Gear Sports

But just ask a few local mountain bikers who’ve done it - gone end over end, flying unexpectedly over the handlebars - and they’ll tell you about their broken collarbones, reconstructive surgeries and time-consuming rehabilitation.

While mountain biking participation has dropped nationwide, according to the Outdoor Industry Association, there are still 50 million participants. And that number includes a growing number in Western North Carolina, where the abundance of trails lures road cyclists to the woods for the off-road version of the sport.

But with mountain biking growing in the area, injuries - major and minor - are also on the rise.

“I was going over this log jump that was on the trail,” said Jason Holt, 35, of Asheville, who broke his collarbone in January on the Kitsuma trail in Ridgecrest. “I jumped pretty big, and when I came down on the landing, I crashed, and the bike flipped over on top of me.”

But with mountain biking growing in the area, injuries - major and minor - are also on the rise.

“I was going over this log jump that was on the trail,” said Jason Holt, 35, of Asheville, who broke his collarbone in January on the Kitsuma trail in Ridgecrest. “I jumped pretty big, and when I came down on the landing, I crashed, and the bike flipped over on top of me.”

Break-neck speeds - literally

With new trails popping up frequently that are designed to be easier to ride yet challenging enough for the pros, more beginning riders are getting into the sport, said Aaron Stern, a bike mechanic at Carolina Fatz on Brevard Road.

“I think the quality of trails comes into play,” Stern said. “As the trails become easier to ride, it enables people to ride faster, more confidently. When you come up on a tight turn or anything technical, people aren’t ready because they are carrying so much speed.”

Speed is the most significant factor in mountain bike injuries, said Lawler, who was an avid mountain biker when he lived in New Mexico.

Leaves can be recipe for disaster

More mountain bikers tend to hit the trail at this time of year, when it’s cooler, less humid and the woods are vibrating with color. But it can also be a more dangerous time to ride, especially for beginners, said Karen Masson, 38, of Asheville.

An experienced mountain biker who races for Team BioWheels, Masson teaches biking safety clinics and workshops for women bikers. She is also nursing a broken collarbone, although Masson broke hers in a road cycling incident over the summer.

“At this time of year, with all the leaves down, you can have more accidents,” Masson said. In addition to making the trails more slippery, the fallen leaves can hide hazards such as tree roots and rocks.

But in addition to trail conditions, injuries also occur when people get out of their comfort zone, said Mike Hiers, the ride coordinator for the Pisgah Area Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.