More California noob questions:  Do you still MTB in coldest part of the winter?  If so, what are the trails like?  What extra gear do you wear to keep warm?

I ride year round, night rides have gotten into the 20's before. By far the most important areas to keep warm are extremities.  Fingers and toes really have a way of freezing quickly due to the wind that hits them. I have a combo I've used for years that has worked and isn't too bulky.

Shoes, 2 pair Nike drifit socks, gore windStopper overshoes. The overshoes are the key to stop my toes freezing! This also makes it so I don't need summer and winter shoes.

Head is a fleece earcover head band. Tobogans get pretty bulky under helmet.

Hands, gore windstopper gloves. They stop wind.

Upper body, 1 or 2 layers of dryfit long sleeve hyperwarm shirts based on temp. A light windbreaker goes on top of this. This allows for breathability and warmth.

Lower body, 1 or 2 layers of drifit long hyperwarm leggings. I rarely ever need two even at freezing temps. Then normal padded shorts on top.

I reference drifit hyperwarm a lot just because that's what I use, and have found it is superior to under armour and others but there are a bunch of products very similar that could work. 

Nightriding in winter on trail is awesome, note that is only allowed at certain trails so make sure and check before you ride.

MTB4U wrote on 10/08/18 at 11:19am:


I ride all year, more so in the colder months.

Trails are less crowded, less overgrown, less bugs and webs.

I wear merino wool as a base-layer and cycling tights.

Just think about how you will layer up to stay warm and dry.  Nothing more to it than that.  And you will find that you have to ride when it is at or near freezing at certain points in the winter because it's the only time when some trails aren't a sloppy mess.

I tried riding last winter, but it was -2 degrees, so I didn't ride too long. The driveway was covered with snow and every time I pedaled, my feet would go down into the snow. I decided to stick to skiing!! Then it's hot chocolate time!!

As long is its dry, it's cool.

Beyond that, freezing is about my cut off point. 
I don't like riding feeling like the Michelin man or encountering black ice on roots/rocks. Besides, you've got to have a place to put all those extra layers when it's time to peel.

Locally, a thin balaclava is helpful. As is a wind shell to go over a thin thermal layer on top. Plenty of cycling wind blocking pants on Amazon, etc.. Wool socks, etc.. Warm, windblocking gloves is another essential. 

In the back country or in the big mountains is of course a different animal and requires better/more preparation and ways to carry an extra layer or two.

Yellowduck wrote on 10/09/18 at 11:23am:


Truth.

If you're comfortable in the parking lot when you're getting ready, you have too many layers on, and will be sweating hard once you're a mile in. I usually wear a good warm jacket while i'm getting everything ready and waiting on others to get ready, then take it off at the last minute before the ride. Another "pro tip" is to throw your gloves over the heat vent in your car while you're on your way to the trail to pre-heat them. Nothing worse than putting cold gloves on already cold fingers. 

The first mile or so is the worst part, once you get your heart rate up and muscles working you warm right up. I find that my fingers and toes stay cold until I take that first short break (1-2 miles in). Stopping the wind for a few minutes while allowing my body to circulate the blood will pull some of the heat from my core and warm up my extremities. Then i'm usually good to go for the rest of the ride.

btalley wrote on 10/09/18 at 3:08pm:


Yikes, sounds like something you have personal experience with. 

MTB4U wrote on 10/09/18 at 5:37pm:


He's just trying to sell you a boat..   
You got a problem pulling a trailer on the back of your rig?

IntheBush wrote on 10/09/18 at 10:10pm:

You sir have obviously not witnessed me selling a boat.   Please try not to derail this thread and stay on topic.   

The important question that nobody has asked is how much less time does Bush's Ebike 
battery last in cold weather?