Mountain biking in the winter is a different experience than much of the rest of year.

The trails get icy. The ice can make some trails unpassable if you aren’t ready for it.

It also makes exploring swamps, bogs and wetlands possible. The ice can turn lakes into highways for bicycles.

Some trails that are full of rocks, roots and ruts have the bumps smoothed out. Packed snow and ice fills in the holes. Things get smoother. Everything gets faster. It’s exciting.

Areas that were required precise riding, that had to be handled carefully can be rolled over easily.

Sometimes, a change in seasons can make life easier.

And if you wait too long, the season will pass before you. Opportunities will be lost.

And if you show up every day, you’ll be able to ride through all conditions.