Published: Mar 11, 2026
During this time of the year, you are one of two people. You are either sitting around waiting for the snow to melt or you’re loving the snow and you’re out skiing. Here are my best tips to prepare for the mountain bike season.
Luckily, I love to ski and I find it helps with strength building and stabilizing your legs for the upcoming season.
During the winter, I always find myself working harder to get strong for the next season, as it gets so busy and routine falls to the wayside, while you’re busy with events, shoots and travel. I never used to be this way in the “off season” but I truly find it helps you in the big picture, to be prepared for the upcoming season. You also just feel better.
Receiving new bikes in the winter is always a tease. You want to get out on the trails but you’re not going to be doing your bike setup any favors without being able to set it up correctly. If you have an undercover area, it’s always valuable to spend this down time preparing your bike and setting up the suspension as close as possible to cut down on your setup time when the snow finally melts. If you’re unfamiliar with your equipment, you can always refer to YouTube or your local bike shop.
I find myself spending more time in the gym, mainly focusing on body weight and core exercises, which are also the core of your trail agility. Working on balance and core improves your balance on two wheels to maintain control when things get out of control. Don’t forget to stretch! Keeping that elasticity in your body is the biggest key to preventing injury. I stretch twice a day, no matter where I am.
Watching bike videos is a great way to get motivated and see different lines on your favourite trails that you may not have thought of. It’s always fun to see different ways of riding and it gets me fired up! Hop on a stationary bike and watch some bike films to get fired up. No matter what you do, keep those legs moving in the winter season. If you’re not a skier, go for hikes, walks or indoor sports. Important to get your heart rate up everyday. Once you lose it, it’s hard to get back.
When preparing your bag for riding. Don’t forget your pads and helmet. I prefer to ride in glasses. Glasses prevent dirt and debris from getting in your eyes when you’re already avoiding obstacles on the trail.
Bringing water and small snacks is essential. You are often out in the mountains for a long-time and no one likes a hangry person. You will also begin to get worse at problem solving on the trail when you’re hungry and dehydrated. It’s smart to avoid this.
On the other hand, if you’re getting ready for your first mountain bike ride ever, you’re in for a treat. Biking is the best way to stay fit and be out in nature with friends.
If you want to cut the learning curve down, it is always worthwhile to join a group ride and or a coached ride.
It’s not just riding a bike in the mountains, but you’re also assessing terrain, avoiding terrain and moving with speed. It’s a lot to process and professional help is an amazing way to break it down. I have done a ton of coaching over the years and seeing the improvement in my participants is the best feeling ever. If you’re ever unsure about a move or feature on the trail, go around or walk it. It will still be there when you feel confident to ride it.
Whatever you choose to do, just do something that makes you feel good! Just don’t sit around when you could be working on becoming a better you!