4 Ways to Stay Safe While Mountain Biking

Navigating through hills, valleys and bushes on a bike is quite thrilling. This is because it gives you an opportunity to reach places that can’t be accessed using a vehicle. In fact, it’s a memorable experience that brings you closer to nature. During the ride, you get to see rare species of plants and animals, lakes, rivers and caves among other interesting features that are found in the wilderness. The other advantage is that you also burn thousands of calories, which in return, helps you remain in good health. Although mountain biking is an interesting activity, there are some bikers that go through nasty experiences when they are out in the woods. There have been many cases of bikers that went missing, got severely injured while others got stranded due to their bike’s mechanical problems. Unfortunately, majority of them don’t live to tell the tales that they encountered.

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1. Get the Best Pedals

Mountain biking transforms you into an explorer and there is no way you can succeed in such quests with a bike that’s not fitted with the right pair of pedals. As a mountain biker, you should avoid using ordinary pedals. This is because they can’t withstand the extreme conditions that await you on the mountains. In fact, exploring hills and valleys is not a smooth ride. You will actually bump into rocks, trees and other hard surfaces that are capable of damaging your pedals. Keep in mind that you can’t ride your bike once the pedals are worn out. Such woes can be avoided by investing in mtb pedals. These pedals are lightweight, durable and come with studs that offer a firm grip when you step on them with your feet. Their durability is guaranteed by the fact that they are constructed from aluminum material, meaning they can’t rust after they have been exposed to moisture.

2. Wear a Helmet

Most riders tend to underestimate the importance of a helmet when they are setting out on a nature trail. A helmet is actually meant to be a life saver. If you crash without it, your chances of surviving from the accident are very slim. You should therefore ensure that you wear it throughout the ride. In fact, a helmet is designed to absorb all the impact that’s directed towards your head during an accident. The problem with most riders is that they don’t wear it all the time. Some argue that it makes them sweat. The good thing is that sweating can be countered by getting a helmet that is well ventilated and one that is not too tight. This allows air to circulate in and out of the helmet.

3. Enhance your Vision and Visibility

At times you might be tempted to go far from your home. This means that you will return home at the fall of darkness. It’s therefore advisable you mount a light both at the front and at the rear of the bike. This will make it easier for you to see where you are going and avoid deviating from the main path or hitting things that might be in front of you. You should also wear a reflector jacket because it will make you to be easily spotted by other people, especially motorists. There are actually many bikers that have been hit by cars in the past simply because they were not wearing a jacket. And that’s not all. You should ensure you have a full body armor that includes knee and elbow pads and gloves.

4. Know where you are Going

Getting lost is inevitable when you don’t know where you are going. However, this doesn’t mean that you should only go to places you are familiar with. Exploring unfamiliar places is nowadays easier thanks to the invention of Google maps. You can therefore study your destination before setting out. This will help you understand what to expect once you reach there and the routes to use when entering and exiting the area. It’s also important you inform a few of your friends about your trip so that they can know where to start in case the unexpected happens.