One of the biggest challenges with learning to ride ’cross in the mud is ... finding ways to ride in the mud.
Although this season is been incredibly muddy in several parts of the country, the typical cyclocross season seems to only have a few mudders in any given scene. And those muddy race days can require significant post-race mitigation and working with locals to make sure surfaces return to their usual grassy state.
Given these challenges, heading out to the local part and ripping around when things get messy is just not an option. It is poor form and liable to fracture relationships between local communities and cyclists.
Fortunately, every year about this time, Mother Nature provides cyclocrossers in many northern locales with a more friendly way to get some practice slipping and sliding while keeping the bike upright.
Winter 'cross can be fun for the whole family. © Z. Schuster / Cyclocross Magazine
Winter snow in cyclocross hotbeds such as Chicago, the Northeast and Upper Midwest provides a great opportunity to get out and practice riding in slick conditions. For those readers in warmer locations, perhaps I can recommend a winter wonderland vacation in the Upper Midwest with fat biking, cross-country skiing, poutine, cheese and some old-timey polka music?
Since to me, everything is training for cyclocross season, here are some ways to get out and enjoy the winter wonderland while also maybe picking up a skill or two to help with your bike handling next cyclocross season.
Click the next button to read each of the five sections.
Try Cross Country Skiing
A non-cycling way to enjoy the winter wonderland is to go cross-country skiing.
Some cyclocross stars such as Katerina Nash have backgrounds in skiing, so if it works for them, it cannot hurt for us less talented folks, right?
Cross-country skiing—whether you do classic or skate—can be a good way to do aerobic workouts in the winter. Although it is not cycling-specific, cross-country skiing can also help develop different muscle groups and maybe help balance out the muscle balances endemic to cyclists.
Cross-country skiing can be a nice cardio “break” from the trainer. photo: Flickr user Ladonna Darby
Putting aside the physical benefits, cross-country skiing can also provide major mental health benefits.
There is no question that winters in many parts of the country absolutely suck for cyclists. By the time February rolls around, many of us have spent upwards of four months on the trainer and long to get outside and ride.
Cross-country skiing provides a way to embrace the winter months while getting some much-needed exercise and fresh air. And if you are hitting the trainer early to get ready for gravel, road or mountain bike season, going outside can help you stay fresher and more motivated for your days inside.
