Is Mountain Biking Dangerous? (And does it matter?)

Is mountain biking dangerous? That is the big question. 

The easy answer is YES. But it's worth it. The longer answer can depend...

My first jump

Is it really though?

The term mountain biking refers to a broad set of activities, some with more inherent risk.

For example, downhill mountain biking is riskier than pedaling your local crushed granite trail around the lake, and there's a wide spectrum in between. Since becoming a mountain biker myself, I've been surprised at the different conceptions people have of what the sport is. Learn more about types of mountain biking here.

I'm not sure where to get the objective data on this, but here is one summary from a study from National Library of Medicine, authored by Michael Carmont: “the incidence of injuries in mountain biking is comparable to that in other outdoor sports, the majority of injuries being minor. Mountain biking athletes were found to have an overall injury risk rate of 0.6% per year and 1 injury per 1000 h of biking.” (I'm guessing this doesn't apply to professional downhillers).

Anecdotal data tells a different tale. One of the more bizarre practices of mountain bikers is how much we love to watch ourselves crash. Pinkbike’s popular “Friday Fails” and endless posts of pro and peer athletes in hospital beds outfitted with careful screws and wires take up much of my mtb related scrolling on Instagram. Bonus if they are giving a thumbs up. Comments abound with healing vibes. 

How to avoid injury

Bicycling magazine discussed injury prevention methods such as strength workouts and other techniques. A valuable read! That said, unpopular opinion that you cannot really avoid injury completely. Besides the crash related injuries, I earned some lovely sciatica from (not sure where, but I think) watching too much TV at an angle on a stationary bike last season. Could have also just been the hours on a bike.

Stock photo of a leg injury so that I don't post my actual injuries and gross out fair readers

All of us have to grapple with the risk of leaving the house. I started mountain biking during COVID as a way to stay fit without running on a treadmill in a mask, and was immediately enamored. Due to my impatience to get good at riding, along with my new joy and excitement I quickly got scratched, bruised and limped in and out of doctor’s offices with swollen wrists or whiplash. And those are lucky – no broken bones. 

Risk and reward

Injuries seem to be a natural part of the process of learning how to be dynamic on the bike, increasing one’s ability to know exactly how to adapt to a constantly changing terrain in ever decreasing lengths of time.

The injuries healed. I get fewer now. I have also toned down the impatient risk-taking into a more steady experience of fun with a bit of thrill. I have attended clinics and coaching, and practiced the basics. I realized that riding is less fun and more dangerous when I’m trying to be anyone or anywhere else than the present.

Mountain biking for me is a steady rotation among scary challenges, mundane sessioning and a comfortable fitness routine. 

I’ve found the lessons in learning how to mountain bike without injury translate directly to life skills: look where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go; ride with commitment; keep a positive mindset; listen to yourself not your buddy or husband telling you it’s fine. That’s one of the revelations about the sport that I continue to re-experience.

All in all, while there are ways we can mitigate risk we have to embrace the chaos, and in doing so earn its rich rewards.