I'm sure like me that you're used to a big chunk of the general population wondering how you ride a bike off road let alone why you'd want to. What gets me at the moment though is how many mountain bikers look baffled when you tell them you've been out riding in snow.
Yes for all you unbelievers, riding in snow is not only possible, but a huge amount of fun and in some ways easier than riding normally is at this time of year.
OK you can't ride through snowdrifts. If it's hard frozen enough you can ride over the top of them, but otherwise anything deep enough to eat your foot is going to be a serious slog/trudge/grunt combo to cross.
However if you're on a reasonably well used path with packed down snow (whatever its depth) then you'll be flying along a lot quicker than you would in mud. The gaps and drops in steps and other rocky or rooty sections will often get filled in by trodden snow too, turning previous fork testers into surprisingly smooth and rideable ramps.
While straightline speed is surprisingly easy to come by getting rid of it safely tends to be more of an issue. While you can roll fast, turning and braking grip is generally a lot more sketchy, as you can't lean the bike over or rely on the tyres to grip anywhere near as aggressively as you can normally. That means any speed or direction changes either have to be made carefully and in a fractionally progressive way, or with a dramatic slide and potential wipe out depending on how bruised your hips and hands already are.
Plus if you stray off the hardpacked line even by an inch deep soft snow will grab your front wheel and tuck it under you or suck the speed and grip out of your back wheel. Even if the temperature rises a few degrees above freezing you need to be permanently watching for the glassy glaze of ice. If it is out there be ready to go totally relaxed and limp, not steering, braking or breathing until you can guide your bike towards a grippier strip of trail (always look for the rougher muddier/rockier patches or any tufts of grass).
Add a bit of snowblindness, the heightened adrenalin levels of permanent high alert concentration and the extra energy expenditure of trying to keep warm and you won't have to out long to get a really good workout. A cup of tea and a slice of cake never tasted better than in a warm cafe after a ride either.
So in answer to all the doubters, snow riding can be an absolute blast and a great skill school to boot but you do need to be very careful. Not just when you're on the trail but also when you're getting there either on dark, ungritted roads or in the car on Christmas shopper jammed dual carriageways.
Sorry did I just sound like your dad there? Well at least this dad wants you to go sledging with him ;-)
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