Riding a mountain bike on trails in winter requires respecting certain standards that are very different from those that apply during other seasons of the year. Snow and ice, sometimes, are elements that can significantly change the behavior of the vehicle.
To get answers on the standards and behaviors to respect to fully enjoy your activity, I spoke with the director of operations of the Fédération québécoise des clubs quad, Bruno Boucher.
“In our standards, a path is five meters wide. With the new law, permitted vehicles can be up to 66 inches wide, such as “side-by-sides”. This means that sometimes the paths are a bit narrow,” explains the expert.
“Enthusiasts must always remember this important standard when traveling on a winter trail. »
Weight, an issue
According to him, one of the major problems is the weight of these vehicles which are larger and heavier.
“According to the law, the maximum weight accepted on our trails is 950 kilos, or 2100 pounds. These are heavy vehicles and this must be taken into account. So, depending on how the clubs open their trails, it can become problematic for these heavier vehicles. If these are winter trails that are on existing path bases, there is no problem with that. Then the ice and snow won’t be too thick. The resurfacers will instead be equipped with scrapers, a bit like those that the highways use to open the roads,” specifies Mr. Boucher.
Things get complicated when trails are made in agricultural fields.
“At that time, the clubs are obliged to keep a snow surface, so as not to affect the crops. If the snow surface is large enough, as soon as there is a mild spell, it can collapse. If the driver ever has the misfortune of placing a wheel outside the path, as the snow is not compacted, he can get bogged down,” warns the operations director.
The latter recommends never going hiking alone with this type of heavier vehicle.
-“You shouldn’t dream in colors. If you drive through the fields with such a heavy vehicle, you could get stuck. During the week, when the trails are not very busy, the person can be stuck for a long time. »
Last year, as there was almost no snow during the winter, there weren’t really any problems.
“Ultimately, the only places where there was snow in the fields was on the trails. The snow cover was thin. However, we should not rely on these conditions, which are not the same during a normal winter. People will often buy a large and heavy vehicle, not thinking about the consequences for traffic in winter. During the rest of the year, it is as is. We advise people to drive in winter with the lightest vehicle possible. »
This winter
We are currently experiencing a rather special winter. After the mild weather, winter is coming back in force, with the cold and the snow.
“I invite enthusiasts to carefully check trail conditions before going hiking,” explains the expert. Currently, in some areas, there is more snow, while in others, there is very little. So people should check the iQuad app or trail conditions map so they know what to expect before making a decision on a destination. »
Before going on a winter hike, you must check your vehicle.
“Electrical components such as the battery and the starter must be in good condition, like the entire electrical system, because in the cold, everything is put under greater strain. For tires, it is better to have studs that will provide better traction in the different conditions that people will encounter. These details are very important. It’s the difference between a great hike and a problem hike. »
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