Thinking about taking up mountain biking after 50? While there are some things to be careful of, it’s not as intimidating as it might seem.
As a 57-year-old who rides a couple of times a week, I’m happy to share some insights to help get you on the trails.
First, let’s tackle the most common question that seems to come up—is mountain biking too dangerous?
The answer to this is “it depends.” Like many high-consequence activities (highway driving for instance) it doesn’t have to be overly dangerous if you respect what you’re doing.
I strongly believe that mountain biking is dramatically safer than road riding as you are the one who decides on your level of risk and you’re not in danger from other factors like cars.
From a practical perspective, if you don’t want to risk injury, you’ll want to be careful when trying new obstacles and skills and make sure not to push yourself too far too quickly.
Taking a lesson or two from a professional coach is an excellent way to safely learn some skills and identify what you need to do to be careful. I can say with certainty I’m a much better and safer rider for having taken lessons over the years. Most recently, I did a four-night dirt jumping class with a local company called Nolan Riding. This helped me finally get the confidence to do larger jumps safely and consistently.
Here are some more things to consider before taking to the trails:
Flexibility & Fitness
You don’t need to be in top shape to start mountain biking but, like any sport, the fitter and more flexible you are, the more fun you’ll have and the less likely you will be to hurt yourself. The odd spill will be way less likely to cause injury if you’re strong and flexible!
Equipment
Mountain biking technology has come a long way in recent years. That said, riding in the woods is fun on any bike with suitably big tires with some good grip, so don’t let your bike hold you back from getting out there. If you do get more serious about the sport, you’ll eventually want to get a bike that suits you—consult a trusted bike shop for advice on getting the right type of mountain bike for your style of riding.
On the safety front, at minimum, get a helmet that fits well and offers good protection. This is typically enough to safely ride mellow trails. Although, if you want to ride more aggressively or learn to do jumps and drops, you’ll need to consider gloves, knee pads, elbow pads and possibly a full face helmet.
Trails
Living on Vancouver Island, we’re blessed with an abundance of great trails for every level. For beginner riders, getting comfortable on many of the local gravel commuter trails is a great start. Once you’re feeling good on the bike, the next logical step is to go to one of the bike parks and try some of the green-rated trails or seek out some more challenging multi-use trails. If you’re nervous about hitting the trails, find a mountain-biking friend who will take you out or consider a class or clinic appropriate for your skill level.
Community
One of the best things about mountain biking is the great community around it. Mountain bikers are generally a happy and welcoming bunch and there’s a lot of camaraderie and friendly support out on the trails.
Getting involved in a mountain biking club is also a great way to engage with the MTB community. Volunteering to help build trails through a club is a great way to meet other bikers. The South Island Mountain Biking Society manages the Hartland MTB Park and is a great resource in the South Island. Most other island cities have clubs as well.
Mountain biking is one of the most fun sports out there and can provide great challenges both physically and mentally as you gain skills.
So, what’s keeping you from getting out there?