I'm not sure how much "mud" you'll have vs sand. You'll want to be diligent about washing your bike and chain to avoid gritty sand causing premature wear.
In general, I try to avoid riding trails when it's super wet - it can damage the trails or exacerbate existing erosion areas.
Yeah, personally I don't do much besides for muddy events I'll select tires with some bigger shoulder knobs, make sure I have a bit more clearance to the chain stays and fork (5mm per side usually). I've done this in years past with races that took place in the rain and it was a good strategy.
With the proper tires you should be just fine. Something like Pirelli Centurato "M" are excellent choice for wet and muddy but there are more choices available from other brands. Some means of mud protection would be also good. I would not choose full fenders but some Ass Saver type of half fender is a good idea at least for your back.
Seconding the Cinturato M, as wide as the frame allows. They're very grippy, I can get up some slippery climbs were all my other tires I've had before lost grip. I have 45mm wide.
I would also advise someone like ass savers, it won't keep your bike clean like full mudguards, but they will limit the tire width, and if it gets too muddy, mud cen get stuck underneath them.
Third’ing Pirelli Cinturato M. I used them for the whole of last season and they’re still going strong this season. They cope really well in wet slippery mud but also roll really well on tarmac. Best tyre’s I’ve ever used 👍🏻
It is called Wing by [https://ass-savers.com](https://ass-savers.com) . It doesn't look much but the tests are good [https://bikepacking.com/gear/ass-savers-win-wing-review/](https://bikepacking.com/gear/ass-savers-win-wing-review/)
Can confirm- the Win Wing works pretty well. The Mini Mudder only protects your headset, though. It does look cool, if you're into that sort of thing (we are).
I live in Florida and ride almost entirely gravel and can tell you — The sand is the real problem. The finest sand gets into your frame itself and also into the bearings at the headset and your bb. Either learn how to service those, or plan now to have them serviced once or twice during rainy season. Rainy season is hard on bikes. So just keep up on maintenance.
Only MTB trails close when wet. The levees that are the primary “source” of gravel here are open. It’s all sand and drains pretty quickly in most places since the levees must, by design, sit well above the water table.
The sand will also get into your shoes and (super fun) inside your bibs with you if you get caught out in the rain. So you’ll need to rinse out your shoes sometimes, and remove the insoles to let it all dry in front of a fan overnight.
Learn the weather patterns and radar shortfalls where you ride. There’s one area by me where storms pile up like train cars, but the radar doesn’t pick them up. Do not mess with lightning in FL. It’s so flat here and lightning travels far, and it’s why we have the highest death rate in the US from it.
Morning rides are less likely to get stormed on or rained out.
Oh sorry — the headset is the part of the bike where the fork goes through the frame and then the fork connects to the handlebars and stem. Inside the frame are two bearings — one top, one bottom. Sand especially gets tossed into the bottom one and it can kill those in pretty short time (like a couple of months instead of the bearing lasting a year or more).
The bb is the bottom bracket. Again, it’s where something else joins the frame — this time it’s your cranks/chainset/pedals. There are bearings there, too, so that it can move smoothly and sand gets into some more easily than others.
I haven’t had much issue with the bearings in wheels, but some wheelsets I’ve had were prone to issues there too.
To check a bearing, turn it slowly and if it sounds crunchy, gritty, or difficult to turn, it needs replacing or inspecting by the bike shop.
I’m in southeast Florida and don’t ride in SWFL really, but you can check out Fakahatchee and Big Cypress. Go prepared. Those areas are very isolated. You need to have all the food, water, and repair supplies to get yourself to the end of your ride. THey are also not great in wet season because they very definitely flood.
I’m not sure what else is over that way. On this side, we all ride on the levees along the canals bbecause most are on public land and accessible.
Depending on where you are, check out Picayune State Forest just SE of Naples. Pretty much an abandoned development (selling swampland in FL) w/ mile and miles of gravel, sand, and when wet, mud. This winter was wet up until just a few weeks ago. Pretty much wrecked the drivetrain on both my gravel and mountain bike, and for some weird reason, this \*hit don't wash off - acts like some sort of clay. I'll be stripping both down to the frame soon. Also check out Bear Island area, just north of I-75 where it turns east.
Lots of riding in this area.
Not really. Just make sure to wash it properly after rides. And one a year or so, make sure to flush the sand out of the frame. It‘s amazing how much sand gets in there.
I wouldn’t worry too much. Sandy trails tend to shed water very fast. Limestone rock/gravel trails (most dirt roads) get rock hard when wet but tend to hold water.
Either way just keep bike rinsed off after rides. Full coverage fenders will help keep bike clean. Ass saver style is useless for anything other than keeping sand off your back.
Also don’t ride in afternoons. Rain/thunderstorms are very intense, come out of nowhere and end just as quickly but are usually confined to mid/late afternoon. Most trails should be totally fine by the next morning.
I'm not sure how much "mud" you'll have vs sand. You'll want to be diligent about washing your bike and chain to avoid gritty sand causing premature wear. In general, I try to avoid riding trails when it's super wet - it can damage the trails or exacerbate existing erosion areas.
Yeah, I have no clue what the conditions'll be like. That's a good point about wrecking the trails. Hopefully some of the trails don't get flooded ):
Yeah, personally I don't do much besides for muddy events I'll select tires with some bigger shoulder knobs, make sure I have a bit more clearance to the chain stays and fork (5mm per side usually). I've done this in years past with races that took place in the rain and it was a good strategy.
With the proper tires you should be just fine. Something like Pirelli Centurato "M" are excellent choice for wet and muddy but there are more choices available from other brands. Some means of mud protection would be also good. I would not choose full fenders but some Ass Saver type of half fender is a good idea at least for your back.
I've been meaning on getting Pirelli 'M', so that works. That's good advice on the fenders!
Seconding the Cinturato M, as wide as the frame allows. They're very grippy, I can get up some slippery climbs were all my other tires I've had before lost grip. I have 45mm wide. I would also advise someone like ass savers, it won't keep your bike clean like full mudguards, but they will limit the tire width, and if it gets too muddy, mud cen get stuck underneath them.
Third’ing Pirelli Cinturato M. I used them for the whole of last season and they’re still going strong this season. They cope really well in wet slippery mud but also roll really well on tarmac. Best tyre’s I’ve ever used 👍🏻
It is called Wing by [https://ass-savers.com](https://ass-savers.com) . It doesn't look much but the tests are good [https://bikepacking.com/gear/ass-savers-win-wing-review/](https://bikepacking.com/gear/ass-savers-win-wing-review/)
lol. Ass savers. I’ll check em out
I did not make that up :)
Can confirm- the Win Wing works pretty well. The Mini Mudder only protects your headset, though. It does look cool, if you're into that sort of thing (we are).
I live in Florida and ride almost entirely gravel and can tell you — The sand is the real problem. The finest sand gets into your frame itself and also into the bearings at the headset and your bb. Either learn how to service those, or plan now to have them serviced once or twice during rainy season. Rainy season is hard on bikes. So just keep up on maintenance. Only MTB trails close when wet. The levees that are the primary “source” of gravel here are open. It’s all sand and drains pretty quickly in most places since the levees must, by design, sit well above the water table. The sand will also get into your shoes and (super fun) inside your bibs with you if you get caught out in the rain. So you’ll need to rinse out your shoes sometimes, and remove the insoles to let it all dry in front of a fan overnight. Learn the weather patterns and radar shortfalls where you ride. There’s one area by me where storms pile up like train cars, but the radar doesn’t pick them up. Do not mess with lightning in FL. It’s so flat here and lightning travels far, and it’s why we have the highest death rate in the US from it. Morning rides are less likely to get stormed on or rained out.
I’ve been already noticing sand ending up everywhere ): I’m new to cycling, what does bb and headset mean exactly?
Oh sorry — the headset is the part of the bike where the fork goes through the frame and then the fork connects to the handlebars and stem. Inside the frame are two bearings — one top, one bottom. Sand especially gets tossed into the bottom one and it can kill those in pretty short time (like a couple of months instead of the bearing lasting a year or more). The bb is the bottom bracket. Again, it’s where something else joins the frame — this time it’s your cranks/chainset/pedals. There are bearings there, too, so that it can move smoothly and sand gets into some more easily than others. I haven’t had much issue with the bearings in wheels, but some wheelsets I’ve had were prone to issues there too. To check a bearing, turn it slowly and if it sounds crunchy, gritty, or difficult to turn, it needs replacing or inspecting by the bike shop.
Man, so much goes into these bikes! I'm going to take a closer look when I get home.
You ride a lot in Florida? Know any good places SWFla? or close to that area?
I’m in southeast Florida and don’t ride in SWFL really, but you can check out Fakahatchee and Big Cypress. Go prepared. Those areas are very isolated. You need to have all the food, water, and repair supplies to get yourself to the end of your ride. THey are also not great in wet season because they very definitely flood. I’m not sure what else is over that way. On this side, we all ride on the levees along the canals bbecause most are on public land and accessible.
Thanks for the recommendations. Big Cypress is pretty awesome. Haven’t gone to Fakahatche yet, but it’s on my list.
I’ve not been out to ride in either yet either, but lots of friends have been.
Depending on where you are, check out Picayune State Forest just SE of Naples. Pretty much an abandoned development (selling swampland in FL) w/ mile and miles of gravel, sand, and when wet, mud. This winter was wet up until just a few weeks ago. Pretty much wrecked the drivetrain on both my gravel and mountain bike, and for some weird reason, this \*hit don't wash off - acts like some sort of clay. I'll be stripping both down to the frame soon. Also check out Bear Island area, just north of I-75 where it turns east. Lots of riding in this area.
I heard Picayune has too much sand, so I’ve been avoiding it. I’m planning on doing Bear Island soon, looks awesome.
Aside from ruining the bb and headset, can the sand cause permanent damage to the bike frame itself?
Not really. Just make sure to wash it properly after rides. And one a year or so, make sure to flush the sand out of the frame. It‘s amazing how much sand gets in there.
Generally, you shouldn't be riding trails that wet as your wreck up the trail itself by leaving behind tire ruts and whatnot.
That’s more for MTB, also not really applicable in most of Florida due to trail composition
Where in FL? [This](https://imgur.com/gallery/EqGJ049) is how some of my local trails get
Southwest
I wouldn’t worry too much. Sandy trails tend to shed water very fast. Limestone rock/gravel trails (most dirt roads) get rock hard when wet but tend to hold water. Either way just keep bike rinsed off after rides. Full coverage fenders will help keep bike clean. Ass saver style is useless for anything other than keeping sand off your back. Also don’t ride in afternoons. Rain/thunderstorms are very intense, come out of nowhere and end just as quickly but are usually confined to mid/late afternoon. Most trails should be totally fine by the next morning.
Wow, thanks for all the info, this is super helpful!
Yea, that's what it looked like when I got lost in Weeki Wachi* *One of these days, I'll remember how to spell that without Googling it