Shake it out, find your rhythm; put that good soul back in your feet.

Have you ever felt out of sorts? Maybe without being able to pinpoint the reason? Maybe it’s the Winter blahs!

Of course, you have and you’re not alone. (I won’t insert a statistic here.) We all know it happens and often even the brightest spirits are affected in the shorter days of winter. I’ll admit, I’ve been feeling this way. So have some of my friends and family. Reflecting on the conversations and moods of the people with whom I have regular contact, it’s time to shake off some of the stress and beat those Winter BLAHS. 

Finding an outlet

Finding the right outlet is part of the battle that most of us struggle with during the “in-between” seasons.  So here I am in the last week of January, in the middle of a pandemic. The world we live in is far from normal yet. Thank you, COVID! Combine this with a strange winter climate that so far hasn’t brought much snow to our province. 

What season is it?

So what season is this now? It’s time to be the outside season. That’s what I need. It’s ‘get-dressed-for-whatever-is going-on-with-the-weather’ season, PERIOD!  I love being outside. This is my happy place. The sun is shining this week, finally. The trails are hardening with cooler temperatures, and there’s no snow. 

I’ve been bummed a bit by the weather lately, but now I’m not making any excuses. This past week I got outside more; daily in fact. Every day felt more adventurous as I got more in tune with the strange winter conditions we are having here in Nova Scotia this year. 

I need more!

A daily hike has been great, but I still needed something more.  For the past week, I have had the good fortune to enjoy off-road riding on a Beta trials bike. Winter riding has put a smile back on my face. Choosing the right trails; making sure not to damage those that are too wet; and finding spaces that are safe, fun, and have flow, have reinvigorated my normal adventurous spirit.

Get outside!

I’m not sure how long the snow will stave off, but for now, I encourage you to ride, too. You don’t even need studs in many places (so far), just air down to 6-10 psi and ride a gear high. It’s great practice for clutch control to maintain tractable power to the rear wheel, and it will keep your skills sharp throughout the winter. 

Don’t be afraid to invest in some screw-in studs if you’re new to icier conditions. There’s a lot of fun and satisfaction in winter riding that blasts away the winter blahs.

Braap on my friends and feel well.

Josh Kelly is NSORRA’s President. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys every minute on the trails with family and friends, whether it’s off-road motorcycling, hiking, or mountain biking.