Mountain biking is one of the most fun disciplines of cycling out there. Flying down a dirt trail on your bike as trees and rocks whip past you really gets your heart and adrenaline pumping! Then there are the views. Man oh man, you can really enjoy some of the best scenery out there from your mountain bike!
With that said, mountain biking does carry additional risks that you won’t find when riding on paved trails. Those trees and rocks can become dangerous if you don’t take the right line and you can get stranded pretty easily if you don’t go prepared. Keep yourself safe when you go mountain biking by following these easy to remember tips!
Ride with Friends and Have a Plan
Having a group to go riding with not only will make mountain biking more fun, it’ll give you some security in case something does go wrong. If you crash and end up getting hurt, you’ll have someone there that can immediately begin rendering aid. And, if you’re far enough in the backcountry, they’ll be able to go get help a lot faster than you likely will be able to.
In addition to riding with a group, it’s always a good idea to have a plan of what to do in case something does go wrong. Ensure that you have the emergency contact information for the land manager for where you’re riding stored in your phone. This way, you’ll have a sure-fire way of getting in contact with the authorities to come to your aid.
It’s also a good idea to let someone know where you’re riding and when you plan on being back. A great example of why this is so important is the movie 127 Hours. In the movie, a mountain climber ends up getting trapped by a boulder while canyoneering solo in the deserts of Moab. He very narrowly escapes dying in the end, but not without a pretty big cost.
Everyone who goes mountain biking (or adventures outside at all for that matter) should watch this movie to ensure that they get the message that having a plan and letting people know where you’re going is imperative to staying safe.
Wear the Right Gear
Each time you get on your mountain bike, you need to wear these items to ensure that you stay safe throughout your ride. Mountain bike trails are uneven and often full of exposed rocks and roots that will lead to crashes. Everyone at one point or another, no matter how good they are, will crash on their bike. Be sure you’re protected!
Helmet
A non-negotiable when it comes to mountain bike safety equipment is a helmet. It doesn’t matter if you’re going for a short 2-mile ride or you’re tackling a full day of riding at your favorite bike park, you have to wear a helmet!
Mountain bike helmets should cover the back of your head really well as one of the most common places that people hit when they ride is the back of their heads.
If you’re planning on hitting some jumps, consider getting a full faced helmet. This will not only protect the back of your head, but also your face. This will help prevent knocking your teeth out if you end up hitting a landing wrong and flying over your handlebars.
Knee Pads
One of the worst injuries that can happen when mountain biking is hitting your knee on a rock after falling off your bike. It’s incredibly painful to smash your knee, so wearing knee pads prevent seriously banging up your knees. There are plenty of pads out there to buy, but some of the best and most comfortable knee pads are sleeves. This way, you can slide them down when you’re doing a bunch of climbing on your bike to keep your legs cool and comfortable as you pedal uphill. Then, when it’s time to go downhill, you can easily slide them up so you’re fully protected.
Shin Guards
While taking a pedal to the shin isn’t a life-threatening injury, they certainly don’t feel good! Keep your shins from getting cut up by an errant pedal by wearing shin guards. These are really important for riders who use flat pedals as it’s a lot more common for your feet to slip off your pedals while running flats than riders who use clipless pedals and have their feet secured on the bike.
Gloves
Wearing gloves will give you extra grip on your handlebars, which will help you maintain control of your bike throughout your ride. This is especially important when you’ve been out for a while and your hands start to get sweaty. Keeping positive control of your bike is imperative, especially when descending steep sections of trail, so gloves are a must!
Bring the Right Supplies
In addition to wearing the right gear, you need to be sure you have the tools necessary to address any issues you face while on the trail. Keeping each of these items in a backpack that you take riding every time you go out will ensure that you never forget them at home.
- Spare tubes
- Mini-hand pump
- Flat tire repair kit
- Allen key set
- First aid-kit
- Sunscreen
Final Thoughts
When you have the right plan in place, wear the right protective equipment, and go prepared with the right gear, you’ll be able to face practically any challenge you find on the trail. Doing each of these things will not only give you the security to take care of the problems you encounter, but they’ll also make you a more confident rider which will help you go faster and farther each time you go out! Make sure you properly fit each piece of gear you wear and practice with your safety gear before you go out so you have the confidence that you’re prepared for whatever the trail throws at you. Now get out there and shred those trails!
