“A good traveler leaves no tracks.”
-Lao Tzu
Cross country cycling (a discipline of mountain biking) debuted in the 1996 Olympics, trailing 100 years behind track and road cycling. This year’s 72 XC Olympic shredders (36 men/ 36 women) have flocked to Colline d’Élancourt, the highest point of the Paris region, to race through rocks, roots, and berms. In its 8th appearance in the Olympics, competition is fiercer than ever as the sport continues to spread around the globe: 40 million people and growing steadily. Mountain biking is a blast, a thrill to body and soul! Yet, just as most exhilarating sports, riding may push you beyond your limits at times. Variable terrain, grueling climbs, and sketchy descents demand extra agility and responsiveness. High-impact sports may overload muscles, ligaments, and connecting tissue, especially without a solid foundation of core stability, flexibility, strength, and agility.
Start with the right bike for your choice of adventure. Support your local bike shop and reap the benefits of their expertise to personalize your journey with the right set up, protective gear and supplies to patch yourself and your bike in a pinch. Performing first aid in the critical moments after an injury could save a life, including your own. Before gearing up, be sure your first aid kit is fully stocked and that you are familiar with first aid basics, like using a tourniquet to stop excess bleeding. Taking the right precautions will dramatically reduce your risk of injury. Diving in headfirst with hubris, without taking the time to prepare, may be the difference between a fun day shredding the gnar, or a bummer of a day in the ER. Remember that dehydration may exacerbate fatigue, which slows reaction time and impairs senses. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your ride.
Before heading out to ride, inform someone of where you plan to go and how long you plan to be out. This way, even if you sustain a serious injury, someone can call for help from emergency professionals. Before starting your ride, get contact info for the local bike patrol, emergency dispatch, or search and rescue. The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA.com) has developed a set of rules to promote responsible and courteous conduct for safety, fellow riders, and stewardship of Mother Earth with abiding respect for the natural world. All wild-land shredders who cultivate this respect minimize “tracks” on our environment, guiding us to supreme individual and collective wellness.