Attention: Bike park! With these tips, falls and injuries remain the exception

In the 2018 BIKE reader survey, 42 per cent of BIKE readers under the age of 29 stated that a bike park was particularly important to them when choosing a holiday destination. However, the fun castles are also a risk area for mountain bikers. After all, it's no secret that visits to bike parks with their wooden stunts and jumps sometimes end in hospital, and the trend is rising.

"Mountain bike accidents have doubled in the last five years," says Dr Josef Obrist, surgeon and head of the Salzburg Trauma Clinic. The injuries are not always minor. This is why trail builder Tom Teutsch, for example, is calling for a kind of driving licence for park bikers and explains: "Bike park visits are no longer something that only appeals to die-hard riders. More and more inexperienced riders are coming too." Whether the bike park licence remains just an idea or will soon be a thing of the future remains to be seen. To ensure that crashes and injuries remain the exception, here are a few tips for a safe day in the bike park.

5 rules for a safe visit to the bike park

1. BIKE-CHECK Headset, tyre pressure, thru axles and suspension setup (don't rebound too fast!). If everything fits, you're ready to go.
   
2. EQUIPMENT Protective equipment is not only useful, it is often mandatory. Below you can read what you need for a visit to the park.
   
3. WARMING UP Familiarising yourself with easy trails is often the best way to prevent falls. On unknown descents, you should inspect all stunts beforehand.
   
4. BUILDING FEEL If you want to try a drop or jump, you should go with your gut feeling. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it! Peer pressure is a common problem.
   
5. SPEEDCHECK The wrong choice of speed is the number one cause of accidents. This is particularly important on jumps. Check the speed of experienced bikers. Riding technique courses are very helpful.

Protect yourself! - Parts that limit damage in the event of a fall

1. FULL-VISOR HELMET (Price: from 80 Euro)
   The full-face helmet is compulsory in most parks. It not only protects the brain, but also the jaw and face. Important: the fit. It is therefore better to try it on than to buy blindly. Can often be hired on site.
   
2. KNEE AND ELLENBOW PROTECTION (price: from 50 euros)
   Knee injuries are long-lasting and annoying, so you should definitely protect your knees. Even better: protectors that also cover the shin. Elbow pads are an advantage.
   
3. BACK PROTECTOR (price: from 100 euros)
   Back protectors or rucksacks with integrated protectors only protect against back injuries caused by sharp stones and edges. These only cause a small proportion of serious falls - but they are avoidable.
   
4. GOGGLES AND NECK BRACE
   (Price: goggle from 40 euros, neck brace from 250 euros)
   The goggles protect the eyes from dust and dirt - so you always have a clear view. In addition, the full-face helmet with goggles sits closer to the face and does not shake. A neck brace can provide protection against spinal injuries. It supports the full-face helmet (1) in the event of a fall, preventing the neck from being overstretched.
   
5. GLOVES (Price: 25 Euro)
   The first contact with the ground after a fall is usually made by the knees and hands. Gloves do not protect against fractures, but they do protect against abrasions. They also improve your grip on the handlebars.
   
6. SHOES (Price: 70 Euro)
   Flat pedals make more sense than clipless pedals for parking. We therefore recommend bear paws. The right shoes should have a grippy sole and also have reinforcements to protect the toes and heel.