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Comment by ourguile | Hacker News Reader

I do a lot of road cycling, but this is essentially why I refuse to participate in mountain biking (in my area). I've heard so many horror stories from friends of mine who ride and it sounds like accidents are only a matter of time. Even if someone rides as safe as they can, you can't account for others on the trails or the conditions 100% of the time.

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I got off a road bike onto a mountain because I feel I have more control.

A motorist plowing me from behind on the highway is something I can't control.

How fast or cautious I ride is in my control. It does help to be familiar with whatever trail you're riding however.

Well you cannot control the trail conditions right? unless you are doing an inspection beforehand

But yeah I agree road cycling is extremely dangerous, you are trusting that 100% percent of the drivers on the road will be mindful of cyclists, all the time.

Can't control but they are generally predictable. I tend to ride the same trail loop, so know it's condition based on recent weather.

For new trails, it's helpful to ride with someone who's done it before, otherwise just take it easy.

My cousin had a bad mountain bike accident, and i think it had to do with risk desensitisation. He's an excellent rider, and was just warming up and goofed a bit. Ended up breaking his back and knocking himself out.

I don't necessarily think mtb is safer overall, but the risk factors are more apparent, and, as with any sport, user discretion is advised.

You have to differ between mountain biking and downhill biking in a park, though. The latter is far more extreme with big jumps etc.

For me, I feel "safer" doing something where I'm in control, compared to when I road bike and my life depends on the whims of an angry driver passing too close. Even if the risk might be bigger in the end. Something about known risks you can control vs not.

To be fair the same is true for road cycling and drivers, I've had some very lucky encounters by predicting the worst possible outcomes and managing to get lucky enough to avoid them. Especially in the UK or US where the car rules the road and you don't really count as a vehicle or a pedestrian, just a nuisance.

> you don't really count as a vehicle or a pedestrian, just a nuisance

This was one of the saddest things I've noticed when I moved here, roads are for cars, everyone else is just taking up space.

It really makes me mad where "orange vests" decide to use the bike path as a parking space. From what I can tell there isn't even any laws against this.

I've heard the same about riding on the road for exactly the same reasons.

Yeah it's really a "pick your poison" situation. I suppose that at least your biggest concern in MTB is crashing into immovable hazards (trees, off-camber slopes), whereas on the road you've got 2-ton vehicles flying around piloted frequently by distracted people.

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