail bikes.
Most of the time, the forks of XC bikes are rigid which means they have no travel at all. Having no travel means there is no suspension system at all. At the cost of shock absorption and riding comfort, this gives them more precise handling. Having no rear travel is punishable on rough terrain because you would have no shock absorption at all. On the other hand, suspension forks found on other XC bikes have between 100mm to 120mm of travel and are made of light air springs.
Shorter top tubes and steeper head angles ranging from 69 to 71 degrees make XC bikes more capable of handling sharper turns than trail bikes.
Trail bikes
Trail bikes are a little bit different. Stock tires could range from 27.5” to 29” in diameter but are wider at 2.3” to 3.” These sets of tires have more traction than those found in XC bikes. The front forks of trail bikes are heavier with coil springs that have 130mm to 170mm of travel. Trail forks also have a fork lockout that enables adjustment of travel depending on the condition of the terrain and prevents energy loss.
As for the geometry of trail bikes, they feature neutral head angles from 66 to 68 degrees. This gives more stability in rougher surface conditions. Dropper seatposts, which allows the rider to adjust the seat height for functionality and comfort, commonly go with trail bikes at the cost of having more weight.
Mud Slingers: Trail Bikes Versus Cross Country Bikes
If you’re looking for speed, endurance, and precision, go for XC bikes. They are highly suited for trails with more uphill, sharper, and more technical sections. The lightness and agility of cross country bikes make them perfect for these kinds of scenarios.
For more rugged trails with huge elevation changes and rougher conditions, trail bikes would put a smile on your face. They fit in muddy trails with steep descents, bigger jumps, and more punishing surfaces. Their suspension systems, frame strength, and ride comfort make them perfect for casual, muddy trail runs.
Clipless Versus Flat Pedals On The Muddy Trails
Both clipless and flat pedals are as good as the other. They vary from person to person, depending on their experience and preferences. Double-sided pedals that feature both flat and clipless are also available if you want to switch pedal systems on the go.
Flat pedaling systems are suited for adjusting your foot placement when dabbing your either foot during turns to maintain your balance. They’re also good if you want to execute bunny hops and regain balance after a jump. On the other hand, there’s a small tendency to lose your footing when hard pedaling regardless of the sticky soles.
Clipless pedals are ideal for securing your footing during descents and provide efficient power transfer for pedaling. Every pedaling effort you’d make is transferred perfectly into your bike through clipless pedals. A downside of clipless pedals is having to clip your shoes in and out especially when dabbing for turns.
Conclusion
While biking on the trail itself is the main event, the gear preparation is the perfect appetizer for the main adventure. It’s best to be ready for risky yet gratifying tasks like mountain biking to give ourselves more room to focus on brushing up on our skills rather than having to endure and recover from injuries. No one would stop you from pedaling on to your muddy adventures but having the right gear would make them much more enjoyable!
