Winter in Kentucky is not the greatest time of year for mountain biking.  A recent topic on bikeclicks.com/kymba was asking when it was okay to ride.  Billy Davis summed it up quite nicely.

1. There is a hard freeze and before or after the sun is out. (Early mornings or night rides in the cold). The sun thaws the surface very quickly even if it is freezing out.  It’s called the freeze/thaw cycle and can really mess up some trail and your ride if you ignore it.
2. Snow on the ground. The snow packs nicely when temperatures are low, but once it starts to melt the trails will become very sloppy.

In Louisville there are still a few options to get our cycling fix.

1. The paved Riverwalk is an out and back path that is always rideable.
2. If you have a road bike, it’s not a bad time to ride it instead.
3. The trainer.  It’s my last resort, but does help me keep my sanity during the darkest winter days.  Some local shops even host group trainer sessions where you can suffer along with others.

The winter is also a good opportunity to enjoy some other kind of outdoor activity, which may not be a substitute for mountain biking, but may at least keep you from climbing the walls.  My personal favorite is good old fashioned hiking, or better yet, volunteer for some trail work.

I hope this helps you decide whether or not it’s okay to take off down that questionable trail.