Mountain Bike Safety

Mountain Bike Safety

Mountain biking involves risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions, and actions contribute to your safety and that of others.

Know The Code

NSAA has developed the Mountain Biker's Responsibility Code to help inform users about the basic information, decision-making, and actions every rider should know and take before and while riding on the variety of trails within a trail network. 

Similar to the ten points of the Winter Responsibility Code, this code reminds users that there are elements of risk in mountain biking that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. 

  1. STAY IN CONTROL. You're responsible for avoiding objects and people.
  2. KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Ride within your ability. Start small and work your way up.
  3. PROTECT YOURSELF. Use an appropriate bike, helmet, and protective equipment.
  4. INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT. Know your components and their operation prior to riding
  5. BE LIFT SMART. Know how to load, ride, and unload lifts safely. Ask if you need help.
  6. INSPECT THE TRAILS AND FEATURES. Condition change constantly; plan and adjust your riding accordingly.
  7. OBEY SIGNS AND WARNINGS. Stay on marked trails only. Keep off closed trails and features. Ride in the direction indicated.
  8. BE VISIBLE. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail, feature, landing or not visible.
  9. LOOK AND YIELD TO OTHERS. Look both ways and yield when entering or crossing a road or trail. When overtaking, use caution and yield to those ahead.
  10. COOPERATE. If involved in or witness to an incident, identify yourself to staff.

Gear Guidelines

Protecting your body from a range of elements or injuries with the following recommended protective equipment can ensure that weather, obstacles or crashes don’t force your day to end early. A helmet is mandatory for every rider, and additional protective gear is strongly recommended. 

Protective gear is available at Boyne Country Sports in the lower level of the Day Lodge. Full-face helmets are also available in the rental shop. 

  • HELMET (MANDATORY): A helmet is required for all riders in the bike park and on all cross-country trails.  We strongly recommend a full-face helmet to provide greater protection for your head. 
  • GOGGLES OR EYEWEAR: Wrap-around goggles/eyewear are the best choice for eye protection against dirt, branches and other objects that you’ll encounter out on the trail or in a fall. 
  • BODY ARMOR: Upper body Armor wraps your chest, ribs, spine, torso, shoulders and arms in hard-shell pads to minimize impact and injuries in a crash 
  • LONG SLEEVES: Long-sleeved shirts and pants add a thin but crucial barrier against skin abrasions 
  • ELBOW PADS: Hard-shell elbow pads protect one of the most sensitive parts of your arm. 
  • GLOVES: Full-finger gloves provide better bike control and offer protection from blisters and weather 
  • KNEE PADS OR SHIN GUARDS: Protect your knees and shins from impact with hard-shell pads and guards 
  • CLOSED-TOE SHOES: Shoes with a durable toe box prevent injuries if your feet get jammed on a rock or roots. 

 

Approved Equipment

Having the right bike when riding the bike park not only makes the day more fun, but also helps ensure your safety.  As such there are certain requirements that all bikes must have. 

Required Equipment Features: 

  • Disc Brakes 
  • Suspension, Full suspension is highly recommended, but at minimum a bike must have front suspension 
  • Minimum 2” knobby tires. Fat tires are allowed, but no bigger than 3”, they must fit in bike carriers 
  • Front AND Rear brakes 
  • At least 20” diameter tires 

Bikes without these minimum features will be turned away at the chairlift. Not sure about your bike? Stop into our rental shop before you head out and our rental techs will be happy to do a free and quick safety inspection for you. 

Equipment not allowed in the park and on trails: 

  • Bikes with tires smaller than 20”, smooth tires, caliper brakes, and/or no suspension 
  • Motorized vehicles or Type 2 or Type 3 electric assist bikes 
  • Digglers, One Wheels, or Mountain Scooters 
  • Unicycles 
  • Skateboards, Mountain Boards, or Hoverboards 
  • Tandem Bikes 
  • Trailers or Pulled Carriers 
  • Child Bike Seats or Shotgun seats 

Ride Smart

Slow Down Before You Speed Up. Crashes can happen on the first lap.  Ride the trail multiple times to get familiar with the features and equipment you’re on so you can more confidently increase your skills without exceeding your limits.  Jumping skills are required on most freeride trails. 

When it comes to downhill mountain biking, making sure you know how to be safe is the best place to start and the smartest way to be. Here are a few safety tips: 

  • Inspect your bike before each ride. Check your tire pressure is correct, your brakes are not slipping or squeaking, the headset, crank arms and pedals are not loose, the suspension sag is right for your weight and the seat height isn’t too high for downhill riding.  Not sure?  Stop into our rental shop before you head out and our rental techs will be happy to do a free and quick safety inspection for you. 
  • Assess your skill level. Ride within your abilities and take your time. Don’t try to keep up with more advanced bikers, and don’t encourage other bikers to ride in terrain that is beyond their ability. 
  •  Prepare your body. Carry water and stay hydrated.  Water is provided by The Highlands at the base of the lift as well as in the Day Lodge and Main Lodge. Be mindful of your fatigue level which can slow your reaction time. 
  • Know how to brake. Constant pressure when braking is better than on/off or slamming the brakes 
  • Eyes on the prize. Your eyes guide where the bike goes.  Look down the trail.  The faster you are going, the farther you should be looking ahead. 
  • Be prepared for an incident. Carry a charged cell phone programmed with the patrol’s phone number. Carry a trail map (paper copy or on the app), pay attention to trail signs, and always know where you are. 
  • BE CAREFUL AND HAVE FUN!! 

Ability Levels

Knowing your ability level, so you can choose the right trails to ride, is an important first step. 

BEGINNER 

  • I can comfortably ride on pavement or wide gravel trails, maintain balance and can use disc brakes 
  • I have little or no experience riding mountain bike trails and/or in a downhill mountain bike park 

NOVICE 

  • I can comfortably ride on green or easy blue technical tracks and freeride trails 
  • I am confident to ride and carry momentum through bumpy, rooty sections of trail without putting a foot down 
  • I have good brake control 
  • I have a little experience riding bike parks 

INTERMEDIATE 

  • I can comfortably ride on blue freeride and technical trails 
  • I can ride easy black technical trails at slower speeds 
  • I have limited or no jumping or drop experience 
  • I can ride, balance, change gears, and brake without thinking 
  • I have some experience riding on elevated wooden features 
  • I am focused on improving jump, drop, and cornering skills to handle harder blue freeride trails 

ADVANCED 

  • I am comfortable at fast speeds on all black freeride and technical trails  
  •  I am confident in my drops and jumping skills 
  • I can confidently pick a line through difficult technical sections, ride steep rooty sections, and raised skinnys 

EXPERT 

  • I am confident at high speeds on all trails, I can ride all features on black and some double black technical trails  
  • I can clear large drops and jumps with correct technique 

Trail Selection

The trail network at our park is generally more challenging than many other trail networks in the region.  Our easiest trail down will likely be more challenging than the easiest trails at your local trail system or other parks.  Trail ratings are park specific and may vary compared to other trail networks or parks. 

Freeride

Freeride Terrain consists of natural and machine-cut terrain and man-made features. Routes are enhanced with dirt jumps, ride-on features, gaps, narrow surfaces, wallrides, berms, and other natural or constructed features. Freeride trails are identified by their difficulty symbol, which is surrounded by an orange oval. 

BEGINNER 

  • Smooth, wide surfaces with gentle corners and rolling terrain. 
  • All features include ride-arounds  
  • Designed for newer bike park riders 

 INTERMEDIATE 

  • Smooth surfaces on steeper terrain, including larger corners, rollers and smaller jumps 
  • Raised features like bridges and wallrides require jumping skills and speed 
  • All features include ride-arounds 
  • Suited for riders who have mastered all beginner freeride trails 

ADVANCED 

  • Mix of smooth and rough riding surfaces on steep fast grades 
  • Larger man-made features, including jumps, raised bridges and steep wallrides 
  • All features include ride-arounds  
  • Advanced jumping skills are required 
  • Suited for riders who have mastered all intermediate freeride trails 

EXPERT ONLY 

  • Trails with steep terrain, and very fast speeds which require expert jumping skills 
  • Mandatory jump features that require knowledge of gaps and landings with no ride-arounds 
  • Suited for the most advanced riders only 

PRO LINE 

  • Largest gaps and mandatory jump features with no ride-arounds 
  • Expert jumping skills required 
  • Suited for professional riders only 

Technical

Technical trails are designed to embrace the rugged shape and terrain of the mountain, utilizing a majority of natural terrain. Routes are typically hand-built and feature organic obstacles and stunts such as rocks, roots, logs, drops, jumps and other natural or constructed features that require technical riding skills. Technical trails are identified by just their difficulty symbol. 

BEGINNER 

  • Rougher single track trails with small rocks and tree roots. 
  • Designed for new bike park riders comfortable with beginner freeride trails 

INTERMEDIATE 

  • Rougher terrain with tight corners and steeper slopes 
  • Larger natural obstacles, including roots and rocks 
  • Suited for riders who have mastered all beginner technical trails 

ADVANCED 

  • Steep grades with large technical features, including rocks, roots and drops 
  • Technical handling through tight trees and rough sections 
  • Suited for riders who have mastered all intermediate technical trails 

 EXPERT ONLY 

  • Steepest grades with the most technical features 
  • Warming up on intermediate and advanced trails encouraged 
  • Suited for the most advanced riders only 
  • Currently, no Technical Expert Only trails at The Highlands 

PRO LINE 

  • Most difficult technical terrain  
  • Proficient handling of all bike skills required 
  • Suited for professional riders only 
  • Currently, no Technical Pro Line trails at The Highlands 
Suggested Progression 

It is essential to learn to navigate the trails with confidence.  Below is a recommended progression through the trails at The Highlands.  These trails start small and let you build your skills and progress as a rider.  

  1. Fine Pine 
  2. Lemon Squeeze 
  3. Dirt E Dancing 
  4. Peach Fuzz 
  5. Fun Run 
  6. Swayze Express 
  7. Gnarnia 
  8. Dirt Reynolds 
  9. Risky Business 
  10. Shock 
  11. After Shock 

Know The Terminology

Learn the lingo of the trail features you’ll encounter in the bike park 

  • Berm – A raised bank on the outside of a corner that allows a rider to maintain speed without losing traction or sliding out. 
  • Bridge – An elevated wooden feature slightly wider than a skinny.  Also known as a ladder 
  • Gap – A jump that has a gap in between the takeoff and landing 
  • Tabletop - A jump that has a flat surface from the takeoff to the landing 
  • Step-Down – A jump that has a landing lower than its takeoff 
  •  Step-Up – A jump that has a landing higher than its takeoff 
  • Ramp – The angled takeoff or landing on a jump or feature 
  • Ride-Around – An alternate and easier route that usually avoids a technical obstacle 
  • Rock Garden – Any section of trail filled with rocks, roots and other rough features 
  • Rollers – A series of small bumps that can either be rolled or gapped 
  • Skinny - A narrow, wooden trail feature raised off the ground 
  • Drop – A trail feature where rider must launch their bike off of a height and land on a lower surface 
  • Switchback – A very tight uphill or downhill corner, typically changing direction 180 degrees 
  • Wallride – An angled wood wall that involves riding up and across the wall 
  • Log Cannon – A jump that is a skinny angled take off with a drop landing 
  • Flat Down – A significant drop feature where the rider can roll down with both wheels  

Uphill Policy

Uphill access to The Highlands Bike Park is available ONLY during operating hours. Please double-check our hours before heading out, as they change periodically. Currently, our only 2-way traffic trails for uphill access are Lemon Squeeze and Blue Bottle. All riders must still fill out a waiver form, and those without a waiver will be considered trespassers.