If you hate pedaling uphill but love cruising downhill around thrilling turns then gravity assisted mountain biking is the sport for you. Gravity assisted mountain biking isn’t for the feint of heart. Normal trails take place on high mountain peaks or ski resorts.
So, what is gravity assisted mountain biking? Gravity assisted mountain biking is a fast-paced mountain biking segment that is normally located on steep mountainous terrain or on ski slopes during the off season. The mountain bikes used are sturdy and feature a full suspension.
The extra travel make them adept at conquering the rough terrains at very high speeds. The traditional mountain bikes cannot match the slacker geometry and extreme absorption of gravity-assisted mountain bikes because the gravity-assisted bikes are heavier.
“Think of bicycles as ridable art that can just about save the world.”
Grant Petersen
The riders get to the highest point of a mountain, mostly riding in choppers and then ride down the offered trail systems. The rides can take several hours or days and the cost can be thousands of dollars for one hour outbound in a chopper. To reduce the associated costs, many ski areas are offering gravity aided biking during summer. The bikers take lifts to the top most part of a hill with their bikes and then descend the single-track bike trails.
Is Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking Dangerous?
It is insufficient to say that gravity assisted downhill mountain biking is dangerous. Dropping down a mountainside on 12-inch-wide trails at a speed roughly 20-40 miles per hour speed; launching off drops, hurtling via rock formations, and even flying around corners that are above hundreds-of-foot-tall cliffs should sound dangerous. And if you asked someone whether the risks associated with the gravity assisted mountain biking matches the gains, the answer will be always yes.
The Thrill Of Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking
Most individuals want to continue making money during the hot summer months in ski resorts. The idea of taking the chair lift designed for skiers to the highest point of a mountain and carrying a cyclist is now common in ski resorts from all parts of the world. Mountain bikers are providing an additional income to the ski resorts and in exchange, the ski resorts provide the cyclists with a good opportunity of accepting risks that ordinary people would never accept.
Accepting The Risks
Every cyclist, regardless of the level, faces several risks on a daily basis. When riding a road bike, a cyclist will have to keep watching the cars that whiz past at very high speed because they are considerable risk – the cyclist has no control over what the vehicle might do. Gravity assisted mountain biking comes with many risks and the cyclist has to control the bike over rocks, past trees and use the brakes to keep gravity at bay if the need arises. The bikers and ski resort operators understand the risks and they might require the biker must sign a waiver that states that they assume every involved risk.
Some Recent Statistics
A more recent study shows that Whistler Mountain Bike Park reports around 2,000 injuries per every 900 riders or within a five months cycling season. Around 12 percent of injuries are threatening to limbs or the biker’s life. Concussions, broken bones, organ damages, internal bleeding and quadriplegia are among the most serious reported injuries. To put it into perspective, statistics from skiing show that the level of injuries is 1 injury per every 1000 skiers. Gravity aided bikers suffer 1 injury for every 10 cyclists.
Respecting The Terrain & Inexperience
Inexperience is a leading cause of gravity aided biking accidents. The ratio of women to men who end up injured proves that. Women account for roughly 25 percent of the downhill cyclists, and around 86 percent of the reported injuries involve men. The main reason behind that is that women always take fewer risks and take lessons before they engage in an activity. The reported injuries among professionals stand at roughly 34 percent – it is even lower than that of experts. The statistics show that professionals employ more skills to avoid injuries when dropping down on a bike.
The Errors of Riders And The Current Trail Condition
Another study that the Paracelsus Medical University conducted in Salzburg, Austria showed that the two commonest causes of accidents among mountain bikers are the common denominators – the error of riders standing at 72 percent and bad trail conditions standing at 31 percent.
“Never ignore your instinct and you can always push harder. I get inspired when I think of people who have pushed their bodies to the limit.”
Rachel Atherton
Fear Is A Mountain Bikers Friend
A healthy fear of all the risks associated with gravity assisted mountain biking can help the biker remain safe. Statistics point out that the risks associated with downhill mountain biking can be as low or as high as the biker wants them to be. By understanding your skill level and your limits, you will be able to remain safe including in the worst trail conditions. With that in mind, there is no reason for avoiding gravity-assisted mountain biking and the benefits it provides. By understanding what to expect, you will remain safe until the activities are over.
The 10 Best Places For Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking
A few years ago, the bike parks allowing gravity focused biking were limited. Today, more ski resorts have recognized the potential for revenues during summer away from the bigger mountains; small bike parks with trailer uplift are cropping up in most places. That has given rise to the long MTB seasons and diverse terrains. Here are some of the established bike parts for people who would want to try gravity assisted mountain biking.
Whistler, Canada
The British Columbia resort offers many trails for the entry-level bikers and the experienced ones. Moreover, you should expect to find trails for every riding style that you can access through fast modern lifts that end in dreamy towns where people spend their evenings in indoor airbag, skatepark, jumps or trail rides into the wilderness. For the experienced bikers, Whistler provides big bike park jumps and on the other side, you will find blue-graded and copious green trails for beginners.
Portes du Soleil, France
The Portes du Soleil, situated in France offers interlinked bike parks and towns including Les Gets, Chatel, Morgins, Morzine-Avoriaz and Champery, which are spread across Switzerland and France. Chatel is the most impressive development. In the place, you will find full-time teams that maintain and shape the tracks and trains with innumerable jumps, monster berms and massive hacks. Morzine is the best site for hang, downhill tracks and after-ride vibes.
Are, Sweden
To enjoy the experience associated with northern European biking, you should try Are, Sweden. Are offers sizeable Swedish hills that slope gently into the forests and lakes on every side. The site offers stunning settings, particularly in the golden light of the long Scandi summer evenings. The gravity-aided mountain biking elements are more like a mini whistler. All tracks are properly built, offer enormous banked turns and fun, safer jumps on machine-made trails. You should also expect many natural options if you need to try the out-of-park adventure.
Queenstown, New Zealand
The outdoor capital of New Zealand boasts all sorts of water and mountain-based pursuits in addition to being a healthy gravity-centred mountain biking centre. The skyline gondola biking park has highly improved within the last few years and today it is a must-visit destination for the off-season. During winter in the northern hemisphere, the world’s pro riders go to Queenstown to try downhill laps, spend their evenings by the lake and try trail rides. The lift boasts a very long opening season.
Solden, Austria
If you need something that is completely different from what you expect in other areas, you should try the Solden’s mountain biking, which is usually aimed at the masses. The lift-accessed trail centre has mellow gradients, many artificial surfacing and areas for big jumps. It is another version of summertime ski resort riding with endured bikes and trails. The town has invested highly in mountain bikes, which means that the trail network will continue growing each year.
Coast Gravity Park, Canada
The Coast Gravity Park opened by a group of professional riders from British Columbia is a pilgrimage site for the serious gravity aided riders who visit western Canada. The site has appeared in very many photoshoots and videos for the perfect textbook jumps and the smooth berms. It has 12 official trails that offer to very difficult and the intent provides something little for the riders. It is a good site for gravity-aided bikers.
“Crashing is part of cycling as crying is part of love.”
Johan Museeuw –
BikePark Wales
Wales is known for the great mountain biking experience that it provides – it has bike parks and trail centres in every place. While the Black Mountains Cycle Centre, Revolution Bike Park, and the Antur Stiniog centre are impressive, the BikePark Wales is the most rounded gravity-orientated destination in the country. Expect easy flowy and meandering singletrack and massive downhill tech and jump lines. The hillside area offers options for all riders. You must book a few months in advance to bike in the place.
EVO Bike Park, France
EVO Bike Park is another great biking park suitable for mountain bikers who do not need ski resort infrastructures to enjoy their time. The bike park is situated in the south of France and you can tour the place at any time of the year. However, most of the runs are solely for the experts. The uplift is large trucks and space is limited, so you have to book in advance.
Vallnord, Andorra
Vallnord is known for tax-reduced bargains. It is situated among the pristine Pyrenean peaks that attract many mountain tourists. When it comes to mountain biking, the annual World Cup downhill and the cross-country races have placed Andorra on the world map. Vallnord is the main bike park of the country and the numerous downhill, endure options, freeride tracks, pump track and kids’ ride area and 4X track make it a destination for gravity-centric riders. The area offers cheap food and accommodation and favourable weather.
Secret Single Track
The Secret Single Track is a great downhill mountain bike trail, which is hidden in the hills near La Paz, Bolivia. The gravity-guided mountain biking is among the things you would want to do this year. And if you want to do it for two weeks continuously, the area will allow you to do that.
What’s The Best Technique When Downhill Mountain Biking?
Most gravity assisted mountain bikers have found themselves on the ground after the rear, front or both wheels slid out near a corner. Even though you can blame the weather, the bicycle or many other culprits, mostly a poor technique is usually the cause. To be safe, you will have to adopt good cornering techniques. Look where you want to go – not ahead of the front wheel. After you start cornering, you should keep your eyes at the exit in anticipation of what is coming next. That way, you will be able to apply breaks and shift your weight properly.