By David Faulkner

There is no such thing as a completely safe sport. Even the most gifted athletes can have something unexpected happen and have their careers ruined in an instant. And, while mountain biking is certainly one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities, it is also one of the most dangerous. Anyone thinking about taking up mountain biking will benefit from some basic mountain biking safety tips.

The single most important of the mountain biking safety tips is that you need to have adequate mountain biking gear, from your helmet down to the tires on your bike. Buy the correct gear, and then keep it in proper working order. And make sure your gear is up to the terrain on which you will be biking. Bikes are designed specifically to handle certain types of terrain, and you will be sorry if you ask something of your bike that it isn’t built to provide.

The second of the mountain biking safety tips is to ride only the trails with which you are familiar; if you want to try a new trail only do it with someone else who knows it well. Wait until you’ve tackled it a couple of times with company before trying it on your own.

Staying In Control Of Your Bike

Another of the more essential mountain biking safety tips is that you need to learn to control your speed. Find an average speed at which you are comfortable, and which will allow you to keep control of your bike even when you’re confronted with an unforeseen obstacle or a change in the condition of the trail.

Maintaining control of your bike at all times is the last of the absolutely critical mountain biking safety tips. Many bikers, especially those who have been at it for a while, get lazy when they are out on the trails and let their attention wander. It is almost as if they are letting the bikes do the thinking while they are just along for the ride. They will usually end up going too fast, because of their misguided confidence in themselves and their bikes. By doing so, they are asking to be involved in crashes, and unfortunately may involve other riders as well.

If you find yourself out on an unfamiliar trail, there is no need to try to master it in one ride. You can always walk you bike over the more difficult sections until you know you can handle their terrain, and dismount at blind corners if necessary. At the very least, decrease your speed. It’s the only way you can be certain that anyone out of sight around the bend will not plow right in to you.

Always ride within yourself. Master one type of terrain before moving on to the next, and allow your biking skills to mature naturally. Nothing will end your mountain biking career more quickly than wiping out on a trail you weren’t ready for and seriously injuring yourself.

Most mountain bikers will agree that the risks of mountain biking are nothing compared to its rewards, but you must promise yourself that when you feel the adrenaline pumping, you won’t respond by taking unnecessary chances. Elevated adrenaline is to be expected in a sport as thrilling as mountain biking. Thrills are great; the spills brought about by not following any mountain biking safety tips while chasing those thrills are what you want to avoid.

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Source: Cool Biking Zone