Helmet use reduces the number of head injuries and deaths in riders of all age, but children under the age of 19 are injured or killed more often than other age groups, according to the Children's Safety Network as quoted on the Oct. 20, 2009, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute website. Statistics from 2000 indicate that 62.6 percent of bicycle-involved fatalities resulted from head injuries.
Components and Repair
ABC-of-mountainbiking.com lists 10 steps to prevent mountain bike injuries. One important step is making sure your bike is in good condition to avoid a break down. A failure as simple as a blown tube can leave you stranded in a hard-to-access area if you are not familiar with tire repair.
Hydration is Essential
Water is a key element to our bodies' survival and during mountain biking, water loss through perspiration can be severe. A hydration pack with the capacity to carry more water than you expect to use is crucial, according to startmountainbiking.com.
Know your Route
Another area of paramount importance pointed out on abc-of-mountainbiking.com is carrying a map, and even a compass, if you are not totally familiar with the area.
Physical Condition and Skills
Men's Health advises to "Respect your limits" and says that most accidents happen when a rider pushes beyond limits that his or her physical condition or level of bike skills would allow.
Article Written By David Sims
David Sims has been contributing articles to several venues since 2001. His work has been published in local papers such as The Ebbtide and South County Sun along with monthly newsletters for Central Basin Audubon Society. Sims also contributes trip reports and reviews to nextstop.com, singletracks.com, trails.com, examiner.com/albuquerque, hubpages.com and his own website.