MOUNTAIN biking is becoming so popular that inexperienced cyclists risk
serious, even lethal injury. This suggests off-road cyclists should be given
training and perhaps wear protective gear such as body armour.
In just 12 months, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital admitted 84 patients to its
orthopaedic trauma unit with injuries from off-road mountain biking. Between
them, they had 133 injuries, ranging from soft tissue damage and minor fractures
to potentially life-threatening injuries.
“We’re not saying to get scared by these results. But there are serious
injuries that can occur,” says Royal Shrewsbury researcher Lee Jeys.
The number and severity of injuries…
