A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on injuries caused by off-road cycling has urged bikers to take more care.

The reports claims that mountain bikers are putting themselves at risk of serious injury and adding to the financial problems of country hospitals.
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The bikers were often 'kamikaze thrill seekers' rather than quiet rural riders, and given the enormous increase in accidents on hillsides should be wearing body armour. They did note however that in mountain biking the wearing of protective helmets was the rule rather than exception, due to a culture where "fashion and safety walk hand in hand".

The researchers noted that "Off-road cycling involves travelling at speed down steep, often unpredictable inclines and narrow tracks...It is the excitement of this unpredictable and dangerous challenge that motivates participants...and it is not surprising that riders frequently fall."

"Many participants are using off-road trails in the belief they are safer...while roads have ceased to be a cyclist-friendly environment - rather a place to inhale exhaust fumes and put themselves at the mercy of other road users."

The average age of bikers in the survey was 22, with 75% male. Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to potentially fatal damage, including a neck injury, air and blood trapped in the lungs and loss of a kidney.

[We found this story at Guardian Unlimited]

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