Mountain Bike Safety - What Can Be Done To Avoid Mishap?

One of the most exhilarating sports you can take up is mountain biking. At the same time, it is dangerous if you do not know the necessary precautions to take. From wearing the correct helmet to mountain bike sunglasses, everything has to be proper. The world of uncertainty has left us with nothing but to take precautionary measures to safeguard our health.

Everybody has to start somewhere, and therefore it is best to ensure the precautionary methods are well known. Talking of one of the most dangerous sports activities, mountain biking ranks on top. The possibility of severe injuries or even worse cannot be underrated with the activity. Even if you are a pro rider, and you know every trail, precaution is the key to a good life.

There will always be a time when nature will knock you beyond your skill level and you will have no control, be aware of the safety measures that you can take as a mountain bike rider.

5 Safety Tips For Mountain Bikers

1. Always Wear A Helmet

The importance of a helmet cannot be pushed as an understanding. It has to come as an awareness. The use of a helmet in mountain biking tops the list. It should be a no-brainer but as a novice, you may choose to ignore it, given the exhilarating experience mountain biking brings along. While selecting the perfect helmet for protection, make sure it is high in quality, fits well as per your head size, and adheres to the safety standards. It is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment for riders, irrespective of its destination. Wearing helmets for long hours can make it itchy, uncomfortable and in some cases may heat up. What’s better than having your life secured than tolerate a little discomfort?

Simple as that!

If reports are to be believed helmets have proven to reduce nearly 70% of serious head injuries. Brain injuries can lead to life-altering consequences, and therefore it is imperative to wear a proper helmet capable enough to mitigate head trauma.

2. Mountain Bike Sunglasses

Very few people discuss the importance of wearing a mountain bike sunglasses and go with regular glasses protected under a helmet. Riders most often do not come across the ideal set of glasses and therefore suffer from vision impairment. Regular glasses become a part of the daily routine, as such switching over to bike sunglasses may seem difficult. Believe it or not, specially designed mountain bike sunglasses are known to make your ride exponentially better.

On the contrary, the wrong pair of glasses can alter the effects and make your ride worse. Regular sunglasses go through the difficulty of floppy frames, fogging, sudden dust, and debris in the eye which may restrict the vision and lead to an accident.

The basic to consider while buying the best sunglasses for mountain biking is to check the lenses and their colors. If you have vision correction power, you can also customize the lenses as per the required clarity and also its color. For mountain biking, it is best to go for black, brown, and amber color lenses for proper vision. The lenses increase contrast and help the eye detect obstacles even in shadows.

3. Stay In Control

Mountain biking brings along the possibility of severe injuries and in some cases the loss of life. Irrespective of how better you ride and for how many years you are into practice, never go beyond your skill level. Always stay in control, because riding is a part of recognizing the inherent skills to keep yourself well. Mountain biking brings along the excitement of speed and therefore it takes very little time to realize that your bike’s speed has increased without your knowledge.

4. Slow Down For Blind Corners

Often, riders do not notice blind corners and land below the trail. Always keep yourself aware of blind corners that may be a surprise and take you down the road of hustle. There is a reason why it is called a blind corner, riding techniques help you get yourself in line with vision control, visibility, and understanding of the trail.

As soon as you understand a 180-degree turn approaching, try to ride along the outer side of the corner. If you ride on the inside, you may be trapped in the trail and lose your life. For best results, lookup for tutorial videos on mountain biking safety tips.

5. Body Armour

Trail centers in mountain biking are known for freeriding and downhilling. It involves highly specialized technical riding with jumps on every obstacle, all while maintaining a high speed. Commonly users wear full-face helmets, neck braces, and body armors to protect themselves from unnecessary falls. Body armors may seem like too much of a protection, but if you are on high trials, death-defying equipment can help you take few long jumps, thereby protecting your shinbone, knee, and elbows.