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.
BackgroundThe sport of Enduro is the newest Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) sanctioned discipline in mountain biking and there has been a surge in its popularity and participation. Although there ...are a number of studies reporting mountain biking injury the study methods vary widely, there are few at elite level, and there are none currently detailing injuries at elite level Enduro mountain biking.ObjectiveTo determine the rate, severity and nature of rider injury during racing and official training at the Enduro World Series (EWS).Design2-season prospective epidemiology study (2017 & 2018).SettingMale and female riders competing in the EWS.Patients (or Participants)2,010 (90.3% male) under-21, senior and masters riders from 46 countries, during 10 race events.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors)Rider injury during EWS Enduro mountain biking.Main Outcome MeasurementsInjury prevalence.ResultsOverall 8.9% of riders were injured during the two EWS seasons (9.35 injuries per 100 riders) with on average 12.3 days time-loss per injury. Female rider injury prevalence was higher, but severity lower compared with male riders (11.3%, 6.4 days; 8.7%, 13.2 days, respectively). Two-thirds (64%) of injuries occurred during racing, with 31.4% of injuries reported in inexperienced (1-race) riders. The shoulder/clavicle (13.3% of all injuries) followed by the hand (9.0%) and head (9.0%) were the most common affected anatomical locations, with concussion injury most frequent (7.2% of all injuries) and shoulder/clavicle fracture causing the greatest burden (442 total days). Of those displaying concussion symptoms 29% continued racing, of those diagnosed with concussion 43% reported no time-loss (i.e. time off) post-race.ConclusionsThe overall rate and severity of rider injury during EWS race events was low, but targeted injury prevention strategies, around shoulder injury pre- and rehabilitation, concussion education, and new/inexperienced rider qualification criteria may help to reduce the rate, severity and overall burden of some injuries.
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.
This paper presents findings from a study that examined how well mountain bikers' cognitive processes predicted their recommendation intent—the intention to share their recreation experience with ...others. Specifically, we examined relationships between different mountain biking recreation goal appraisals, emotions, and mountain bikers’ intentions to suggest mountain biking destinations to others. We tested hypothesized relationships using a structural equation modeling approach. Our results show that goal congruence and interest are the primary appraisal factors predicting recommendation intent among mountain bikers. While satisfaction and affective emotions are distinct factors that affect post-trip recommendation behavior, our results suggest that satisfaction emotions are significant secondary predictors of recommendation intent and have a stronger relationship with post-trip recommendation intentions than affective emotions. These study outcomes may be used to inform and develop effective management strategies for mountain biking destinations by designing based on user experiences.
The study underscores the crucial need to tailor mountain biking trails to align with bikers' recreational aspirations and abilities, emphasizing the importance of offering diverse experiences suited to different skill levels. Instead of the typical strategy to grow biking destinations by expanding trail networks, managers should prioritize aligning trail experiences with bikers' expectations and desires to boost competitiveness. Strategic investments in trail infrastructure and services, coupled with feedback systems to gauge changing needs and satisfaction levels, are critical. Collaborating with local biking groups can enhance understanding and adaptability to evolving preferences. Continuous efforts to personalize trail experiences based on bikers' preferences are essential for garnering positive feedback, ensuring enduring enjoyment, and sustaining the appeal and growth of mountain biking destinations.
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.
Vocalisations – that is, sounds such as oh! or aaah – are highly versatile, obtaining their interactional meaning from the local environment. This study adds to previous research on vocalisations by ...showing how participants in video clips of mountain-bike crashes interpret the materiality of the ground in meaningful ways using such sounds. The vocalisations are called geomorphopoetic because they imitate the shape of the ground during movement. Three groups of geomorphopoetic vocalisations are identified: (1) sounds that inhabit the evenness and elongation of the ground, (2) sounds that inhabit the smallness of the ground, and (3) sounds that inhabit repeated movements supported by the properties of the ground.
Mountain biking (MTBing) has become one of the most popular recreational activities and this trend is further amplified with the enhanced use of electrically assisted mountain bikes (eMTBing). While ...increasing user frequencies are intensifying social and environmental conflicts, the consequences of MTBing in and for the environment are insufficiently understood. The aim of this review is to outline the ecological impacts of conventional mountain biking and to highlight potential differences and consequences arising with the use of eMTBs.
The results systematically summarise how MTBing can lead to immediate responses of animals, changes in habitat use and diurnal activity patterns of wildlife, a reduced reproductive success, seed dispersal, trampling damage on flora, vegetation changes in areas adjacent to trails, as well as soil compaction, exposure and erosion. The increasing use of eMTBs will cause a larger frequency and spatial cover by bikers and therefore a rising number of trails. Wildlife will be more affected when off-trail riding increases or when the use of so far less frequented areas or times will intensify. Vegetation and soil will be more affected, when new trails are created. Both aspects are more likely with the switch to eMTBing as steep slopes are climbed faster and more frequently. However, these direct effects of MTBing may not be associated with negative long-term consequences for ecosystems as those depend on the specific species or subjects of protection, the environmental context and possible interactions with other human activities. Overall, long-term consequences for plants and animals are difficult to assess and thus general patterns of how the direct effects of (e)MTBing translate into consequences for population dynamics are yet missing. It is essential to improve the knowledge regarding long-term effects of (e)MTBing on the population and ecosystem level and societal debates regarding (e)MTBing need to differentiate effects relevant for animal welfare from implications for nature conservation.
•MTB affects soil, vegetation and wildlife, which may intensify with a switch to eMTB.•Lack of knowledge on riding behaviour and preferences as well as user group in eMTB.•Lack of research on long-term effects of (e)MTB for vulnerable species and ecosystems.
This scientific article presents the intriguing results of a comparative study on the performance and effort parameters in mountain biking (MTB) and electric mountain biking (eMTB). The study ...meticulously involved a 51-year-old male participant boasting a normal BMI and excellent aerobic fitness. Both MTB and eMTB were subjected to rigorous testing, with designated mountain trails chosen for the rides. Heart rate monitoring, facilitated by specialized equipment like the Garmin Edge 1030 bike computer and the Garmin HRM Pro chest strap, meticulously recorded effort parameters. All the gathered data was securely stored and subjected to meticulous analysis in the Garmin Connect cloud. The comprehensive findings disclosed that the total riding time on the mountain trail was remarkably 45.3% longer on the traditional MTB compared to the eMTB. However, the eMTB demonstrated a noteworthy 31 % higher average speed, particularly evident during challenging uphill sections and minor inclines. This discovery implies that eMTB riding provides a time-saving advantage while delivering a thrilling and faster-paced experience.Interestingly, despite the significant disparity in average speed, no statistically significant differences were observed in maximum speed between the two bike types. This suggests that both MTB and eMTB are capable of reaching similar peak speeds, ensuring exhilarating moments for riders irrespective of their chosen bike. When examining the effort parameters measured through heart rate, it was found that the average heart rate (HRAVG) during MTB riding was approximately 11% higher than during eMTB riding. This highlights that traditional MTB demands more intense cardiovascular effort and physical exertion. Similarly, the maximum heart rate (HRMAX) during MTB riding was slightly higher, though the difference was not statistically significant compared to eMTB riding. This suggests that both forms of biking can push participants to similar maximum heart rates despite the varying average heart rates.In conclusion, this insightful study adds valuable evidence to the ongoing discourse around MTB and eMTB riding. The results underscore the advantages of eMTB riding, offering faster speeds and higher average speeds compared to traditional MTB. Moreover, the study brings to light the comparable maximum speeds between the two forms of biking. The heart rate-based findings are crucial for mountain biking enthusiasts as they contemplate the best-fit option between a traditional mountain bike and an electric mountain bike, based on their preferences, physical capabilities, and desired riding experience.
In 2020, the IOC released a consensus statement that provides overall guidelines for the recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport. Some aspects of this statement ...need to be further specified on a sport-by-sport basis. To extend the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports and to meet the sport-specific requirements of all cycling disciplines regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). A panel of 20 experts, all with experience in cycling or cycling medicine, participated in the drafting of this cycling-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement. In preparation, panel members were sent the IOC consensus statement, the first draft of this manuscript and a list of topics to be discussed. The expert panel met in July 2020 for a 1-day video conference to discuss the manuscript and specific topics. The final manuscript was developed in an iterative process involving all panel members. This paper extends the IOC consensus statement to provide cycling-specific recommendations on health problem definitions, mode of onset, injury mechanisms and circumstances, diagnosis classifications, exposure, study population characteristics and data collection methods. Recommendations apply to all UCI cycling disciplines, for both able-bodied cyclists and para-cyclists. The recommendations presented in this consensus statement will improve the consistency and accuracy of future epidemiological studies of injury and illness in cycling.
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