The increase of sports activities such as mountain biking or trail running in protected and classified areas is undeniable. Due to its diffuse and informal nature, monitoring the effects that they ...cause in these territories is difficult, therefore the study of its sports events can be a good opportunity to build a national image on these modalities in the view of future management. Through the systematization and subsequent georeferencing of 677 mountain bike events that took place in 2018 in Portugal, it was possible to identify some of its main characteristics. Competitive Marathons/Raids/Routes and non-competitive Tours are the submodalities or typologies that bring together the greatest offer and most participants. Its distribution is national and is characterized by having on average, although with a certain variability by typology, 1.5 courses, 50.6 km, and 228 participants. In seasonal terms, most events take place in the spring and autumn periods. Since 29.7% of the national territory is included in the national system of classified areas and 62.9% of the events take place in or near these, it is evident that these territories play an important role in the distribution of the offer, reinforcing the importance of this study.
As total joint arthroplasty (TJA) candidates become younger, patients’ expectations continue to expand. We surveyed our patient population to determine rates of return to cycling after TJA so that we ...could provide more accurate counseling on performance and safety.
At our single institution, an online survey was generated and sent out to patients who had at least 3 months of follow-up. Patients were split into 4 categories based on surgery type: single total hip arthroplasty (THA), single total knee arthroplasty (TKA), multiple TJA, and revision TJA.
A total of 1,029 surveys fit the inclusion criteria. The average age of the patient population was 69 years, with an average of 4.08 years from their time of most recent TJA surgery (maximum follow-up of 18.61 years). Nearly all those who were able to bike prior to surgery were able to return to cycling, with only 6% not being able to do so. There were 41.8% who returned to cycling less than 3 months after surgery. Most cyclists were able to return to their previous level. Patients who had a revision TJA had significantly lower rates of returning to cycling in comparison to single TKA, single THA, and multi-TJA (37.3%, 60.3%, 61.9%, and 60.3%, respectively, P < .005). Patients who never returned to cycling had higher revision rates in comparison to those who were able to get back on a bike (14.4 versus 9.2%, P = .01).
A large proportion of patients who had prior cycling experience were able to return to bike riding within 3 to 6 months after TJA. Individuals who had revision TJA had lower rates of return to cycling in comparison to single TKA, single THA, and multi-TJA. Returning to cycling did not result in higher rates of revision.
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•We calculate the erosion caused by tourists, in the Bucegi Mountains, Romania.•We used dendrogeomorphological approach and exposed roots.•Scars are indicators of frequent trampling ...of exposed roots by hikers and bikers.•Mean erosion rates ranged from 6.4 and 24.2 mm • y−1.•For the first time, erosion caused by biking activities was recognized in tree rots.
Mountain hiking and biking trails are important components of the tourism infrastructure, represent opportunities for recreation, and form a network that prevents uncontrolled tourist dispersion. The erosion processes accelerate under tourist impact in the forested mountains, revealing exposed roots.
The aim of our study was to estimate the mean erosion rates along two hiking trails and one mountain biking trail in the Bucegi Mountains, using dendrogeomorphological approaches.
The three trails used were: Sinaia town – Cota 1400 hiking trail (SHT), Sinaia biking trail (SBT), a downhill mountain biking trail and Buşteni town – Urlătoarea Waterfall hiking trail (UHT). The following results were obtained. The mean erosion rate along SHT was between 1.7 and 19.6 mm • y−1 with an average of 6.4 ± 4.6 mm • y−1, wherein half the cases showed an erosion rate between 1 and 5 mm • y−1. The mean erosion rate along SBT was between 2.6 and 49.4 mm • y−1, with an average of 24.2 ± 14.4 mm • y−1. Values between 1 and 20 mm • y−1 represent 41.9% and the remaining 58.1% comprise values between 20 and 40 mm • y−1 or even exceeding 40 mm • y−1. In the case of UHT, the mean erosion rate was between 3.5 and 36 mm • y−1, with an average of 14 ± 8.1 mm • y−1.
The differences in values between these three trails are represented in terms of trail usage time, type of use, hiking versus biking during the hot season, and the age of roots. Our study highlighted that the forested mountain environment is sensitive to tourist impact while also proving that the dendrogeomorphological approach is a useful tool for evaluating the mean erosion rates of trails based on the exposed roots.
•A backpack containing equipment necessary to record EEG was worn as participants rode a bicycle outside.•EEG data from an auditory oddball task compared with data acquired within-subject inside the ...lab.•Reliable MMN/N2b and P3 responses measured during bicycle riding outside equal in magnitude to those obtained inside the lab.•Surprising decrease in the P2 component of the ERP evoked by targets and standards observed when doing the task outside on a bicycle.
Mobile EEG allows the investigation of brain activity in increasingly complex environments. In this study, EEG equipment was adapted for use and transportation in a backpack while cycling. Participants performed an auditory oddball task while cycling outside and sitting in an isolated chamber inside the lab. Cycling increased EEG noise and marginally diminished alpha amplitude. However, this increased noise did not influence the ability to measure reliable event related potentials (ERP). The P3 was similar in topography, and morphology when outside on the bike, with a lower amplitude in the outside cycling condition. There was only a minor decrease in the statistical power to measure reliable ERP effects. Unexpectedly, when biking outside significantly decreased P2 and increased N1 amplitude were observed when evoked by both standards and targets compared with sitting in the lab. This may be due to attentional processes filtering the overlapping sounds between the tones used and similar environmental frequencies. This study established methods for mobile recording of ERP signals. Future directions include investigating auditory P2 filtering inside the laboratory.
Integration of bike usage and transit services is an effective way to enhance accessibility for both transportation modes. Using high-resolution transit data, the study analyzes bike-transit ...multimodal accessibility and usage patterns through a social equity lens. Two types of accessibility increment are studied: bicycle increment to public transit – the benefits of using bicycle for transit riders, and transit increment to cycling – the merits of using transit for cyclists. Results show that bike-transit integration benefits both public transit riders and cyclists, expanding their accessible opportunities by up to 70% and enabling longer trips for cyclists while providing continuous benefits for public transit users. Meanwhile, better infrastructure significantly improves multimodal accessibility, resulting in more increment for public transit riders but less increment for cyclists. The paper also shows the spatiotemporal patterns of multimodal ridership. The research highlights disparities in bike-transit activities for Black communities due to inadequate local biking infrastructure. Black people majority neighborhoods enjoy less increment compared to other neighborhoods for shorter and very long trips; they also have disproportionately lower multimodal ridership despite much higher transit ridership and better transit access. Enhancing biking infrastructure in these areas can improve physical accessibility increment and promote social equity. The paper provides practical insights for transit planning, emphasizing the importance of connecting bike lanes and creating safer streets for cycling.
Since the pandemic started in early 2020, the sale of bicycles, especially electric bikes, has seen a huge spike. More and more people want to be outside and explore their natural environment, and ...what better way to do it than on an e-mountain bike. E-mountain biking, also known as pedelecs or power-assisted bicycles, is an activity of riding an off-road bike with an integrated motor that assists the rider when pedalling on off-road trails. E-mountain biking offers an opportunity for a day-long adventure, using the rural landscape as a more dynamic stage. South Africa, with its diverse environment and ideal climate, is a location that lends itself to active and adventure tourism. An advantage of this type of travel is that it offers the opportunity to explore an environment in a different way while practising physical activity. The tourist is not only an observer, but also becomes part of the environment. E-mountain biking can be a major role player in active and adventure tourism, where it can be seen as responsible travel to unexplored areas, and encourages greater physical and mental participation of tourists. The current trend towards e-mountain bikes is increasingly being addressed by tourism destinations. Experts predict that e-mountain bikes will bring new types of mountain bike guests, since they make mountain biking possible for all age groups, due to the reduced physical effort needed. This paper will hopefully lay the foundation for future research on the development and sustainability of e-mountain biking as part of active and adventure tourism.
Within the sport, electronic mountain bikes (eMTB) are emerging as a popular option, however, there is a paucity of research on the injury profile of eMTB riders. The aim of the study was to provide ...insights into the demographic and injury profile of eMTB riders. Recruitment was through social media posts, flyers at MTB facilities and in The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department, as well as in person recruitment at Stromlo Forest Park. Riders in this study, however, had a higher frequency of chest trauma than expected based on previous MTB studies.
Recreational use of nature areas is increasing worldwide. All trail-based activities have a certain degradation effect on vegetation and soil, and conflicts between conservation values and recreation ...may occur. Controversy still exists regarding the relative impact of mountain bikers compared to hikers on trails. In this study, we manipulated the use intensity from hikers and mountain bikers on existing, natural-surfaced trails, and investigated effects of increased use and the relative importance of mountain biking on trail degradation. In two study sites, two trails were selected, one designated for hiking and one for biking. Passes were counted with TRAFx counters. The proportion of mountain bikers on the designated biking trails was on average 47%, and on the hiking trails 13%. Trail width and depth were recorded at permanently marked transects repeatedly throughout the growing season, and analyzed with linear mixed models as a function of number of passes, proportion of bikers and environmental conditions along the trail. Trail width, both the core trail without vegetation and the total area influenced by trampling and biking, showed on average small, but highly variable increases with enhanced use. Trail widening occurred particularly in moist parts, and trail width increased more when a larger proportion of the passes was mountain bikers. Trail depth did not change much throughout the study period, suggesting that the soils along the trails were already compacted and to a limited degree prone to soil movement and subsequent soil loss. Our study shows that on-trail use by hikers and mountain bikers have relatively limited overall effects in terms of trail widening and deepening, but that effects depend highly on environmental conditions; enhanced use of trails in wet areas is likely to result in greater trail degradation, and more so if a large proportion of the users are mountain bikers. Management and maintenance of trails, in terms of re-routing or trail surface hardening, could thus be necessary to avoid negative impacts of increased use. For such management actions to be successful, they need to be targeted towards the actual user groups and the natural conditions in the area.
•This study investigates effects of increased use on trail degradation.•Study design allowed us to capture effects of ordinary user behavior.•Our results show that trail width increased, especially in moist parts.•The effect was greater when a large proportion of the users were mountain bikers.•To avoid negative impacts re-routing or trail surface hardening are suggested.
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