GENERAL WINTER RIDING

Ride with commitment. Of course, you’ll probably want to just get a feel for the grip levels in the first section of trail, but once you’ve done that, start trying to commit to the ride. Stay loose on the bike, to allow it to move around underneath you. It’s human nature to want to shuffle backwards when we’re unsure of situations, and on the bike this translates into hanging off the back, with no control over the front wheel. Try to counter that by maintaining a good body position that puts you fully in charge of the bike. If this sounds scary to put into practice, then start by trying it on short sections of trail that look OK, and over time you’ll build the confidence to do it on the gnarlier-looking bits.