by Joe Thomas
December 1999 
I’m always amazed at folks' reluctance to venture
out into the cold. Why hesitate? Our mountains have such a unique beauty in the winter;
put on another layer and go! "Chattanooga is a four season bike town," states
Chris Gilligan, former Chairman of Chattanooga’s Bike Task Force. "I’ve
been winter biking for fifteen years. It’s as good as skiing and a lot cheaper too.
Our region rarely is too cold for a ride." Not enough daylight you say? Ha! They make
headlights for bikes, too. Given the beauty and fun of winter mountain biking and all the
new clothing to support it, there are no excuses to stay inside this winter. Gear-up and
get off the couch and go ride that bike.
Ever snow ski or ice skate? Were you cold? Of course not IF you simply
dressed appropriately. Clothes for cold weather meant itchy wool and sweat catching
cotton. Now active clothing is incredibly lightweight and will keep you warmer in a
broader range of temperatures than ever before. When biking, your body temperature will
rise and fall as the trail does. You’ll warm up on the uphill and cool off on the
downhill. We often overdress for cold weather activities.
"Nothing ticks me off more than someone showing up for a ride
lookin’ like the Michelin man, then bitchin’ the rest of the ride on how hot
they are," spouts Hugh Worthy, outdoor guru. Hugh advises, "Always begin a ride
feeling a little bit cold; you’ll warm up fast." He suggests wearing a pack with
enough room to hold excess clothing if you get too hot. Most outdoor active wear has
exceptional sweat wicking capabilities. Most of the time the new technical clothing is
made from the same old polyester we used to cringe at, but with new technical knitting
patterns. The experts have been able to develop some exceptional sweat wicking fabrics,
fleece being a perfect example of this.
A great inexpensive alternative to buying bike specific jackets and
tights is a unique product known as arm and leg warmers. They simply peel onto your arms
and legs like stockings and just as simply peel off as you heat up.
With biking, keeping the toes and fingers warm is the only challenge.
Wearing a pair of winter specific biking gloves or ski gloves and a pair of neoprene overshoes will do the
trick. Keep in
mind that it is not uncommon for us to have several sixty-degree days even in January or
February. Hugh finishes his winter riding advice with, "It’s rare to need to
wear a whole lot of extra clothes. Just layer them and avoid cotton fabrics. They trap
sweat, which will get heavy and cold when you stop." Go Hugh!!
Once you get the right clothes, you have to find the time. My days are
so full with job and family that my biking is often sequestered to evenings after work.
Problem being it’s winter. It’s dark! Two years ago my wife bought me a helmet
light, which straps on top of my bike helmet. That gift has opened a whole New World to
me. The world of Night Riding!! My first night ride was up at Edward’s Point. I felt
like my heart was going to pound through my shirt, I was so excited. Riding is so
different at night. The trails appear thinner. The bike feels faster. My senses seem more
alert. Light systems cost around $150, a cheap ticket to a whole lot of rechargeable fun.
This is not some extreme hobby practiced by a few zealots in California. The popularity
has grown to the point that the Chattanooga Bike Club offers organized Night Rides every
week. Check out the Chattanooga Bike Club’s web site, www.chattbike.com, for night
ride dates and locations. It is always advisable to ride with others for safety reasons.
This certainly holds true with night riding. Remember to pack your mini-mag flashlight for
an additional light source for fixin’ flats etc.
Keep in mind that when it’s winter rock formations are easier to
see. Icicle galleries hang off every cliff, and waterfalls become ice sculptures. To see
one of these winter works of art, drive to the top of Chilhowee Mountain (above Lake
Ocoee), park at the picnic area, take the Benton Falls trail (beginner trail) to the
falls. For the more avid cyclist, the Piney River trail above Dayton is the ticket.
Finally, after a great day of winter biking, nothing feels better than to SOAK in a nice
hot steamy bath.
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