Bike Ride Like a Mud Puppy Monster

Major mud is usually seasonal, mostly in the spring after winter thaw and during April showers. However, there are still chances you’ll find muddy trails any time of year. Riding in mud is slippery, heavy, and can bind up your chain, gears and brakes. Managing mud while riding is a good skill to have.

Equipment and Dress

If you’re expecting to ride a muddy trail, regular pants, tee shirts and tube socks or wooly socks that are loose and fibrous will allow mud clumps to cling to them. Wear proper cycling clothes, especially socks. Cycling clothing is made from Lycra and other stretchy material, which is smooth so there are fewer folds for mud to cling to.

When you can’t avoid mud, your bike will need protection with fenders. Fenders will also help you stay clean.  If you ride with clipless pedals, try to avoid stepping out in a muddy section. If you do you’re riskiing clogging up your cleats with globs of caked on mud making it impossible to click into your clipless pedals. Your feet will be slipping and sliding around and you’ll be stuck.
 

How To Take on The Mud.

Depending on the length of the muddy section, there are different maneuvers you may try. If it’s only a short section, try a bunny hop over the mud.  You just may clear it. If the mud is too long to hop over, then wheelie through it. While your bike’s front wheel is up, you’re keeping most of your bike out of the mud and yourself away from mud.  If the mud section is just too long, do what you can to ride it out. Keep your weight shifted back so your front wheel doesn’t sink in and keep off the brakes as much as possible.
 

Can’t Go Through it?  Go Around it.

If you don’t want to try these maneuvers to go through the mud, then go around the mud. There are many reasons to avoid mud. You and your bike stay clean, and more importantly you don’t know what to expect. How deep is it? You may sink your front tire in and go head first over your handlebars. So go around the mud, even if you have to get off your bike and walk around the mud. Getting off a bike to avoid a hazard is common in cyclocross racing events. You don’t have any trouble and you’ll stay safe.