Ripping through the tree-heavy section of the trail, a mountain bike rider is flying down the mountain, the adrenaline is pumping, and the biker is feeling exhilarated.
Then without warning, while coming around a corner, a large loose rock has rolled into the path, and in carrying so much speed, the rider is unable to evade the obstacle.
The rider is tossed from their bike and both crash into the trees. Falling off the bike or crashing happens more often than one would suspect; from the beginners hesitating through the turn to an experienced rider pushing the limits, it does not matter.
How Often Does it Happen?
Crashing, in general, on a bike happens often. Beginners, whether kids or adult learners, will have a period in which they will wobble, lose confidence in a turn, brake too hard, or make any other human mistakes possible when riding a bike.
Then you add the advanced terrain when mountain biking to the equation. So naturally, there will be crashes and spills with the added difficulty.
There is a piece of common knowledge when it comes to different levels of skill. First, of course, it is said that older mountain bikers crash less often, and younger riders like to push it; which type of rider are you?
Can You get Seriously Injured?
The simple answer is yes, if you are traveling at high velocity and pushing hard, eventually, even the professionals crash. According to a survey taken in 2001, a bike injury occurs every thousand hours of riding.
In 2011, there was another study done that determined the frequency of injuries for cross-country and endurance riders. According to the data collected, 7.2 percent of downhill racers were seriously injured, while only 4.7 percent of endurance riders were hurt.
If specific actions are taken to protect oneself, the severity of the injury can be reduced. Next, we discuss how to prevent damage in case of a crash.
Can You Prevent it?
When thinking about prevention, a few techniques can ensure the safety of the riders and others. The best way to prevent injury or damage is to be under control when riding, slow down and proceed with more caution until your confidence and skill allow for faster rides.
Eventually, as all experienced riders take to know how to fall approach, this mindset gives a rider the ability to know when to bail and become skilled at tucking and rolling out of a crash. In addition to protective wear, a rider can be relatively safe when riding.
How Do You Learn to Fall from a Mountain Bike?
Like any learning experience, each ride gives you an emotional and physical imprint, and with each successful ride comes positive feelings. However, each fall has a certain amount of pain along with the scrapes and scuffs.
Each bruise, each cut, and even the fractures imprint on the person; a crash can teach a rider where the limits are as far as hitting a jump or taking a turn fast goes.
Mountain bikers develop preventative methods with experience; usually, that know-how comes from having to bail or crash at some point.
Protection Gear you Need
There are a few facts to consider when purchasing protection gear for mountain biking. To start, what are the ages within the group and experience levels of the person in question?
Everyone should wear a helmet, no matter their skill level. From there, we start with kids who need at least elbow, knee, and wrist pads with a good helmet to protect them during a hard fall.
Otherwise, Adults should wear similar, if not more, armor and protective gear than children. When an adult goes for a ride and prefers the extreme element of mountain bike riding (i.e., jumps, doing tricks, hard riding), the protective gear becomes all the more critical.
Final Thoughts on Falling of a Mountain Bike
To put it in perspective, it is better to be protected enough that if a fall occurs, you can absorb the impact and hopefully prevent injury with the right gear.
In addition, learning techniques on how and when to bail from the bike and how to ‘tuck and roll’ out of a fall situation; altogether can save a rider from breaks and other serious injuries.
Simple things can be done to ensure the safety of yourself and those you care about when it comes to mountain biking. It is a fun, exhilarating sport that can get you and your family into the outdoors and have fun while being there.