Mountain biking is one of the most popular outdoor sports. It is adventurous and helps you improve your physical and mental health as well. But many people consider it dangerous.
Therefore, in this guide, I will explain you, is mountain biking dangerous? If yes, then why? And how much is it compared to other sports? And what safety precautions can you take to safeguard yourself?
We will discuss everything practically: all of MTB risks, benefits, safety measures, mistakes & factors that make mountain biking dangerous.
Mountain Biking and Some of the Challenges
Mountain biking is completely the same as road biking/cycling, but we use mountain bikes for off-roading. And you have to ride a mountain bike on various trails and methods, such as:
- Cross-country (XC): Good for longer rides
- Downhill (DH): It mostly focuses on rapid descent over technical, often steep trails
- Enduro: It includes both climbing and downhill. It is good to check your skills and be more adventurous.
- Freeride: You’ve got to perform some tricks to navigate obstacles creatively and funnily. And it’s a bit risky too. Depends on how you tackle it.
These are methods by which you will ride your mountain bike, so you can see it’s more physically and mentally challenging than simple road biking.
Because road biking is on a flat road while mountain biking is not.
You will need strong cardiovascular endurance, balance, agility, and mental toughness.
Some Risks of Mountain Biking
Now, have a look at some risks of mountain biking, which makes people think mountain biking is dangerous.
Common Injuries:
During mountain biking, if you fall, you can have bruises, lacerations, fractures, especially in upper limbs, and even consequences.
These are some common mountain biking injuries that happen to most bikers, particularly aggressive bikers who love riding bikes at speed on difficult MTB trails.
Although these are minor injuries, they can become major, too. However, it also depends on how badly you crashed,
Environmental Hazards:
The environment is one of the things that makes biking hard for mountain bikers because you will ride on uneven surfaces like loose rocks, roots, etc., which may cause you to fall.
These weather conditions, like extreme heat or rain, can also increase risk chances, but you shouldn’t be afraid of this because when you are leaving home to bike, you want to check the weather conditions.
Riding in remote locations can also be a bit dangerous, especially if it involves wildlife, where you may even encounter a bear, snakes, etc.
I have seen two guys encountering a giraffe, so it can also be risky, but there are some precautions that you can take, like making a loud voice to keep them away or using a spray. However, you must follow safety tips for remote mountain biking.
Equipment Failure:
Compared to regular cycles, MTB has more mechanical components like brakes, tires, suspension, etc.
So, if you are not able to maintain them or they are not working properly, they can also cause an accident.
That’s why regular MTB maintenance at home is important for everyone. Ensure a safe ride; otherwise, it can lead to a big risk.
Most importantly, being a regular mountain biker, you want to learn new things… like mountain bike chain maintenance and how to fix your bike’s flat tire.
Human Error:
Most accidents during mountain biking are the result of overconfidence, inexperience, poor judgment, etc.
Because I have seen many newbies who do not have patience, and they try to tackle advanced trials. This causes injuries, and in some cases, it can be very serious.
So this is the biker’s fault. Being a biker, you don’t want to take any risks. You want to progress gradually.
If you are not patient, then, of course, mountain biking will prove to be dangerous.
What the Data Says?
According to a study conducted in the Austrian Alps over a 16-year period, the study recorded around 97 fatalities among recreational mountain bikers, and most of these deaths were non-traumatic and were linked to cardiovascular events.
However, I personally think the number of deaths from mountain biking is relatively low compared to its popularity, and many of these accidents are not recorded properly.
However, don’t be afraid; they are rare. And if we talk about the mountain biking deaths per year, so here is the data:
- The Austrian Alps estimated a mortality rate of 0.0002% or 2 out of every 1 million mountain bikers. Source: National Library of Medicine
- In 2022, preventable bicycle-related deaths increased by 10%, with a 47% rise over the last decade (from 925 in 2013 to 1,360 in 2022), while nonfatal injuries declined by 32% in the same period. Source: National Safety Council.
Factors That Influence MTB Danger
Now, let’s look at the four most common factors that make mountain biking dangerous.
- Skill Level: Beginners are more prone to accidents because they don’t have enough skills, while advanced bikers have better techniques and risk assessments.
- Trail Difficulty: Mountain biking trails are rated by difficulty. The green one is easy. The blue is for intermediate, and the black is for more advanced riders. So, if a beginner rider who should ride on a green-signed trail is riding on a signed trail, the risk chances will be higher.
- Riding Style: If you ride aggressively, like too fast on downhill trails, injury chances will be very, very high. Especially if you are a beginner and trying to ride like a pro, then I personally feel 100% you will fall because it happened to me as well.
- Location: Riding in a remote area or on poorly maintained trails can also delay emergency assistance if you’re seriously injured, so it can be dangerous to ride a bike.
Safety Measures to Reduce Risk
Mountain biking won’t be dangerous if you take some safety measures. Here are some that you can follow. Do you use a vehicle? Risk chances.
Proper Gear:
Whenever you are going for a ride, you always want to wear essential protective mountain biking gear, such as a well-fitting helmet (for downhill, you should consider wearing a full-face helmet. Otherwise, a half-shell is okay, too).
Plus, you want to have elbow pads, knee guards, etc. Most importantly, you should remember that all these gears should fit your body parts well.
Skill Development:
You must develop essential mountain biking skills for beginners, or you can simply follow a 4-week training plan for mountain bikers to develop your skills and techniques and boost your confidence.
I believe if you spend some time learning these things, mountain biking won’t remain an extreme sport for you.
Trail Awareness: There are around 27 mountain bike trails in the United States. You can also find a local trail near you.
But you always want to check the weather before going on a trail.
Plus, you want to ensure that the trail is well-maintained and suited to your skill and experience level. If you are a beginner, it should have a green sign.
Riding with Others: Being a new biker, it is good to ride in a group, and you can visit a family-friendly mountain bike trail with your family members or your friends.
But if you do not have anyone to ride with you, then you can visit Sedona Mountain Bike Trail Networks, where they organize a group ride for all bikers.
However, when you are riding with group members, you will progress faster than riding alone. Plus, the chances of injury will reduce, and you will be more confident.
But don’t forget to follow basic trail etiquette when riding with your group members.
Emergency Preparedness:
When visiting a mountain bike trail that is located in a remote area or is advanced, you want to be prepared for an emergency.
You can have a first aid kit or communication device, or you can also inform others of your expected return time so that in case you do not return on time, they can search for you or try to contact you.
Benefits of Mountain Biking
So now you know that mountain biking includes some risks, and it can become dangerous.
But if you follow some safety measures, you will surely reduce all risk chances like getting injured, etc.
However, despite being risky or so-called dangerous sports, it also has some benefits, which I recommend you do mountain biking.
- Physical Health: One of the prime benefits is that if you ride a mountain bike for 30 minutes every day, you can actually improve your cardiovascular fitness strength, and improve your endurance. And it’s not just the case of biking; it’s actually the same with cycling, so they’re good for your overall health.
- Mental Health: Mountain biking is not just good for your physical health; it is also good for your mental health as it can reduce your stress and anxiety and boost your mood. When you ride a bike, you will engage with nature and have beautiful surroundings. However, you can visit any scenic mountain trails to give you a more mind-refreshing experience.
- Community and Social Connections: Biking will also help you feel like a part of the community, especially when you join group rides, clubs, and events. But how will you do that? Well, you can visit the Sedona Mountain Bike Trail network or any trail organization, join local Facebook groups, or simply your friend circle.
- Environmental Awareness: Being a biker, you will spend more time with nature, so automatically, you will be more aware of wildlife, creatures, and microorganisms. And that is possible when you are interested in that too. But yeah, it’s true that biking brings you closer to nature.
How dangerous is mountain biking compared to other sports?
Look at this chart to determine if mountain biking is an extreme sport:
| Sport | Injury Rate (per 1,000 participants) | Fatalities (per year) | Common Injuries | Risk Factors |
| Mountain Biking | 16.8 | ~20-30 (estimated) | Fractures, concussions, abrasions, shoulder dislocations, knee injuries | Rough terrain, high speeds, obstacles, lack of protective gear |
| Skiing | 2.5-4 | ~40-50 | Knee injuries (ACL/MCL tears), fractures, head injuries, wrist sprains | High speeds, icy conditions, collisions, falls |
| Dirt Biking | 25-30 | ~100-150 | Fractures, spinal injuries, head trauma, internal injuries | High speeds, jumps, rough terrain, mechanical failures |
| Horse Riding | 5-7 | ~100 | Head injuries, fractures, spinal injuries, soft tissue injuries | Unpredictable animal behavior, falls, kicks |
| Road Bikin | 1.5- | ~700-800 | Road rash, fractures, head injuries, collisions with vehicles | Traffic, high speeds, poor road conditions, lack of visibility |
Note: This Data is sourced from reputable organizations like the CDC, National Safety Council, American Journal of Sports Medicine, IMBA, NSAA, CPSC, FEI, and NHTSA. So, Injury rates, fatalities, and risk factors are based on studies and reports up to 2023. For latest updates, refer to official sources.
Now, from my perspective, let’s compare how dangerous mountain biking is compared to other sports like Skiing, Rock Climbing, or simple road cycling.
Most people have asked me, Is mountain biking more dangerous than skiing…
So, If we generally compare mountain biking with skiing, then yes, mountain biking is more dangerous because it involves more technical challenges than skiing.
On the other hand, most people do not neglect to wear proper clothes, shoes, helmets, etc., during skiing, even if they fall, so it doesn’t cause such serious injury as mountain biking.
While many people neglect to wear proper gear for mountain biking, I’ve seen that most people wear helmets, and some don’t even wear them.
But many bikers do not wear other things, especially intermediate bikers; they don’t wear gloves, knee or elbow pads, etc.
Now, because most people neglect proper gear, biking includes more technical challenges, and it’s more dangerous than skiing.
My Personal Experience & Opinion Regarding Mountain Bike Dangerous
Suppose that mountain biking is dangerous. Then ask yourself, which sports isn’t not dangerous?
Can you think about that for a second?
I believe everything is dangerous.
But Why?
Just look at the football. Does it include a risk or not? For many people, it doesn’t.
But from my perspective, yes, it does include some risk.
There are risks when you are not wearing a shin guard and an opposing footballer or the defender is trying to take the ball from you.
If he hits your legs, then you will get injured, maybe bruises or serious (depends how hard you got hit.
Or if you did not properly warm up before playing football, chances are high that your body will be cramped.
Or if you are a goalkeeper in a football match, you are not wearing gloves. So, chances are high that your hand might be fractured if the striker hits the ball harder.
And you try to stop it without gloves and without proper techniques.
So, these same things apply to mountain biking, too. When you do not follow the right techniques, when you do not wear proper gloves, and when you try to do something that you can’t handle, then, of course, it will be dangerous.
Everything will be dangerous. I just gave you the example of football, but it is the same with everything.
Let’s say cricket; if you are not wearing a helmet, thigh guard, elbow pad, etc., the chances are high that the bowler will hit you, especially if it is the faster one.
Even if you are driving a car, the brakes aren’t working properly. And if you don’t know traffic rules, don’t even know how to drive a car properly, then driving will also be dangerous.
So it’s totally up to you! If you learn first, then ride properly, and progress gradually, then it’s not dangerous. Otherwise, it is.
Conclusion
Overall, mountain biking is not dangerous. If you have developed proper skills, ride your bike where you should ride; as a beginner, you need to ride on beginner-friendly trails and wear proper gear like a helmet.
But, it is dangerous when you too quickly start riding out of your comfort zone.
For example, as a beginner, if you ride on pro-level trails, it can be dangerous. If you are riding without wearing gear or not doing proper warm-up, it will be dangerous.
So, you want to wear helmets and gloves, choose the right trails, etc. If you do so, you can enjoy this beautiful adventure of sports. It’s not risky at all.
