how dangerous is mountain biking?
Discussion
I have a herniated disk in my neck from going right over the bars and landing on top of my head. i was going full pelt down hill with no obstacles that i could see apart from a tree root.
week before i did the same in some trees no idea why. but i was s
t and reckless, didn't really know what i was doing and had no fear.
I do now
however i saw enough of my mates fall off too who were a lot more experienced than me so my vote is its quite dangerous compared to other activities.
week before i did the same in some trees no idea why. but i was s
t and reckless, didn't really know what i was doing and had no fear. I do now
however i saw enough of my mates fall off too who were a lot more experienced than me so my vote is its quite dangerous compared to other activities.
Depends on what sort of riding you do - cross country, singletrack in the woods type riding, pretty safe.
Downhill/jumps - this is where it starts getting dangerous, most of the time its riders going over the/their limits.
I broke my jaw when I was about 20 mountain biking, shattered both sides up by my cheek and cracked my chin, had a week long stay in hospital with my jaw wired shut and have 2 metal bits in my chin. I was young and stupid, was well over 10 years ago.
I'd get back into cross country/woodland trail riding without a second thought, its less dangerous than riding in traffic, filtering through cars at 20mph.
Downhill/jumps - this is where it starts getting dangerous, most of the time its riders going over the/their limits.
I broke my jaw when I was about 20 mountain biking, shattered both sides up by my cheek and cracked my chin, had a week long stay in hospital with my jaw wired shut and have 2 metal bits in my chin. I was young and stupid, was well over 10 years ago.
I'd get back into cross country/woodland trail riding without a second thought, its less dangerous than riding in traffic, filtering through cars at 20mph.
Not dangerous at all if you so choose.
All the injuries I have had and seen have come from taking what could be seen as unnecessary risks. Downhill is probably the most 'dangerous' discipline and even then if you wear the proper gear (fullface helmet, body armour, neck brace) you shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly.
Cross country is dead safe if you take it easy, its fun too. As with all things the more you push yourself the more likely you are to hurt yourself.
All the injuries I have had and seen have come from taking what could be seen as unnecessary risks. Downhill is probably the most 'dangerous' discipline and even then if you wear the proper gear (fullface helmet, body armour, neck brace) you shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly.
Cross country is dead safe if you take it easy, its fun too. As with all things the more you push yourself the more likely you are to hurt yourself.
I took up windsurfing not long after I broke my jaw, probably partly because I knew how much solid ground/trees/rocks can hurt! 
That's a sport with similar thrills (takes longer to learn and get to the stage where you get those thrills though) but having fallen off at speed (30-35mph) hundred of times, more often than not being thrown 10ft, 20ft away from the board, flying through the air in the process, I've never had a single injury. Even wave sailing in decent size waves the only thing you have to worry about is your board/mast/boom hitting you, which rarely happens.
That's a sport with similar thrills (takes longer to learn and get to the stage where you get those thrills though) but having fallen off at speed (30-35mph) hundred of times, more often than not being thrown 10ft, 20ft away from the board, flying through the air in the process, I've never had a single injury. Even wave sailing in decent size waves the only thing you have to worry about is your board/mast/boom hitting you, which rarely happens.
leglessAlex said:
Not dangerous at all if you so choose.
All the injuries I have had and seen have come from taking what could be seen as unnecessary risks. Downhill is probably the most 'dangerous' discipline and even then if you wear the proper gear (fullface helmet, body armour, neck brace) you shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly.
Sorry but this is utter cack!All the injuries I have had and seen have come from taking what could be seen as unnecessary risks. Downhill is probably the most 'dangerous' discipline and even then if you wear the proper gear (fullface helmet, body armour, neck brace) you shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly.
"Shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly" What?! if you're riding DH, and I mean proper DH tracks, then at some point you're going to come off and its going to hurt.
Even relatively easy XC tracks can catch people out, throw you off and over the bars and a collarbone or wrist is an easy thing to snap.
If you start off slow, learn proper techniques and slowly push your limits, you can manage the risk. But it wont be a risk free sport.
I know, I've crashed my brains out over the years, as have all the people I know who ride.
AbarthChris said:
Sorry but this is utter cack!
"Shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly" What?! if you're riding DH, and I mean proper DH tracks, then at some point you're going to come off and its going to hurt.
Even relatively easy XC tracks can catch people out, throw you off and over the bars and a collarbone or wrist is an easy thing to snap.
If you start off slow, learn proper techniques and slowly push your limits, you can manage the risk. But it wont be a risk free sport.
I know, I've crashed my brains out over the years, as have all the people I know who ride.
Which is why I said "that badly" instead of "at all". Of course you are going to fall off, and of course its going to hurt. However, I maintain that serious injuries aren't that common (when doing it for fun I mean, racing is a bit different), between me and my friends we only occasionally crashed badly enough to warrant a trip to hospital. A few broken bones but nothing really bad. "Shouldn't ever hurt yourself that badly" What?! if you're riding DH, and I mean proper DH tracks, then at some point you're going to come off and its going to hurt.
Even relatively easy XC tracks can catch people out, throw you off and over the bars and a collarbone or wrist is an easy thing to snap.
If you start off slow, learn proper techniques and slowly push your limits, you can manage the risk. But it wont be a risk free sport.
I know, I've crashed my brains out over the years, as have all the people I know who ride.
At no point did I say you wouldn't fall off and at no point did I say it wouldn't hurt. Maybe I should have put the 'that badly' bit in bold...
Edited by leglessAlex on Tuesday 11th February 05:35
leglessAlex said:
Which is why I said "that badly" instead of "at all". Of course you are going to fall off, and of course its going to hurt. However, I maintain that serious injuries aren't that common, between me and my friends we only occasionally crashed badly enough to warrant a trip to hospital. A few broken bones but nothing really bad.
At no point did I say you wouldn't fall off and at no point did I say it wouldn't hurt. Maybe I should have put the 'that badly' bit in bold...
Serious injuries are more common then you think, especially highlighted by a recent piece in dirt mag where amateur and pro racers alike spoke about their injuries and the recovery, or adaptation from/to them.At no point did I say you wouldn't fall off and at no point did I say it wouldn't hurt. Maybe I should have put the 'that badly' bit in bold...
In my group of mates, we've all had various surgeries to pin bones and fix stuff! I've been winched off a mountain by the RAF, but then again maybe I'm just rubbish!
I'm not a skilled bike rider, I ride aggressively, but within my skill level, and with an eye on avoiding serious injuries. So, I fall off, but on a sandy berm, not on a rocky descent. I usually fall off once or twice per hour, scuff and bruise myself a bit, nothing more. I've been riding mountain bikes for twenty years and never had a serious injury.
Like everything else, it's about approach. Get ahead of your skills and, yep, you can have a bad crash. Pick your moments, use your brain, think a bit, you'll have fun and probably not get badly hurt.
Like everything else, it's about approach. Get ahead of your skills and, yep, you can have a bad crash. Pick your moments, use your brain, think a bit, you'll have fun and probably not get badly hurt.
AbarthChris said:
Serious injuries are more common then you think, especially highlighted by a recent piece in dirt mag where amateur and pro racers alike spoke about their injuries and the recovery, or adaptation from/to them.
In my group of mates, we've all had various surgeries to pin bones and fix stuff! I've been winched off a mountain by the RAF, but then again maybe I'm just rubbish!
Must give that a read, I tend not to pick up dirt these days as I just get frustrated that I can't do it anymore.In my group of mates, we've all had various surgeries to pin bones and fix stuff! I've been winched off a mountain by the RAF, but then again maybe I'm just rubbish!
I'll admit I can only talk about what I've experienced and maybe I've been lucky.
The OP asked about getting into MTB for the first time, I see no reason for him to get badly hurt if he just is sensible and doesn't try anything he isn't ready for. Obviously if he jumps of a DH rig and tries to go down Fort Bill then yes it will probably end in a nasty accident.
leglessAlex said:
Must give that a read, I tend not to pick up dirt these days as I just get frustrated that I can't do it anymore.
I'll admit I can only talk about what I've experienced and maybe I've been lucky.
The OP asked about getting into MTB for the first time, I see no reason for him to get badly hurt if he just is sensible and doesn't try anything he isn't ready for. Obviously if he jumps of a DH rig and tries to go down Fort Bill then yes it will probably end in a nasty accident.
it was really interesting actually, especially a section on a young lad called Tom wheeler. Linky http://www.bikeradar.com/au/mtb/gear/article/downh...I'll admit I can only talk about what I've experienced and maybe I've been lucky.
The OP asked about getting into MTB for the first time, I see no reason for him to get badly hurt if he just is sensible and doesn't try anything he isn't ready for. Obviously if he jumps of a DH rig and tries to go down Fort Bill then yes it will probably end in a nasty accident.
But yeah, you're right really, but what I meant to get across is that mountain biking can be and is a dangerous sport and should be treated as such.
Build up slowly, invest in good safety gear, learn proper technique and you should be fine! accept that bruised shins and bloodied knees are part of the fun and you'll be fine...
AbarthChris said:
If you start off slow, learn proper techniques and slowly push your limits, you can manage the risk. But it wont be a risk free sport.
I know, I've crashed my brains out over the years, as have all the people I know who ride.
Take it steady pick your risks don't get pressured by your mates but going too slow can cause issues as you aren't as stable the other thing is stuff you would clear at speed stops your wheels.I know, I've crashed my brains out over the years, as have all the people I know who ride.
Put it this way the bunch of guys I ride with have all had a few weeks off with injuries, if you ride regularly you will have offs either because you pushed too hard and screwed up, just got it wrong or had bad luck, the thing is none of us has got seriously hurt. Good protective gear, a helmet, gloves, glasses, knee and elbow pads all reduce the chances of that off or bit of bad luck causing serious damage, add some training and some common sense and you will be fine.
I've been on mtbs for 20 years. Like anything, staying within your limits means you're safe. Pushing your limits means you'll make mistakes. The evolution of constructed trails now means that whilst you can ride on more extreme trails than we used to find by hacking down bridleways and cutting paths through the local woodland, but you've little excuse to get out of your depth as trails are well marked and graded and most have walk-arounds on the bigger stuff. Don't push yourself too quickly and you'll learn to fall off too. Sounds silly, but you do get a knack for keeping your plums off the stem and bailing in a way that protects you. Give yourself the time to learn this stuff and it's fine, right up until you do this... http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Video-Chatel-Crash.ht...
I also ride on the roads and mtb is significantly less dangerous. Every single road ride I have involves someone not paying attention and coming too close to me. Not too many 1400kg metal killing machines on the trails.
I also ride on the roads and mtb is significantly less dangerous. Every single road ride I have involves someone not paying attention and coming too close to me. Not too many 1400kg metal killing machines on the trails.
Been riding for years and never had any really serious injuries. The worst was a broken collar bone but on top of that my front two teeth arent real, my bodies scattered in scars and I dont think there's a muscle that hasnt been damaged at some point.
I used to be silly though, massively into DH and was at my silliest when the whole 'hucking' thing was trendy so threw myself off some pretty big stuff.
I used to be silly though, massively into DH and was at my silliest when the whole 'hucking' thing was trendy so threw myself off some pretty big stuff.
I feel safer riding a mountain bike in the woods than I do riding on the road, as others have said.
I have been riding off road for to long to admit here and yes I have been injured after having a few big off's, but nothing too serious. I think I have been very lucky really.
I always wear a helmet and that I reckon has saved me from a serious head injury on more than one occasion. All of my friends I ride with have been injured from crashing at some point, some of them seriously but luckily no one has had life changing injuries and got back to riding in time.
My advice is to get a bike that fits you, a helmet and start off slow on a easy trail's and learn to control the bike, then progress as you feel more confident. It is great fun and a great way to stay fit and meet new friends.
You do not need the most expensive bike, but get a decent one that is fit for purpose. Seen a few people who are new to riding trying to do crazy stuff on very cheap stuff and suffer kit failure and then crash big.
Although when we started riding it was all ridged bikes and we could not afford a MTB, I made bikes from parts from the local dump and they would regularly snap. However we were kids and when we crashed we bounced back up, I can not do that so well now.
Good luck.
I have been riding off road for to long to admit here and yes I have been injured after having a few big off's, but nothing too serious. I think I have been very lucky really.
I always wear a helmet and that I reckon has saved me from a serious head injury on more than one occasion. All of my friends I ride with have been injured from crashing at some point, some of them seriously but luckily no one has had life changing injuries and got back to riding in time.
My advice is to get a bike that fits you, a helmet and start off slow on a easy trail's and learn to control the bike, then progress as you feel more confident. It is great fun and a great way to stay fit and meet new friends.
You do not need the most expensive bike, but get a decent one that is fit for purpose. Seen a few people who are new to riding trying to do crazy stuff on very cheap stuff and suffer kit failure and then crash big.
Although when we started riding it was all ridged bikes and we could not afford a MTB, I made bikes from parts from the local dump and they would regularly snap. However we were kids and when we crashed we bounced back up, I can not do that so well now.
Good luck.
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