Biking at this time of year isn't something you'd normally associate with fun. Do it off-road though, and it's a riot
Wed, 01 Feb 2012
I can’t say it was easy dragging myself away from a toasty home last weekend. There were a multitude of ‘better’ things to think of than trundle round on an enduro bike in freezing temperatures. But as I’d told mates I’d do it, that’s what happened – and I ended up having a ball of a time!
All in all, me and the gang did around 140 miles in total, and challenged by some pretty challenging terrain it was a real test at times. Overall though, it was one of the best couple of days off-roading I’ve had for ages.
By the time we got going each day it had warmed up to a heady 3°C – not exactly what you’d call summer-like I know! But great thing about off-roading is that it’s so physical, even in weather like that you don’t stay chilled for long. Just ten minutes of jumping around on the bike and it felt more like spring. I was far from sweaty, but things felt a lot more agreeable.
In winter the trails can be pretty slimy and slippery and there’s a hell of a lot of water about in places. That means you need to exercise all your available skills to get through some sections or even just to stay on board. But my new Husky TE250 is perfect in such conditions and really helps you progress. It has a lovely balance and feel to it and the manners of the little single cylinder motor suit the situation really well.
Being so chilly meant we had the lanes pretty much to ourselves. Most other people were no doubt staying at home and taking the more sensible and warmer option. That meant more freedom and it didn’t take too long for the outings to become ‘competitive’ where it was safe to go a bit harder. There’s something quite comical about bombing along on a bike that’s moving around as though it’s having a fit. Watching mates sliding about looking like they’re on the verge of falling too only adds to the hilarity.
We stopped for a chat and breather quite regularly, and the humorous banter of heroic near-misses, daring-do, and inevitable slip-offs was almost as much of a laugh as the riding itself. It might be next to no fun riding road bikes at this time of year, but off-roading can still be a riot. Mind you, every time you pull up and stop flexing your muscles you’re soon made aware of the chilliness again. It’s a sharp reminder you that you’re out and about right in the middle of winter.
I’ve wimped out a bit and fitted some heated grips to my Husky. I’ve gone for some award-winning R&G items which feature five-stages of warmth. They’re going to have to be tough to deal with the rigours of trail riding, and I really hope they will as they’ve been a saviour at times. If you get your hands wet after splashing through deep puddles, the grips provide enough positive heat to bring the chilled digits back to life. And when your hands freeze on the road sections between trails, then the toasty R&Gs are well worth the money.
I felt pretty knackered by the end of play on Sunday, thanks to all the effort I’d put in. Even so, I’d had a superb time and the aching limbs were a real reminder of that. I just can’t wait to get out there and get covered in mud again!
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