Mountain biking called a "contact sport"
Mike Vandeman
Subject: Mountain biking called a "contact sport"
Here is a great article (following) about how dangerous mountain
biking is. People really need to read this article. Really read it for
its truthful content about common mountain biking injuries, and think
twice about whether to send their little rugrats to mountain bike camp
this summer. Sadly, there is a mountain bike fest this weekend after a
week of heavy rains (June 3-5):
http://blog.mec.ca/events/mec-bikefest/mec-bikefest-north-vancouver/
partnering together with the NSMBA's "Return of the Ripper" event the
same time:
http://www.northshorebikefest.com/
Double the insanity! This is what happens when you have a "mountain
bike loving" Mayor and Council.
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“You have to realize this (mtbing) is a contact sport..." (with
rocks, roots, trees...maybe..?)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/northshoreoutlook/sports/122966033.html
A good time for a ride
North Van's Jaclyn Delacroix at her favourite shop, Different
Bikes.Delacroix, a personal trainer, broke her ribs and suffered a
collapsed lung after falling from her mountain bike last year. Still
an avid mountain biker, Delacroix says those interested in riding
should invest in a quality bike before tackling any of the North
Shore's trails.
Sean Kolenko photo
By Sean Kolenko - North Shore Outlook
Published: June 01, 2011 12:00 PM
Updated: June 01, 2011 12:39 PM
North Vancouver’s Jaclyn Delacroix considers herself one part
mountain lover and one part thrill seeker. So, she says, learning to
mountain bike was something she “just had to do.â€
A self-proclaimed “quick study,†Delacroix had a friend who was
willing to show her the ropes, and she took to the sport right away.
But while out riding on Cypress Mountain about a year ago, Delacroix
came face to face with a formidable opponent: a jump.
It was jump not unlike the multitude of jumps she had conquered in the
past. But this time, Delacroix came down a bit too “nose heavyâ€
and was thrown from her bike. There was a nasty rock in the landing
zone and she landed against it, shattering her ribs and collapsing her
lung. She managed to get up and let out a “yes,†signalling to her
friends she was conscious, before falling back down.
“I think a lot more now. I think I was a little reckless before,â€
says Delacroix.
“But the way I injured myself wasn’t too common. I have friends
who have never sustained injuries doing the same thing. It’s all
about how far you push yourself and knowing when to walk away. About
95 per cent of mountain biking is pretty safe.â€
June is Bike Month in B.C. and this year’s theme is bike safety.
While the province-wide initiative encompasses all forms of cycling,
mountain biking holds a prominent place in North Shore bike culture.
Those looking to get into the sport, says Mark Wood, need to
understand a few basic rules before heading on to the trails. Wood,
the trail adoption plan director for the North Shore Mountain Bike
Association, says the first step for seasoned and aspiring mountain
bikers is the proper safety equipment elbow pads, knee pads and
helmets as welwell as a yearly bike tune-up.
“You should take your bike into a shop, ensure it is in good
condition,†says Wood.
“You should have the tightness of bolts tested, have the frame
inspected for cracks and failures,†says Wood.
When purchasing a bike, adds Wood, it is important to ensure one’s
desired bike is adequate for the trails on the North Shore. Such a
focus may result in a more expensive bike purchase, but Wood says the
majority of local trails aren’t easy and if one considers only their
budget it could “get them in trouble.â€
For the novice rider, Wood recommends starting off on the District of
North Vancouver-sanctioned Bobsled Trail. Opened last year, the 900-
metre trail is geared toward beginner and intermediate bikers. For
those looking for something a little more challenging, Wood says the
Bridal Path trail offers an adequate step up for those becoming more
comfortable in the North Shore mountains.
“The Bobsled is a great beginner trail and the Bridal Path can get a
bit more tricky,†says Wood.
“And either way, you get to experience something you don’t always
get to experience in your day to day. You’re getting healthy and fit
and having fun with friends.â€
But as Delacroix is a testament to, wheeled fun in the mountains may
lead to injury. Physiotherapist and avid mountain biker Derrick Kyle
grew up riding local trails and says a regular injury sustained on
North Shore trails is fractured collarbones.
Because North Shore trails are more terrain-based and less geared to
higher jumps like the bike park in Whistler, Kyle says local riders
tend to go over the handlebars and land on their shoulders; Whistler
bikers tend to sustain neck injuries because of the higher elevations
they often fall from.
At the beginning of each bike season, regardless of one’s
experience, Kyle says every rider needs to start at “square one.â€
“You have to be aware of your ability level and build yourself up
methodically,†says Kyle.
“But you have to build your base over and over again and prove to
yourself you have the ability you showed the season before.â€
Recovery time, adds Kyle, is always injury specific. A soft tissue
injury muscle or tendon issues, for example can put a rideider on
the shelf for six to eight weeks while a dislocated shoulder could be
season-ending.
Kyle, like the NSMBA’s Wood, is a strong proponent of proper safety
equipment, but warns against parents buying their kids equipment “to
grow into.†For instance, Kyle says properly fitting helmets are of
the utmost importance because oversized helmets can promote injuries.
A rider’s head, Kyle adds, can move around inside the helmet and
result in an injury.
“You have to realize this is a contact sport and outfit your kid
appropriately,†says Kyle.
“You have to expect to fall and dress appropriately. This is not a
cheap entry sport for kids.â€