Winter Biking in the Quad Cities
As the winter months stretch out before us in the Midwest, don’t think that hibernating with Netflix and endlessly scrolling on your phone are your only options. If you have a mountain bike hanging around, go winter biking! There are many biking enthusiasts in the Quad Cities who take advantage of the frozen ground and don’t stop biking just because the temperature reads below 32 degrees.
It does take a bit more planning since you can’t just hop on your bike and go in your shorts and t-shirt like you would in the warmer months.
If it’s just frozen ground, you’re probably going to be ok with a regular mountain bike. If there’s snow or rougher terrain, you’re going to want a fat bike. (No, I’m not making a slam against anyone. A fat bike has fat, oversized tires to give improved stability and grip.)
Becky Bernard is an outdoor bicycling enthusiast and former board member of FORC (Friends of Off-Road Cycling). She started biking in the winter (in addition to the rest of the year) to get out of the house, get some exercise, enjoy the great river views and winter scenery, and have fun.
What to Wear
Becky has a great list of what you need to have as part of your gear to be prepared for the cold. It’s best to dress in breathable layers since you’ll be cold at first and then warm up while riding.
- Weather appropriate clothes
- Water-resistant, wind-proof outer shell
- Gloves are a must
- Two layers are ideal – start with a runners glove and then thicker gloves over them (Bar Mitts is a good option for extreme cold.)
- Helmet is necessary (A snowboard helmet works well because it offers warmth as well as protection.)
- Goggles (They can help since your eyes may water in the cold.)
- Insulated bottle of water
Where to Ride
Because fat bikes allow you to ride over rougher, slippery terrain more easily, you’re not necessarily limited to paths or groomed trails. The QC has 10 mountain biking trails that FORC has built and maintained. They are a great place to go in the winter too.
It is important to remember to watch the trail conditions and keep an eye out for precipitation. If you’re leaving a tire imprint while riding on the mountain bike trails, the trails are too wet for you to be there. The imprints left in soft, wet ground will fill with water and then turn to ice. These spots will expand and contract with the freeze/thaw cycles, and over time erode the trails. (If you’ve ever lived on a gravel road, you understand the havoc frost heaves or frost boils can cause. A similar process occurs on the trails.) FORC members maintain all the QC mountain bike trails, and they appreciate everyone’s effort in helping keep the trails in top-notch condition.
Because winter riding often involves snow and ice, less hilly terrain is preferred and often a safer bet. Some great places to try in the Quad Cities if you’re just starting out are:
- Sylvan Island in Moline
- Westbrook Park in DeWitt
- Credit Island in Davenport
- Big Island Causeway in Milan
Even most of the regular paved paths in the Quad Cities are good to ride even in the winter. Just be careful to watch out for black ice!
Winter Fat Bike Events
The Frozen Fat Fondo is scheduled in January. The FFFFestival will be held—rain, shine, snow, or slime—at Credit Island. Riders will test their mettle on a circuit featuring many technical challenges (b-lines available for most) through thick lowland forest and chunky river shoreline on this 3-hour endurance ride. Participate as a 3-person relay team or solo. Fatbikes with tires 3.5” or wider are required to prevent rutting up the snow pack! All proceeds from this event benefit FORC to continue maintaining and improving local trails. Register online in advance or on the day-of at the Credit Island Lodge.
Enjoy the outdoors this winter! #QCoutdoors
Thanks to Quad Citizen Becky Bernard for her knowledge and enthusiasm on mountain biking in the QC. Becky had a history of riding motocross before transitioning to mountain biking. She loved it on her first day and hasn’t stopped since. She started fat biking as a way to extend the riding season, and to avoid the indoor trainer which can be really uninspiring.