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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, anyone who has ridden their bike for any great length of time or at high intensity will be only too aware that pains and strains can creep in if you are not careful. Let’s take a look at 3 of the most common complaints and how they can be avoided.

Wrist Strain. When you are traveling over bumps or uneven ground, the force is usually transmitted through the forks and into the wrists. 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. A good way to avoid this is have decent suspension on the bike to absorb a lot of the pressure, or alternatively find a bike that is made out of impact absorbing material such as the Trek Madone

Pain In The Backside. 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 advanced 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.