
We’re nearly there folks! It’s lighter in the mornings and the days are beginning to stretch out with dusk being later in the evening already, but beware! As we all know too well, Winter will come along and give us a final kicking in February and March, reminding us who’s boss before Spring arrives and smothers us with warmer air and the blessed relief of the sun upon our skin once again. Our intrepid landscape photographer Andrew Barlow is only too familiar with this cruel twist of fate, particularly here in the Lake District; with this in mind he headed out to put some of the best winter kit to the test…
Winter mountain biking in the Lake District brings its own challenges.
It’s that difficult time of the year when it takes more effort and logistical organisation to keep the cranks turning. Having the right choice of kit and the right bike setup can make or break a day in the hills and with temperatures dropping by roughly 1° Celsius for every 100 metres of elevation gained I’ve learned the hard way that getting your clothing right means you can stay in the hills for longer, with more time to capture that cracking landscape shot! I’ve put together a small selection of essential kit and clothing intended to keep the worst of the winter weather at bay.
Riding at elevation in winter means a 1° Celsius drop in temperature for every 100 metres gained.
Starting from the bottom up let’s focus on base layers and insulation; I usually work in a layering system to get the best efficiency of staying dry from the inside out. Excuse me if I’m preaching to the converted, but to the uninitiated AVOID cotton! Cotton is lovely in the right scenario, however out on hills, under exertion it’ll quickly pick up body moisture, has no sweat-wicking properties and insulate your body temperature. Switch to a synthetic base layer or better still a natural merino wool layer. Both fabrics wick moisture away from the skin moving it to the outer layer of the fabric keeping you dry and helping you to stay warm.
Winter kit and hardtails – if you’re well-organised mountain biking in the winter can be a really rewarding experience.
Over my base layer, I tend to wear some form of synthetic insulation, my main reason for this is that if it were to get wet it still retains 80% of its insulating qualities, keeping you warm! Sticking to synthetic insulation in the UK’s climate is a wise decision with it often being wet and cold; why am I recommending synthetic insulation over natural insulation options? Well, traditional down-filled products do not perform so well in really wet conditions as the down clumps together and sinks to the bottom of the jacket rendering it completely useless when it comes to retaining body heat.
Staying warm and dry is key to an enjoyable winter ride in the Lake District.
Now, let’s consider that all-important outer layer, namely waterproofs! The most effective waterproofs for mountain biking in the depths of winter are made from a breathable but protective ‘hydrophobic’ fabric that lets body moisture out but doesn’t let larger drops of water in; those rain drops should simply bead and fall away from the surface of your jacket. Made from a sophisticated form of polyurethane my breathable waterproof jacket will keep my entirety dry regardless of just how many hours of riding I’ve squeezed into those short winter days. The same goes for riding trousers designed specifically for mountain biking – they’ll certainly be more comfortable and protective from the elements on long, wet rides than conventional trousers or dare I say it – the sort of Lycra leggings typically worn back in the day.
A good waterproof jacket designed specifically for mountain biking will protect you from the elements while staying breathable.
Mountain bike trousers do a good job of repelling water and protecting you from cold winds.
When it comes to gloves the balance between warmth and dexterity is super-important because you’ll need your digits to do very important stuff such as shifting and stopping! Off-road there’s the added factor of crash protection, let’s be honest you need your hands to stay safe and injury-free regardless of temperature. I tend to wear gloves all year round giving me protection no matter what the weather and benefit from the enhanced grip when there’s a tendency to have sweaty hands. Look for a good pair of winter gloves that have been designed specifically for mountain biking, they’ll offer the perfect mix of warmth, crash protection and water-proofing without compromising on dexterity.
Good winter gloves will keep your hands warm and dry without compromising on dexterity.
My final essential item for winter riding off-road is a neck gaiter. It may seem a small and insignificant piece of kit but it can aid you in many different ways during cold weather rides. My primary use of a neck gaiter is as a helmet liner, keeping the brain freeze at bay especially on the long descents. The second way is as its name suggests – used as a neck gaiter and when the weather gets really Baltic and I’m braced against the wind on the hilltops I’ll use it to cover my face to protect me from that savage wind-chill. On a particularly cold, wet day in the Lake District, you’ll catch me wearing all of the above to keep that pesky weather at bay!
A neck gaiter is a truly versatile piece of kit that helps shield you from the worst of the weather.
Now that we’ve got winter clothing sorted what about your ride? All hail the humble hardtail! Yes, we might all be seduced by the latest super-plush enduro bike but when it comes to mountain biking in the depths of winter it’s hard to argue against a hardcore hardtail. They stand up well to the elements, are easier to maintain and will help sharpen up your bike handling skills too. Here in the Lake District, with every ride featuring unforgiving, steep, rocky, loose terrain we run our hardtails with long-travel forks, wide handle bars, dropper seat posts and 29er wheels fitted with wide tyres and featuring plenty of puncture protection. Winter kit and hardtails – it’s survival mode, but it works!
A hardcore hardtail – the perfect ride for a winter in the Lake District.
Written by Andrew Barlow
Photos by Andrew Barlow
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