Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. Part of its appeal comes from the fact that cycling can be done for fun, exercise, sport, or in a functional capacity such as commuting to work. However, those who are keen cyclists are probably aware that if precautions aren?t taken, there are a number of repetitive-strain injuries that can occur from cycling, especially mountain biking. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.

Wrist Injury. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What?s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured.Having quality suspension on the front forks of the bike will reduce a lot of the pressure, or if you cannot have suspension, make sure the forks have shock absorbing qualities like you find on the Trek Madone

Pain In The Backside. You would be amazed at just how many riders report suffering from this complaint, which is usually caused by long durations of pressure and poor padding. The long term implications of not addressing such problems can be serious, including infertility and hernia. Buying a decent bike saddle is the number one thing to do and you should test ride one for a good few miles before you buy one. You can also purchase protective cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.

Knee Injury. Another common complaint among riders is knee injuries, inflammation and general soreness. If you lock out your knees when you are cycling this can cause problems, but most often knee problems are a result of the bike. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as Pinarello which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.

Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. The reason for this is because there are so many things a bike can be used for, including competitive racing, getting to and from work each day or just as a bit of leisurely enjoyment. However, those who are keen cyclists are probably aware that if precautions aren’t taken, there are a number of repetitive-strain injuries that can occur from cycling, especially mountain biking. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.

Wrist Problems. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured.Having quality suspension on the front forks of the bike will reduce a lot of the pressure, or if you cannot have suspension, make sure the forks have shock absorbing qualities like you find on the Trek Madone.

Backside Pain. This is one of the most common complaints and is basically a result of repetitive pressure on the gluteus maximus (backside) muscle and surrounding sensitive areas. It is in every rider’s interest to address backside problems as soon as they can quickly become quite serious and even lead to problems with fertility. Buying a decent bike saddle is the number one thing to do and you should test ride one for a good few miles before you buy one. You can also purchase specialised cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.

Knee Problems. Another common complaint among riders is knee injuries, inflammation and general soreness. There are bike settings that can aggravate this problem, such as having the saddle too high but generally it is caused by overuse and too much strain on the knees. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as Zipp wheels which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.

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We’ve seen them all, the wide array of different cyclists on their morning commute. All wearing different cycle clothing, from suits to lycra. All riding different types of bikes ranging from streamlined road bikes to slow and steady granny bikes.

Obviously the choice that people make as to which type of bike to ride is based upon what they are going to use it for. A range of things affect what bike they choose, how far they need to go, what they are bringing with them and finally, whether they have showers at work.

Most people think they have made the best choice for commuting. But have they made the right choice? Would it work out faster for a granny bike to get to work over a fixed gear bike? You’d think not, but I might just prove you wrong.

If you choose 4 different cyclists and time how long it takes them to get to work, we’ll then see who’s fastest. If we take 2 lycra wearing cyclists, one of a fixed gear one, the other on a road bike. Then take another two cyclists, one in a suit on a granny bike, and the other in casual wear on a mountain bike.

Of course a large number of people will think that the fixed gear and the road bike will shoot off and beat the others by miles. This is true, they would, however, they haven’t won yet. When these 2 get to their work, they are basically a waterfall of sweat. So for them, not only do you have the time to get to work, but you also have to factor in the time to have a shower.

For the other 2, the mountain biker may have got there resonably quickly, but being still a bit sticky, a shower will be required. Finally, the granny bike, although it comes in last, the rider is sweat free and has enjoyed their ride. No need to catch your breath or have a shower, you can simply walk into work.

So once you get all the factors together and plus the amount of time taken to get to work, plus the time to recover from cycling. The granny bike comes out on top. It proves that slow and steady really does win the daily commute.

Next time you’re on your way to work, spend some extra time considering your travel options.