Mudguards are essential in mountain bike races, otherwise the rider will be wet and covered with moisture. Install a mudguard on your e bike down hill for a dry and comfortable ride. It keeps the bike and rider clean even through muddy trails.
- Part 1: General Description of Mountain Bike Riding
- Part 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Mountain Bike Riding
- Part 3: Cautions for Mountain Biking
Part 1: General Description of Mountain Bike Riding
This is a sport that entails participants riding a mountain bike on off-road terrains. It is a highly intensive sport activity. Commonly used off-road terrains include mountains as well as deserts. The sport has different categories. They include Cross Country Mountain Biking, Short Track Cross Country Mountain Biking, Downhill Mountain Biking, Dual Slalom Mountain Biking, Enduro, Four Cross, as well as observed trials.
Mountain bike riders usually go along with tools for quick repairs just in case their bike gets faulty, or they have a flat tire. Mountain bike riding is a sport that requires a great deal of endurance and the ability to rely on oneself.
The sport takes its origin in California in the 1970s. At that time, it was not yet a national sport. It soon picked up popularity and drew the attention of the media. Organized competitions started out as e downhiller mountain bike races. The first National Mountain Biking Championship took place in 1983 in the United States.
Mountain bike riding made its first entrance into Olympics during the Atlanta games via the category of Cross Country Mountain Biking. It featured a male event and a female event.
Part 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Mountain Bike Riding
Advantages
Avenue to Explore
For lovers of adventure, mountain bike riding is the ideal sport. It gives thrill-seekers the physical and mental challenges they crave. This is one major reason to participate in the sport. Trying out a new trail is exciting. What’s also unique about mountain biking is its inclusiveness. It welcomes all age groups as well as all levels of expertise.
Improved Sleep Quality
You sleep much better, making you more agile. Riding an e bike down hill will surely calm you down. This will enhance the quality of your sleep. Mountain biking can make you feel tired and worn out immediately after the ride, but it ultimately leads to improved regenerative sleep when it is needed at night. The riding exercise decreases cortisol, a hormone that keeps us awake. Mountain biking, being an outdoor activity exposes you to daylight which helps raise the body’s production of vitamin D.
Help you to Connect to Nature
One of the benefits of mountain biking is that it helps you to connect with nature. According to studies, spending time with nature is advantageous to mental health and overall happiness. If you are looking to escape from the commotion of city life, spending time on biking trails is a great way to achieve that. Mountain biking gives the luxury of appreciating the natural world.
Mountain biking allows you to quickly get off the beaten path and enjoy the solitude and majesty of nature, improves relaxation, and generally reduces stress. Spending more time on your bike helps you to be greener and environmentally friendly.
Improved Balance and Coordination
Mountain biking is characterized by obstacles, sharp bends, high inclines, and steep slopes. This makes the rider naturally develop a sense of balance and coordination. Exposure to more and more obstacles along the trail improves coordination. Mountain biking requires you to use both your upper and lower body to control the bike, and it challenges your proprioception which is your ability to sense the position of your body in space.
Improving your balance helps to stay safe on trails and can also help reduce the risk of injuries on and off the bike. Balance training generally helps to improve coordination, therefore, making everyday activities easier, including the risk of falling as you grow older. Dh ebike MTB is great for balance improvement.
Development of Good Posture
Mountain biking also helps to develop good posture. The obstacles along the trails force the riders to learn how to position their body properly. Mountain bike riding is a way of exercising the back muscles. These strengthen the muscles.
Social Benefits
Healthy relationships and social interactions are very important for being happy and finding true meaning in life. Mountain biking is frequently a social activity shared by different clubs and groups who get to ride together. It provides the atmosphere to build interpersonal bonds and make new friends with people who enjoy the same activities you do.
Protection Against Disease
Mountain bike riding helps to prevent the occurrence of certain diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. Regular exercise boosts the immune system and keeps you healthy.
Mental Health Improvement
Generally, exercise is good for our mental health, but mountain biking is also suitable for mental health improvement. Studies have shown that exercise helps reverse low mood and depression. Mountain biking, being an aerobic exercise, helps reduce anxiety and depression. Individuals struggling with mental health issues might feel better when they spend time on biking trails.
Weight Loss and Healthy Weight Maintenance
According to Havard Health Publishing, biking at a moderate pace for 30minutes can burn 300 calories. However, the amount of calories burnt depends on one’s current weight, intensity level when biking, and the terrain one is riding on. If weight loss is the goal, mountain biking can help maintain a healthy weight. Obesity has been proven to be linked to a number of chronic health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health.
Disadvantages
Mountain bike riding has the following disadvantages:
Risk of Developing Head Trauma
This can occur when there is a crash. Mountain bikes possess no shield in case of impact and as such, increases the risk of head trauma if proper care is neglected. Head trauma can be fatal, and this is one of the fears hindering participation in the activity.
Development of Lower Back Pain
Excessive riding over time can result in the development of pain in the lower back. Riding without frequent breaks can lead to lower back problems due to the spine’s posture during riding. This can also affect daily activities if adequate measures are not implemented to check its occurrence.
Nerve Compression
Mountain bike riding with an e downhiller done without moderation can be hazardous to your health. It could lead to various health conditions. One of which is carpal tunnel syndrome which is due to the compression of the median nerve in the hands. This compression occurs as a result of frequent use of the muscles of the hand. It is best to take breaks between rides.
Exposure to the Elements
Mountain biking is a lot different from traveling in a car, as there is nothing there to protect you from inclement or unpleasant weather.
You can put on weather-appropriate clothing when you are mountain biking, but the weather changes frequently, and no matter how prepared you are, you may never get the protection and comfort that comes with being in a vehicle.
Injuries
Injuries such as skin abrasions, cuts, and scrapes are commonly associated with e downhill mountain bike riding. These injuries affect the tender, protective tissues in the uppermost layers of the skin.
Mechanical Failure
The snapping of your rear gear cable mid-ride can leave you fumbling while on a ride downhill. Even the best dh e bike can let you down because there are several obstacles and riding conditions that make such occurrences inevitable.
Time Constraints
Riding a mountain bike can be pretty time-consuming, which can be an issue for some people. Especially when you want to go on an off-road hill ride, you may not find the time or company of people, and this reduces the fun.
Negative Competition
When using a mountain bike, people tend to get overwhelmed by serious competition and do not realize their initial intention of staying healthy when buying the bike. Then gradually stop using it and come back to their old unhealthy routine.
Addiction
Mountain bike riding can be addictive if not done in moderation. You actually become at risk of developing injuries when frequently riding without taking breaks. Addiction to mountain bike riding can affect the social well being of the rider because certain responsibilities might be neglected due to the constant drive to always feel the adrenaline rush that comes with riding on the trails.
Part 3: Cautions for Mountain Biking
Always Wear Your Helmet
This is important as it helps protect the head from trauma and reduces the fatality of mountain bike accidents. One thing you need to know about mountain biking safety is the importance of wearing a helmet. If you fall off your bike, crash or overestimate the height of a branch, your helmet will be the most important piece of gear since they reduce the risk of head injuries by almost 70%. Some brain injuries can be life-threatening. Therefore, you must do everything possible to curtail head trauma while mountain biking, beginning with wearing a helmet.
For your helmet to work effectively, you must ensure it fits properly. When wearing a well-fitting helmet, you should squeeze the tip of your index finger between your forehead and the helmet. Most helmets have an adjustable retention system that can be loosened and tightened using a knob behind. If you can adjust the helmet to sit squarely at the top of your head and not slide back, you have the right helmet size.
To ensure the helmet remains atop your head in case of a crash, make some adjustments on the chin strap. Pull the side straps upwards and tighten them just below the ear. The chin straps have to be slightly tight but not suffocating and shouldn’t sit too forward. A good chin strap placement test is for you to open your mouth. If you feel your helmet pull down while you open your mouth, then it is exactly where it needs to be.
Ride with Your Full Gear
In addition to always wearing a helmet while riding an e downhill mountain bike, there are some other items that are worth investing in, which include the proper riding apparel that best suits your riding needs, as well as safety gear and accessories. Regarding the appropriate mountain biking gear, the focus should be on safety and comfort, so use gears that will help keep your mind on your ride.
Mountain biking apparels are similar to other bicycle gears, but there are a few distinctions worth noting. Most mountain bikers wear two layers of shorts; the first layer is usually a pair of fitted, padded shorts, commonly called chamois or shammies, with a loose-fitting pair of thin cargo-like shorts on top. The padding in mountain biking shorts is generally lighter than in-road riding shammies because most biking time is generally spent upright and out of the saddle when taking on those mountain biking trails. Opting for e downhill mountain bike specific shoes with a hardened toe box is a good idea since smashing toes on rocks and roots is common. If you choose laced shoes, be sure to tuck in the laces to avoid getting them caught in the bike chain.
Safety gear, such as gloves, body armor, and knee and elbow pads, might be appropriate, depending on where you ride and the riding you do. This gear is designed to protect the most vulnerable areas of your body and can mean the difference between a bruise and a broken bone. While earbuds may seem like a logical addition to your gear bag, it’s worth reconsidering that you are increasing the chance of becoming involved in an accident by eliminating your sense of hearing.
Do Not Go on Terrains that Require a Much Higher Skill Than You Possess
When it comes to a section of trail you think is above your ability, listen to logic – not your buddies. Get off and walk that section. There is no shame in making responsible decisions – especially if it promotes your safety, as well as the safety of fellow mountain bikers. The more trail sections you walk, the better your skill recognition will become. Finally, you’ll find yourself riding all of those sections that were once off-limits.
Take Control of the Ride
Mountain biking on a dh e bike is an inherently dangerous sport with the distinct possibility of severe injuries or even worse. No matter where you ride or how well you know the trail, it would be best if you never rode beyond your skill level and always ride in control. Riding in control doesn’t just mean being able to stop. It also means having the required skills to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations on the trail. You must also be able to recognize where it is safe to stop on the trail. Avoiding accidents with other riders is an essential mountain biking skill. With speed being one of the most exhilarating aspects of mountain biking, it’s easy to find yourself traveling faster than you ever thought possible. Slow down when you approach blind ends, and before you embark on any trail, familiarize yourself with the course.
