Rescuers at the scene of a mountain bike crash
Rescuers are urging mountain bikers to be aware of the dangers of their sport after a significant increase in callouts to accidents involving off-road cyclists in recent years.
Three mountain bikers have died in accidents in the past 12 months and the last seven years have seen 10 fatalities.
Mountain rescuers are often called out to deal with accidents involving those on two wheels.
The umbrella body for teams in England and Wales said it was not trying to discourage people from mountain biking, but wants them to be aware of the hazards.
Ged Feeney, statistics officer for Mountain Rescue England and Wales, said: “The number of accidents requiring rescue team help has seen a rapid increase over the last seven years, and we know that these are probably only the tip of the iceberg of actual falls and injuries.
“There is little doubt that this is principally due to the increased popularity of the sport and the number of participants.”
The organisation has released statistics on the rise of callouts to mountain bikers, which shows a steady rise in incidents in the last 13 years, with the frequency markedly increasing in the past three years.
“Our briefing note aims to raise awareness so that participants, and those looking after dedicated cycling trails and popular routes, can take steps to reduce the likelihood of future accidents, he said.
The briefing note and statistical data were pulled together at the request of Phil O’Brien of the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team. “We have an area called Gisburn Forest in Lancashire that over the last few years has seen a massive increase in MTB activity,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It now has its own cafe, skills area and trails and attracts a lot of visitors. This has corresponded to an increase in callouts.
“One of the common injuries we see is lower leg injuries where bikers have come off on boardwalks, which often results in a broken ankle or broken leg or both.”
Another popular area for mountain bikers and a hotspot for rescue callouts is Guisborough Forest in the Cleveland MRT’s area. “The forest can see a dozen or so call outs in a year,” said Gari Finch of the team, “and the combination of long downhill stretches, trees and speed can create all sorts of problems.
“Some of the injuries we have seen are very serious and life-changing.”
Mr O’Brien said: “Wearing protective head gear and having good skills is an absolute must.”
“Our main concern is that there have been three fatalities in the past 12 months and mountain bikers need to be aware of this and plan to reduce the risks to life and limb.”
MREW said that, while travelling at speed and with the body moving head-first, a fall stands a greater likelihood of having life-changing consequences. This has been noted particularly in the frequency of upper body injury.
Many boardwalks are covered with chicken wire. Rescuers said in wet or frosty conditions, it greatly increases the traction, especially when travelling at speed. “However, there are many boardwalks that are not finished in this way,” a spokesperson said. “The build-up of moss and slime, as well as mud, can leave the surface with very little traction.”
John Graham, 59, of Silloth, Cumbria, died while biking on Lonscale Fell last September. In July, Gordon Moss, 54, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, died in a fall on Laddow Rocks on Black Hill in the Peak District.
Sheepy
13 February 2014And..........no doubt i'm going to be abused by Lycra louts, use tracks, green lanes and bridleways not footpaths that will be inherently more dangerous as they are not designed to have people hurtling down them at great speeds on bikes.
Biker
13 February 2014It's a shame none of the statistical data is included in this report. What percentage of the teams call outs are to mountain bikers, as opposed to other outdoor activities, or other call outs?
bert
14 February 2014Horse riders.
Parky
14 February 2014Yes, and out of those statistics it would be interesting to see how many mountain bikers were on footpaths or CRoW land which did not give them lawful access?
Timbo
14 February 2014Lawful Access? No one takes any notice of that any more. People just go where they like as in Scotland, time access laws were changed to reflect the reality on the ground.
Paul Harrison
14 February 2014Appalling journalism - the number of MTB'ers suffering serious or life changing injury is a tiny percentage of those participating in the sport.
What about the health benefits that increased participation has seen?
What about the economic benefits that surrounding areas have seen due to MTB'ers travelling to the area?
How does MTB compare to other sports? Including ROAD cycling which is inherently more dangerous.
Where is the practical advice? Wearing of helmets and pads? Joining a club to ride with experienced riders who can offer advice and increase safety?
Shocking article.
Ben
14 February 2014Who mentioned footpaths? Seems that the article is discussing incidents at dedicated trail centres. Anyway, in my local area there are a lot of bridleways with poor surfaces that you wouldn't want to walk on, equally there are footpaths with good surfaces perfectly suited to cycling. Common sense and route selection appropriate to prevailing ground conditions is what's required to minimise impact on fragile surfaces. Additionally, what difference does it make where the incidents took place, whether on a footpath or not, the fact of the matter is, someone was injured and they needed assistance. Unless Parky is suggesting the MRT shouldn't respond to call outs for mountainbikers unless they are on a route where cycling is legally permitted?
Johnny
14 February 2014"use tracks, green lanes and bridleways not footpaths that will be inherently more dangerous as they are not designed to have people hurtling down them at great speeds on bikes."
No public rights of access are designed for that. Most of them are not 'designed' at all, but formalised. A few get resurfaced by local authorities etc.
The trails mentioned by the interviewee in Gisburn are custom built mtb trails... though there have been accidents from walkers walking up them despite signs saying not to.
Just saying.
Sheepy
14 February 2014Prime example Johnny. Last year 2 mountain bikers racing along Penine Way from Stoodley Pike. They made no attempt to slow down and my wife and I had to literally jump off the footpath. The bikers then reached steps over a wall and had to lift their bikes over it, one of them was a woman and she really struggled. A lot of money has recently been spent on designing and improving the surface of the Pennine Bridleway, yet they didn't want to use that.
I often see them on paths in the lakes that are just that, paths. A human foot moving at slow speed is much more nimble and agile than a bike moving at a relatively high speed. To suddenly come across a hole or a big rock or even god forbid a walker etc gives you no time to react and thus an accident is likely to occur. Many of the tracks I'm talking about have been used for many years by horses, horses with carts and in some cases vehicles. The chances of meeting an unexpected obstacle is much less. Whilst paths have not been designed they have formed through use by foot traffic.
Margaret
14 February 2014If the facilities for bicycles at Gisburn Forest are commercial, then perhaps those commercial interests should be providing any rescue service that's needed. A bit like ski areas.
Nick
14 February 2014http://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/information-centre/incident-statistics
Parky
14 February 2014So, Timbo, we change the current bye-laws to accommodate the militant MTB'ers who blatantly disregard any kind of managed access.
Sheepy, you described perfectly a typical situation which happens during my work as a part-time Peak Park ranger and I do get fed up of the hostile attitude shown when trying to give friendly advice.
Paul, an article is usually written to stimulate thought or debate. What was written was really a news report, probably based on a press release. It simply stated that there had been a significant increase in MTB accidents in areas covered by MREW. I thought it non-judgemental with no bias either way. To call it 'shockng' and 'appalling' is a bit hysterical. Sure there are positives to MTB activity but there are downsides as well. Irresponsible parking in my village and washing down gear in the middle of footpaths to name but two. I could go on about the daft clothing but I won't.
Sadly, I don't expect any sympathy or support to this post.
Evo
15 February 2014Nowt to do with being Militant. 'Improvements to Pennine Bridleway'? Says who? Proper mountain bikers want it as rough as possible not sanitised pram path like. We know the risk's. To risk is to be human!
Parky - with an attitude like that I'd suggest you are in the wrong job, regardless of whether it is voluntary or paid. Hopefully I will come across you on the trails!
Evo
15 February 2014Sheepy - I have an email from the Lakes park authority to say they are ok with mountain bikers on the footpaths - so long as they are respectful/mindful of other users :)
Biker
15 February 2014The article above is the second such anti gisburn biking from an anti biking person in the mountain rescue, gisburn is a purpose built bike trail, but still walkers insist the have a. Right to walk those trails even thought the signs dictate other wise. The point is again they single out mountain biking, without giving the percentage of riders they are called out to compared to how many riders ride there each month. The bike trails are free of charge to ride, only parking is paid for at gisburn.
Parky
15 February 2014Evo - thank you. Your last sentence illustrates perfectly the point I was making about the hostile attitude shown by some (but not all) MTB'ers.
Biker
16 February 2014Parky same attitude as can be shown by walkers (but not all), When you try to warn them of the danger of walking on a dedicated cycle path, so it's not just mtb'ers who can have a bad attitude.. And you should judge each person on their own stengt and weaknesses
Parky
16 February 2014I totally agree Biker. As for bad attitudes shown by walkers then you may recall the televised exchange between local villagers (some but not all) and a couple of trailriders legally using a bye-way in the Peak District duriing a programme about the park. The locals looked total pillocks with their high viz jackets and clipboards when berating the riders so I apologise for having a pop at the clothing worn by MTB'ers. It's a pity we're having this debate as there is room for all interests really.
Margaret
16 February 2014Biker, if as you correctly say it's dangerous and inconsiderate for walkers to use dedicated bike trails then, as all bikers are not considerate with their use of mountain paths and tracks, would you agree that it is not appropriate for bikers to use those paths in the way they use dedicated bike trails?
Grizzly Adams
17 February 2014As a resident of an area where there are a lot of MTB riders using the roads, never mind the paths, can I respectfully ask groups to:
1. Not ride in anything other than single file
2. Leave space for cars to overtake and "pick off" overtakes in ones and two's
3. Respect the people that live here and remember not everyone makes a living from tourism, some of us were born here. Also understand that your pleasure days could well be my work days.
4. I have a fair bit of experience of rescuing MTB riders - I have no major issue with that, so long as normal precautions are taken - accidents happen. I do however think some of the boarded areas need more thought as to how to maintain the coefficient of friction - it's very frustrating landing on your behind while carrying a stretcher with a bloke who's just fallen off on the same boardwalk!
tigger
25 February 2014Some one asked for some stats. I'm a member of Peak District mountain rescue team our mb call outs are between 25 and 30 %
I regularly have cheery chats with mbers (I was one once) what always strikes me is lack of emergency kit when going on a high level route. No decent map or bivvy bag. No spare clothing etc
Crashing your bike is unlikely to kill you but hypothermia might....