Is road cycling more dangerous than mountain bikeing

[Andrew 14]

Different risks

True but which one is greater

 

[400bhp]

What risks are you thinking of?

Falling off, minor injury, major injury death?

I don't know the definitive answer to any and neither does anyone else.

 

[jdtate101]

I think MTB'ing carries more risk of regular minor injuries as falling off is more common due to the inherent instability of going fast over loose and uneven terrain. Road cycling carries a higher risk of serious injury or death, however very much rarer, due to the nature of collisions with vehicles.

 

[Andrew 14]

I think MTB'ing carries more risk of regular minor injuries as falling off is more common due to the inherent instability of going fast over loose and uneven terrain. Road cycling carries a higher risk of serious injury or death, however very much rarer, due to the nature of collisions with vehicles.

Im not sure what my point was but this is what I was trying to say

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'd say that you have more control off road. Anything happens, it's your fault. On the road, you can minimise - but not control - the danger of bad driving.

 

[jazzkat]

I think MTB'ing carries more risk of regular minor injuries as falling off is more common due to the inherent instability of going fast over loose and uneven terrain. Road cycling carries a higher risk of serious injury or death, however very much rarer, due to the nature of collisions with vehicles.

I'd agree with some of this. I stopped mountain biking because I couldn't risk breaking a finger/wrist etc due to the nature of my job. With a mtb you do fall off, but it tends to be a soft landing. So I took up road cycling. Now for eight years I have never once had a crash or come off, until a couple of months ago. My crash left me in hospital with broken bones.
I suspected it would happen and I was unlucky but if you crash on a road bike you will be going faster and the road is hard so it's going to hurt more.
I reckon the risk of injury from a vehicle is very slight. Yes, it does happen but I wonder if statistically you are more likely to get KSI'd as a pedestrian.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Isn't the risk of either activity directly proportional to the level of risk taking and stupidity?

 

[on the road]

If you go on the road with a mountain bike you're just as likely to be knocked off as you would on a road bike, and not all those cyclists that have been killed on the road were on road bikes.

To me I would say mountain biking was more dangerous just by the very nature of it.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I have started to cycle agen after a few years away .I used to ride a mountain bike and always went out with a club or other group never alone . The two main reasons for this was its more fun in a group and should you fall off and hurt your self you wouldn't be alone .the point i am trying to make is I thought of Mtb as a potentially dangerous sport . However although many of my friends and i suffered miner cuts and bruises one one died . However I now ride a road bike and go out alone and I am beginning to think its more dangerous than mountain biking . Every time I go out I am amazed at how little respect you get from some car drivers and there has been reports on the news about cycleists being killed . Will it be safer in a group do cars give you more room ? Do you think it's safer on a mtb away from the cars

I did a ride yesterday which was a mixture of country roads and off road trails. I preferred the trails. On road when not commuting (where I see more cyclists so the adage safety in numbers helps) I see idiots in cars all the time, the main issue is they have no patience for waiting for a safe passing spot.

Off road every time for me for a more relaxing ride.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

MTB'ing has seen me in A&E on a ratio of roughly 10:1 compared with riding on the road, since 95.

Every trip, on-road or off- has been my fault. Maybe I should find some other hobbies.

 

[400bhp]

Isn't the risk of either activity directly proportional to the level of risk taking and stupidity?

Yes - that's one [or 2] factor.

But there are other risk factors at play too.

 

[lulubel]

I think MTB'ing carries more risk of regular minor injuries as falling off is more common due to the inherent instability of going fast over loose and uneven terrain. Road cycling carries a higher risk of serious injury or death, however very much rarer, due to the nature of collisions with vehicles.

This is what I was going to say. I've had lots of minor falls while MTBing that have left me with some bruises and scrapes, but no major injuries. My one "crash" on the road was caused when a vehicle pulled out directly in front of me, so I couldn't avoid going into the side of it, and that left me with much more serious injuries and permanent scarring.

The difference for me is that you're in control of the level of risk when you're riding off-road, and as long as you ride within your limits and the limits of your bike, any accidents should be minor. On the road, it doesn't matter how careful you are, the metal boxes are big and heavy, and travel fast, and it only takes one idiot to cause you serious injury or even death, and that's totally out of your control. I ride on the road because I enjoy it and I know serious crashes are very rare, but I am aware that my safety isn't totally within my control (nor is it when I'm crossing the road, or even walking along the pavement, and I still do that as well).

 

[Radchenister]

Get out of control or take a risk in any environment and it may (/ will?) bite you; if you hit a tree or a car, bump your head on a kerb or rock - same outcome possible.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The difference for me is that you're in control of the level of risk when you're riding off-road, and as long as you ride within your limits and the limits of your bike, any accidents should be minor. On the road, it doesn't matter how careful you are, the metal boxes are big and heavy, and travel fast, and it only takes one idiot to cause you serious injury or even death, and that's totally out of your control. I ride on the road because I enjoy it and I know serious crashes are very rare, but I am aware that my safety isn't totally within my control (nor is it when I'm crossing the road, or even walking along the pavement, and I still do that as well).

 

[Licramite]

I don't think it's a case of which is safer, cycling in rush hour traffic , or going totally off road and crashing through woods/trees , both have their risks.

It's which do you enjoy the most.

I've come off , off roading , loads of time, normally at 0mph as the bike sinks in mud and dumps me in it. a few times at speed normally into nice and soft trees and bushes.(ha - soft my arse)

But I don't have those sphincter gripping moments you get as a 60ft artic squeezes you off the road or car shoots past on your elbow.

I find off roading more relaxing and enjoyable as you can just concentrate on the track and not on whats coming up behind you.