Mountain Biking Fitness
Most Common Mountain Biking Injuries and How To Avoid Them
Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. In can be used both as part of a fitness regime, commuting to work, in competitive sports, or just as a bit of fun. However, anyone who has ridden their bike for any great length of time or at high intensity will be only too aware that pains and strains can creep in if you are not careful. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.
Wrist Problems. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured. A good way to avoid this is have decent suspension on the bike to absorb a lot of the pressure, or alternatively find a bike that is made out of impact absorbing material such as the Trek Madone.
Backside Pain. This problem can range from a mild discomfort to full blown muscle inflammation and damage, and is often seen in long distance riders. It can actually become quite serious if left untreated and if you want ensure that you can still have children, it’s worth taking precautions. If you are going to buy a new saddle it is well worth testing it out extensively and giving it a few miles worth of use, as sometimes saddles can start off comfortable, but cause problems after a while. You can also purchase specialised cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.
Knee Injury. Another issue faced by lots of riders is pain in the knees, which they often experience after a long cycle. Your riding position and bike set up does influence the amount of strain on the knees, but more often than not the quality of the bike contributes quite a lot. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as Pinarello frames which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.
Cross Country Mountain biking the saber fitness experience
