Mountain Biking Research Articles

Effects of interval and sprint training under hypobaric hypoxia on aerobic, anaerobic, and time trial performance in elite Korean national male mountain bike cyclists—a pilot study

Effects of interval and sprint training under hypobaric hypoxia on aerobic, anaerobic, and time trial performance in elite Korean national male mountain bike cyclists—a pilot study

Ergonomic saddle design features influence lumbar spine motion and can reduce low back pain in mountain biking

ABSTRACT Low back pain is common in mountain biking due to the sustained flexion of the lumbar spine, particularly during fatiguing hill climbs. In this study, we investigated whether an ergonomic mountain bike saddle including a raised rear, a longitudinal dip, and a subtle lateral instability (the ‘Active’-technology) can reduce acute low back pain at the end of a hill climb (>1 h) in a group of mountain bikers with a history of cycling-related low back pain (n = 28). In addition, we conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate the isolated effects of the ‘Active’-technology on the cyclists’ pelvis and spine motion as well as on the activity of surrounding muscles. The field test demonstrated a significant reduction in numerical low back pain ratings with the experimental saddle compared to the riders’ own standard saddle (p = 0.001, strong effect). The laboratory-based data suggested that the ‘Active’-technology does lead to potentially beneficial effects on pelvis-spine kinematics and muscle activity, which in combination with an optimised saddle geometry may explain the observed reduction in low back pain following mountain bike hill climbing.

THE INFLUENCE OF MENSTRUATION ON TRAINING SCHEDULES IN WELL-TRAINED AND ELITE FEMALE MOUNTAIN BIKE, ROAD AND CYCLOCROSS ATHLETES

Female physiology is unique and driven by fluctuations in sex hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. These hormones present myriad mechanisms that may influence physiological systems, potentially implicating exercise performance. However, research exploring the MC in athletes is limited. This study investigated if training status (well-trained/elite) influenced MC-related symptoms, training schedules, sleep quality, arousal, and alertness of elite and well-trained female mountain bike, road, and cyclocross athletes. Fifteen well-trained (n= 7) and elite (n= 8) cyclists (age: 29 ± 7yrs, height: 1.7 ± 0.1m, body mass: 61.9 ± 7.7kg) tracked their MC symptoms, basal body temperature, body mass, sleep, arousal, and alertness measures daily for three months. The MC was split into two phases, follicular and luteal, and participants were provided ovulation kits to identify the phases. The most reported symptoms were fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, and cramping. Athletes’ BBT was significantly greater (p0.05) in body mass, sleep duration and quality, alertness and arousal were observed between well-trained and elite athletes. Further, no significant differences between statuses for any training variables, average or maximum heart rate, training load (bTRIMP), average or maximum speed, and rate of perceived exertion were observed. The MC did not influence physiological responses and training variables in well-trained and elite mountain bike, road, and cyclocross female athletes. Nevertheless, individual fluctuations were present, and it is recommended that athletes monitor their own MC to optimize training and ultimately performance.

Health Service Impacts and Risk Factors for Severe Trauma in Mountain Biking: A Narrative Review.

Mountain biking is growing in participation but carries risk for severe injury and burden on health systems. Little is known about the impact of these injuries on emergency medical services, definitive healthcare, and factors contributing to accidents. This review aimed to determine the health service impacts of severe mountain bike trauma and risk factors, with a view to understanding critical gaps and needs. A systematic online search was conducted using the databases PubMed and MEDLINE complete and grey literature relating to mountain bike injury since the databases' inception to July 2023. The results show that although mountain biking has relatively high injury rates that are increasing, the impacts on health services were rarely documented, with some evidence indicating that even small increases in injuries from race events can overwhelm local health services. Severe injuries were more common in downhill disciplines. However, the definitions of what constitutes severe injury were variable. Severe injuries were more common in downhill disciplines, influenced by the rider skill level, demographics, participation in competitive events, trail design, environmental factors, and healthcare availability. Further research in these areas is needed, along with the more consistent reporting of injury severity.

Digitalization of planning and navigating recreational outdoor activities

Effective visitor management requires reaching visitors with fitting information at the right time through the channels they already use. To identify effective communication channels, 410 recreationists were interviewed in north-east Bavaria to determine how they plan and navigate their outdoor activities. Interviews were conducted onsite (38%) as well as through digital media (62%). The study found that the majority of people use digital tools when planning (86%) and navigating (73%) outdoor activities. Additionally, most people (84%) use more than one tool for planning activities, while almost half (48%) use only one tool for navigation. The choice of tools was largely influenced by the planned activity. Trail running (93%), mountain biking (93%), and hiking (84%) were mostly planned using a digital main tool, while sport climbing was mainly planned using an analog main tool (57%), with 87% of sport climbers using printed guidebooks. Age had a smaller effect on tool choice, with 90% of 30-year-olds using a digital main tool for planning outdoor activities compared to 73% of 60-year-olds. The study demonstrates the importance and the diversity of digital tools used for outdoor activities that need to be considered for effective visitor management in tourism as well as nature conservation.

Trail degradation caused by mountain biking and hiking: A multi-dimensional analysis

Growing demands for on-trail activities have aroused challenges of how to balance outdoor recreation and protected area conservation. Unfortunately, most previous studies have focused on only one or two degradation features, so inconsistent views (i.e., no consensus on impacts induced by hiking and mountain biking) were obtained. This study investigated a mountain biking trail, a hiking trail, and an unmanaged trail in a Hong Kong country park for 1.5 years. Five dimensions of trail degradation, namely Trail Morphometry, Soil Texture, Soil Compaction, Erosion Feature, and Recovery Feature, were identified by Explanatory Factor Analysis. Significant correlations were found between hiking and all five dimensions, while mountain biking was significantly associated only with Trail Morphometry, Erosion Feature, and Recovery Feature. Trail grade and landform grade significantly affected Trail Morphometry, Soil Texture, and Erosion Feature, but trail slope alignment was a null predictor. Hiking caused more severe trail degradation than mountain biking, even after controlling for topography. These findings supplement the existing literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of the multitude of adverse impacts caused by hiking and mountain biking. This study provides a valuable reference for sustainable trail management in protected areas that receive both hikers and mountain bikers.

Perceived risk for falls and decision-making in riding raised ramps in mountain biking: a pilot study.

Mountain biking (MTB) is a challenging activity where riders face constant decisions on whether to attempt technical paths or features (e.g., wooden ramps and jumps) that pose risk for falls and injuries. Risk homeostasis theory posits that riders pursue an optimal non-zero level of risk that balances the rewards of attempting challenging features with the need to avoid unreasonable risk for injury. Little is known on how riders judge risk, and the level of risk that riders deem unacceptable. We conducted experiments with experienced MTB riders (n = 17) to examine how their willingness to ride raised wooden ramps depended on their perceived probability for falling (Pf) and their perceived probability for injury in the event of a fall (Pi) while riding the ramp. In one experiment, participants viewed ramps of varying widths and heights and described their willingness to ride each ramp, along with Pf and Pi. We found that Pf and Pi were independent predictors of willingness to attempt ramps. Moreover, the product Pf*Pi (the perceived risk for injury in attempting the ramp) was a stronger predictor than Pf or Pi alone. In a second experiment, participants viewed ramps of different widths, and reported the maximum (threshold) height where they would ride each ramp, along with Pf and Pi. We found that Pf*Pi at the threshold height, averaging 13%, did not vary with ramp width. We conclude that decisions on riding ramps are based on the product Pf*Pi. On average, riders refused to ride ramps when Pf*Pi exceeded 13%.

Sex Differences in Mountain Bike Accidents in Austria from 2006 to 2018: A Retrospective Analysis.

Woyke, Simon, Anja Hütter, Christopher Rugg, Willi Tröger, Bernd Wallner, Mathias Ströhle, and Peter Paal. Sex differences in mountain bike accidents in Austria from 2006 to 2018: a retrospective analysis. High Alt Med Biol. 25:89-93, 2024. Introduction: Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular, and mountain bike (MTB) accidents are on the rise. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in mountain biking accidents in the Austrian Alps. Methods: This retrospective study includes all MTB accidents in Austria from 2006 to 2018. Data were collected by Alpine Police officers and recorded in a national digital registry. Results: The accidents involved 5,095 mountain bikers (81% men and 19% women). The number of MTB accidents rose markedly from 208 in 2006 to 725 in 2018. Men wore a helmet more often than did women (95% vs. 92%; p = 0.001). The most common injury category was "wound/bleeding" for both sexes (men 40% and women 41%). Women were more frequently transported by helicopter or terrestrially (p > 0.001). Conclusion: In the Austrian Alps, the number of MTB accidents more than tripled between 2006 and 2018. Women were involved in only one fifth of all accidents. Sex differences in MTB accidents include (1) women wearing helmets less often, (2) women being less frequently injured, (3) women suffering fewer serious injuries, and (4) women being more frequently transported by helicopter or terrestrially, while men more often did not require transportation.

PPM BENGKEL DAN TOKO SEPEDA DESTROYER BIKE KOTA SURABAYA

Destroyer Bike Founded in 2020 by Mr. Ario Zanuar, a spare part sales service business and bicycle service workshop based on Jl. Medokan Semampir Indah, Surabaya City, East Java, Indonesia. Mr. Ario Zanuar started working in the bicycle repair business since the 2020 pandemic, with a focus on servicing folding bicycles, mountain bicycles, hybrid bicycles, call bicycles and fixie bicycles. In the first year, Destroyer Bike focused on on-site or in-store bicycle services only. However, over time, call services have gradually developed. The problem with this partner is the high competition in the bicycle spare part sales industry and bicycle repair shops which are quite competitive, especially in densely populated areas such as the city of Surabaya, so they need to compete with other bicycle repair shops. The second problem is the workshop service equipment which is still incomplete, due to the condition of the workshop which has just been started. The next problem is seasonality and fluctuations in demand in the bicycle repair business can vary depending on the season. Summer usually has higher demand as many people use bicycles for exercise or to cycle to work. However, in winter or bad weather, demand for bicycles decreases, while demand for bicycle repair services increases. Based on these problems, this service offers a solution for using promotional media with web profiles and social media to give a good impression to potential customers. By having an informative and attractive web profile, service companies can increase credibility, expand business reach, provide information that is easily accessible to customers, as well as branding and identity. The next solution is the use of market places for wider market access, increasing visibility, strengthening consumer trust, ease of transactions, simplifying the sales process, low operational costs and customer service support. The next solution is providing assistance with bicycle service equipment and training in the use of information systems to schedule bicycle service call visits. The method used in this service is Community Empowerment. This method aims to empower communities by providing the knowledge, skills and resources needed to overcome the problems they face. This can be done through training, workshops or specially designed educational programs

Lightweight, Cost-Effective, and Environmentally Friendly Materials for a Mountain Bicycle Frame during High-Impact Riding: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional Aluminum, Aluminum 6013, and a BioMid Fiber™ Composite

Lightweight, Cost-Effective, and Environmentally Friendly Materials for a Mountain Bicycle Frame during High-Impact Riding: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional Aluminum, Aluminum 6013, and a BioMid Fiber™ Composite

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATTITUDES OF USERS OF SPORTS TOURISM ON MOUNTAIN GOČ

In this paper, the authors analyze and investigate the relevant facts of the organization and management of sports and recreational tourism in the Goč valley. Today's tourists expect a lot from tourist destinations. So today's tourists are ready to pay more. For this reason, the marketing role must be crucial for sports tourism. Mount Goč in the context of sports tourism explores the potential of Mount Goč as a destination for sports tourism. Goč mountain, located in Serbia, offers a variety of natural beauties and sports opportunities that attract lovers of active vacations. The paper analyzes the geographical location of the mountain and its accessibility, and highlights the proximity of major cities and roads as key advantages for the development of sports tourism based on the opinions of users. The mountain offers various terrains for sports activities, including hiking, cycling, skiing and snowboarding, as well as opportunities for adventure sports such as paragliding and mountain biking. Also, the paper explores the existing sports infrastructure on Goč, including tracks, sports fields and accommodation facilities. The importance of further infrastructure development for attracting sports enthusiasts and tourists is emphasized. Then the competition and demand for sports activities on Mount Goč are analyzed, including a comparison with other mountain destinations in the region. Marketing strategies and promotion of the mountain as a destination for sports tourism are also discussed. Based on all of the above, the paper concludes that Mount Goč has significant potential for the development of sports tourism, but that it is necessary to continuously invest in infrastructure and promotion in order to attract sports fans and tourists and stimulate the economic sustainability of tourism. region through this type of tourism.

The use of modern 3D technologies for the development of a prototype mountain bike brake lever within the concept of personalized production

Mountain biking (MTB) is a popular sport for more and more people. Control over the bike is very important for a successful ride, especially when the rider gets off the mountain bike in rough terrain. Control over the bike is ensured by appropriate braking systems, which differ depending on the type of mountain biking. During a challenging descent, the cyclist consumes energy to overcome obstacles on the trail, so using the right brakes is crucial. The rider performs the braking process with the brake lever of the bicycle. On difficult descents, for example in bad weather (rain), it is important that the finger does not “slip” on the brake lever. Also important is the feeling of contact with the brake lever that the rider has when braking. For this reason, from an ergonomic point of view, the shape of the brake lever is crucial for a safe and controlled mountain bike ride. This paper presents the results of the use of advanced 3D technologies for the development of a prototype mountain bike brake lever within the concept of personalised production. The common thread of the presented research is the process of developing a prototype mountain bike brake lever from an ergonomic point of view, supported by modern 3D technologies such as 3D scanning, 3D modelling and 3D printing.

Hospital Admissions Associated With Head and Neck Injuries From Olympic-style Sports and Activities Between 2010 and 2022.

The objective of this study was to evaluate which Olympic-style sports and activities are most likely to result in hospitalizations relating to head and neck injuries. This was a cross-sectional study using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. Subjects with head and neck injuries from selected Olympic-style sports and activities between 2010 and 2022 were included. Independent variables were demographics and injury characteristics (injury location and sport). The primary outcome variable was hospitalization (yes/no). Survey-weighted descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression statistics were computed to measure the association between demographic/injury variables and hospitalization. There were 175,995 subjects (national estimate, 5,922,584) meeting inclusion criteria. After adjusting for demographic and injury characteristics, head injuries (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17; 95% CI, 1.83-2.56; P<0.001) demonstrated higher odds of hospitalization compared with facial injuries. Injuries from cycling (OR = 2.52; 95% CI, 2.16-2.95; P<0.001), mountain biking (OR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.80-3.65; P<0.001), and horseback riding (OR = 4.01; 95% CI, 2.76-5.83; P<0.001) demonstrated higher odds of hospitalization relative to baseball injuries. In conclusion, head and neck injuries associated with high velocity Olympic-style sports and activities such as cycling, mountain biking, and horseback riding had the highest odds of hospitalization.

Mountain Biking Tourism Impacts in Rural Michigan

Summary Mountain biking and mountain biking tourism are on the rise. With this increase comes the potential for increased impacts, especially in rural communities promoting their mountain biking trail systems. We present the case of two such trails in Michigan, USA – The Dragon Trail and the DTE Energy Foundation Trail – to exemplify how trail and community managers discuss two areas of tourism impacts and their intersections: economics and equity. Major highlights include economic phrasings of immediate direct impacts and more diffuse community impacts; specifically, equity considerations of barriers to access and representation and safety, and their intersection when discussing local as well as tourist use of these trails. This case serves as insight for communities considering developing mountain biking tourism amenities and identities, as well as how the discussion on impacts may vary across contexts. Information © The Authors 2023

Analysis of the Determinants of Marketing Strategies of Mountain Bikes in China

Under the condition of highly developed modern market economy, mountain-bike marketing draws wide attention in the society. However, it has not received due attention from relevant parties in academic research. Based on the current situation, particularly the phenomenon of mountain-bike craze, this article takes behavioral economics as the theoretical basis, applying the method of literature and investigation analysis of what factors can influence the marketing of mountain bikes. In this context, this paper, applies a questionnaire to investigate the relevant population, or exactly a semi-structured questionnaire was used in this study, which combines the advantages of fully structured questionnaire and completely unstructured questionnaire, simultaneously making the formulation and implementation of questionnaire more efficient, providing the interviewee with a certain degree of flexibility and freedom. The findings show that consumers expectation and the factors of mountain bikes, such as quality and price have a greater impact on its marketing than the price. Accordingly, this paper proposes that mountain bike manufacturers and businesses should take targeted marketing measures on the basis of ensuring product quality, like customized marketing and value marketing.

Exercise-induced troponin I elevation is associated with alterations in regional longitudinal strain

Abstract Background Mechanisms of exercise-induced troponin elevation in healthy individuals are unclear. This study aimed to determine if exercise-induced cardiac troponin elevation (cTn) is associated with alterations in the myocardial response to physical stress. Methods This study assessed regional and global myocardial function by strain echocardiography at rest and following exercise of increasing workloads in individuals with either a high- or a normal cTnI response to exercise. High-cTnI responders (n=34) were individuals with a previous exercise-induced cTnI level above the 92.5% limit (cTnI &amp;gt; 200 ng/L) in the NEEDED population (n= 1002). Normal-cTnI responders comprised 25 reference individuals with a post-exercise cTnI &amp;lt; 200 ng/L. All study participants were healthy individuals with normal CT coronary angiography. The first exercise was a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) of 43 (40,45) minutes. The second exercise was a 91 km recreational mountain bike race of 230 (210, 245) minutes. Myocardial function was assessed by echocardiography before and within 10 minutes and 24 hours after both exercises. Results Study individuals were 51±10 years old, and 46 (74 %) were male. At baseline, there were no differences between the High- and Normal-cTnI responders regarding demographics, training condition, cardiac risk factors, peak oxygen consumption and conventional echocardiographic parameters. Maximal cTnI levels 3 hours after exercise were significantly higher in the High- compared with Normal-cTnI responders: CPET: cTnI 13 (9-32) vs 9 (5-17) ng/L (p 0.027) and Race: cTnI: 101 (76-198) vs 37 (25-69) ng/L (p &amp;lt;0.001). Following exercise, there were no differences in global ventricular function between the two groups, assessed as left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and right ventricular (RV) GLS. When comparing regional longitudinal strain between the two groups, High-cTnI responders had significantly lower regional strain values in the anteroseptal segments following both exercises (p-values 0.005-0.041, 8-14% relative difference, Figure 1 and 2). The changes were more profound after the most intensive exercise (the Race). Conclusion High-cTnI responders have larger reductions in post-exercise systolic longitudinal strain in anteroseptal segments than Normal -cTnI responders. The reduction in regional strain was most profound following the highest workload (the Race). These findings suggest that highly elevated exercise-induced cTnI levels may reflect vulnerable regional alterations in the myocardial response to increasing workloads.Figure 1CPETFigure 2Race

Visitation patterns in a peri-urban natural park: Comparing mountain bikers, runners, walkers and hikers

Urban natural parks are popular destinations for activities such as short walks, longer hikes, mountain biking and running. But how does visitation for these activities vary, and how can information about visitation patterns facilitate management by enhancing social and environmental benefits? Employing a case study approach, we compared the four activities in Serra de Collserola Natural Park, a large popular park close to Barcelona in Spain. When 1788 visitors were surveyed and data analysed using Categorical Principal Components Analysis and Chi-squared tests, clear differences were found in sociodemographics (age, gender, occupation, educational level and where people lived), visitation patterns (frequency, means of transport, group size and composition, when visited, length of visit, and trail use), motivations (active, relaxation, nature, landscapes, socializing, time with family, etc.), and environmental and social impacts, including conflicts among user groups and crowding. This diversity in visitation highlights ways in which management could be better tailored to specific cohorts of visitors. For this specific park it highlighted issues with concentrated use (more resources needed on weekends), how equity of use could be enhanced (promoting running and biking for women), and how conflict could be reduced (by spatial segregation for faster and slower activities). Future surveys could examine emerging issues associated with changes in use since COVID-19, facilities for aging populations, and the spread of e-bikes among others.

Mechanical demands and pacing profile adopted by elite mountain bikers during different cross-country events

Different competitive environments appears to affect the physical demands during the sports competitions. Thus, the aim of this study was to report the mechanical demand and pacing behaviour of twelve male elite mountain bikers on cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO). During both competition, total race time, speed, power output (PO) and cadence (CA) were recorded. As the race time in the XCC is shorter (21.0 ± 0.5 vs 84.0 ± 3.0 min; p&lt;0.01), the average speed (26.6 ± 0.6 vs 17.8 ± 0.6 km/h; p&lt;0.01), PO (365.0 ± 26.7 vs 301.0 ± 26.2 watts; p&lt;0.01) and CA (81.2 ± 4.7 vs 77.4 ± 4.3 rev∙min−1; p=0.01) were higher than the XCO. While a variable pacing was adopted during XCC, a positive profile was adopted in XCO. In addition, athletes adopted a more conservative starting pace during XCC (below average race speed) but a faster start during XCO (above average race speed). These findings demonstrated that mechanical parameters and pacing profile adopted by cyclists are different between XCC and XCO. Therefore, mountain bikers and coaches must develop specific strategy and training methods in order to obtain success in each competition.

Analgesic agents administered by ambulance personnel to mountain bikers and hikers on trails in Western Australia

ObjectiveTo describe the types of analgesic medications administered to patients who were attended by ambulance on recreational trails while mountain biking or hiking and report on the reduction in pain by these agents. MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of patients attended by ambulance (2015–2021) after mountain biking or hiking, on Western Australia (WA) trails. All data were extracted from electronic patient care records created by ambulance personnel who attended the patient. We compared patient and case characteristics between mountain bikers and hikers and the reduction in pain scores achieved by different analgesics. ResultsA total of 717 patients were included. Paramedics reported traumatic aetiology for mountain bikers in 92 % of cases and hikers in 58 % of cases. A pain score out of 10 was recorded for 538 (75 %) patients. The median (inter-quartile range) initial pain score was 6 (2–8) and the median final pain score was 3 (1–5). Around 48 % of these 538 patients reported ≥25 % reduction in their pain score. A reduction of ≥25 % in their pain score was greatest in those patients who received intravenous fentanyl (81 %), followed by patients administered multiple analgesics (72 %) and methoxyflurane only (52 %). Even 37 % of 134 patients who received no analgesia still reported ≥25 % reduction in their pain score by hospital arrival. ConclusionTrauma was the most common reason mountain bikers and hikers on trails called an ambulance and a large proportion of these patients were in pain on ambulance arrival. Further work assessing the effectiveness of safe, non-opioid analgesics, additional to methoxyflurane, is needed to ensure non-registered practitioners such as first aid providers and event medical teams can offer suitable safe analgesics to these patients. Additionally, among patients given no pharmacological analgesic agent, almost half still achieved a >25 % reduction in their pain scores which reiterates the importance of non-pharmacological pain reduction strategies.

Examining the Efficiency of Electric-Assisted Mountain Biking across Different Types of Terrain

Mountain bikes with electric assistance (e-bikes) have gained popularity recently by allowing riders to increase their pedaling power through an electric motor. This innovation has raised questions about how e-bikes compare to traditional mountain bikes regarding physical effort, speed, and physiological demands. By examining these factors, the study aims to compare and characterize differences in performance-related parameters when using an electric-assisted mountain bike compared to a conventional mountain bike on different types of terrain (uphill, downhill, flat section, technically demanding terrain) concerning power output, velocity, cardiorespiratory parameters, and energy expenditure. Six experienced mountain bikers (mean age: 44.6 ± 6.4 years, mean body height: 173.3 ± 5.6 cm, mean body weight: 70.6 ± 4.9 kg) cycled 4.5 km on varying off-road terrain at their own race pace, once with and once without electrical assistance, in randomized order. The results of the study indicate significantly faster (24.3 ± 1.85 to 17.2 ± 1.22 km/h (p &lt; 0.001)) cycling on an electric-assisted mountain bike, which reduces cardiorespiratory parameters and metabolic effort as well as results in less demanding workload (138.5 ± 31.8 W) during the cycling with an electric-assisted mountain bike in comparison to a conventional mountain bike (217.5 ± 24.3 W (p &lt; 0.001)). The results indicate significant differences especially when riding uphill. The performance advantage of an electrically assisted mountain bike diminishes compared to a conventional mountain bike on downhill, flat, or technically challenging terrain. The highlighted advantages of electric-assisted mountain bikes could represent a novel strategy for cycling in different terrains to optimize efficiency.