The right bike. There are a few factors leading into having the right bike. If all the above conditions are perfect, a solid trail bike usually does the trick. A trail bike is any mountain bike that uses modern technologies of suspension, disc brakes and tubeless tires. The best snow bike is good trail bike equipped with larger / higher volume tires (2.2-2.5 tire width) that are set up tubeless. When setup tubeless the larger tires can be run at a lower tire pressure and improve grip and traction while riding on the snow. Riding a 29er trail bike on the snow takes it one step further by giving you an even larger contact patch with the snow, improving traction and float. Mountain bike tire technology has come a long way and is really what makes riding in the snow possible.
Trail bike examples-
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| Trek Remedy 650b/27.5 |
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| Trek Fuel Ex 8 29 |
When conditions are less desirable or if you want a solid, stable ride look no further than the fat bike. Fat bikes are relatively new to cycling and have only gained popularity the last few years. A fat bike looks and works much like a regular bike with the exception of fatty 3.8-5" ultra-wide tires. These high volume tires look kinda funny but are the key to the fat bike's success. The extra wide tires increase the bikes footprint allowing it to ride in deeper snow with more traction and stability.
Fat bike examples-
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| Trek Farley |
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| Surly Pugsley |
The right gear. Frozen hands will lead to a cold, miserable ride in hurry. Having the right gear is extremely important if you want to stay warm and enjoy your snow bike ride. Start with layers- layering allows you to stay warm yet you can easily shed layers when your body or outside temperatures warm up. Items of clothing we like to layer with are cycling shorts, cycling tights, over-pants, long sleeve base layer, jersey and jacket. Next up is keeping your hands and feet warm. A good pair of winter riding gloves will keep your fingers warm while still allowing enough dexterity to control your shifters and brakes on the handlebar. We've found that using flat pedals rather than clipless pedals are very useful in the snow. Flat pedals allow you to use a thicker shoe or even winter boot to help keep your feet warm. Pair a good set of boots with wool socks and your toes will stay toasty. Top off the right gear with a good hat that fits under your helmet. A good hat or headband keeps your ears warm while aiding your body retain heat.
Gear examples-
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| Bontrager Rain Pant |
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| Bontrager Skull Cap |
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| Bontrager RL Convertible Jacket |
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| Bontrager B3 Baselayer |
Our favorite places to ride in the snow-
- Round Valley, Park City
- Round Valley is a great place to start snow biking. It has everything from groomed nordic ski trails to packed in singletrack. It's also nice to go up to Park City to get out of the Salt Lake smog. Check out Round Valley.
- Pipeline Trail, Millcreek Canyon
- Pipeline trail up Millcreek Canyon can be a fun winter ride. We park at Rattlesnake Gulch and pedal up the road and access the trail from the Birch Hollow trailhead. Be carefule with Pipleine because the trail is in the sun much of the day it can turn dangerously icy. Check out Pipeline Trail.
- Corner Canyon, Draper
- Corner Canyon is fun in the snow. We stick to either the lower Bonneville Shoreline sections of the trail or the north facing trails like Clark's or Ann's Trail. Check out Corner Canyon Trails.
Riding your bike in the snow can be very rewarding if it's done right. If you have any questions or want to join us for a ride. Please contact us.
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