Being from a coastal town in the UK, the nearby sand dunes and woods offer narrow, winding ‘singletrack’ paths with plenty of soft sand sections, and even soft soil sections in the woods, when I am unable to get to the purpose-built mountain biking trails further away from home.
No doubt, you have read other articles about biking in soft sand and I would just like to offer my own sand biking experience in the hope that I could help someone conquer the soft sand if nothing else has worked so far!
What Others May Have Told You & My Method Of Biking In Sand
I am sure you will have been told various things, like “use a low gear”, “enter the section at speed” and “deflate your tires”. If any of these, or other pieces of advice, helped you ride through the sand, fine! Who am I to tell you differently?
I am not saying my technique is the only effective way. I just want to offer some alternative advice to those struggling to find something to help them deal with biking through soft sand sections.
My plan to tackle sections of soft sand, as easy as it sounds, is to roll over the sand and not let the wheels dig in and get stuck! So, on that note, here is how I tackle soft sand sections on my mountain bike which has been split into the main aspects of my technique that are constantly interwoven as you progress across the sand.
Just to let you know, the bike I am currently riding is a hardtail with 27.5″ wheels and 2.4″ tyres. Through my own experience, this tyre width allows me to comfortably navigate my way through most soft sand sections except for the deeper, softer sand where even these wide tyres eventually get stuck! Different tyre sizes will mean a different ‘sand performance’ and this is one of those situations where wider is better. I have seen Fat Bikes rip through most sand sections so easily!
Try To Pick Your Line Through The Sand
As you approach a section of sand, look ahead and try to work out your easiest possible route through it. Try to utilize any available grass/ vegetation (even the loose, dead stuff) to gain extra traction which normally means you trying to stick to the edges of the sand area and hopefully avoiding the softest areas of sand.
Continuously scan your planned route through the sand ahead and try to stick to the line you have chosen without any sudden, jerky steering movement. Any sudden steering movements WILL stop you right there! Try your best to let your bike follow its ‘natural route’ and not fight the front wheel if it turns a little in the sand. If you do need to turn in soft sand, make the turn as long, slow, shallow, and smooth as possible to avoid the front wheel digging into the sand stopping you right there. As long as you are continuing in the right direction, keep moving and you will be OK.
If you are attempting to tackle a big, muddy sand section, as in the image below, there may just be tracks created by other bikers that you may be able to use. But, these tracks still need to be approached with care to proceed without catching the sides of the track which could potentially cause the front wheel to suddenly jerk, dig into the side and stop you right there and you might have to walk the rest of the way!
Use An Easy Gear & Comfortable Speed
As I approach a soft sand section, I slow down to a steady speed I am comfortable with so that the transition onto the soft sand from a harder surface is as smooth as possible. It will take a little practice, and patience, to find a speed you are comfortable with to transition onto soft sand and continue on through it! But once you find your comfortable speed, you are well on your way! Literally!
I choose an easy gear, gear #1-3, to keep my pedals turning at a consistent, high cadence I am comfortable with, trying to minimize pushing down on the pedals to keep the wheels turning through the sand. This high pedal cadence reduces the downward pressure on the wheels, thereby reducing the chance of your wheels digging into the sand and you can continue to cross the sand section comfortably! Keep your pedals turning and you keep your wheels turning!
Try not to change gears while biking through sand as you will lose any momentum and end up digging the wheels into the sand. Only do so when you know it can be done safely and you can maintain your momentum.
Do not stand while entering the sand section as too much weight will transfer to the wheels bringing you to an abrupt halt. Instead, remain seated, moving your weight slightly back, and just lightly grip your handlebars taking the weight off the front wheel making it easier to easily transition onto the sand surface without digging into the sand.
Some people say to enter the section of soft sand at speed and try to keep that momentum to take you through it. But, if you go too fast, the softer sand can suddenly slow you down, digging your front wheel into the sand and, most likely, bringing you to a complete stop and possibly throwing you off your bike!
Your Tyres
Your tyres play a major part in every aspect of mountain biking and soft sand sections are no exception. Of course, the wider your tyres, the better, allowing more contact, and therefore grip, with the surface. I currently have 2.4 inch tyres on my bike and they feel great for traversing sand sections.
In fact, my bike came equipped with Maxxis Ardent 27.5×2.4 tyres and I love these tyres! I was out biking nearly every day on all types of terrain and surface and they performed excellently. And they are hard-wearing – I only replaced them after nearly 2 years of consistent biking. Highly recommended!
Please note that at the time of writing, I can only recommend this Maxxis Ardent tyre as this is the only Maxxis tyre I have used so far! But, I am sure Maxxis standards will ensure all their different tyres are manufactured and perform to the same standard.
The tyre’s tread, especially your rear tyre, is also an important factor to remember with soft sand. Mountain biking through sand can actually let you know how worn down your rear tyre tread is because the more worn down it is, the more your rear wheel will tend to spin through the sand due to less grip not letting you get any further. Even if you can traverse other terrains easily.
Slightly deflating your tyres before entering a sand section can help to increase grip and traction as you traverse across the sand. But! Who wants to spend all day deflating/ re-inflating tires just to get through some sandy sections?! I know I don’t! I want to enjoy my day out biking, not fiddling around with tyre pressures all day! My tyre pressures remain constant throughout and I let my pedaling cadence and speed get me through the sand section! And with ease most of the time!
Final Thoughts
Well, that’s all from me regarding my mountain biking through sand technique. These parts of my sand biking technique are constantly integrated into your decision-making as you make your way through the sand. I only ‘split’ them up here to try and explain and clarify each part as best as I can.
Even if just one person takes away one snippet of advice to help them conquer soft sand sections on their mountain bike, I will feel a complete sense of accomplishment in writing this article by helping to improve someone’s overall mountain biking skills and experience.
Please note that no matter how well you can traverse soft sections of sand while mountain biking, there will always be some sections of sand so soft that you will have to get off and walk! I have even seen people on fat bikes get off and walk thanks to the sand being too soft!
Keep on pedaling and I might just see you out there on the trails!!… Crappy UK weather permitting! LOL!