Words by: Helena Shill Werner
Photos by: Philip Lundman, Kiwa Photography, Helena Shill Werner
If you or someone in your group injures themselves far away from help or if you get lost in the mountains, the situation can quickly change from amazing to life threatening. Being prepared for the worst every time you go out is not always the best option, as the worst thing can be several different things and it might create fear and take away some of the amazing experience. Not being prepared at all can work very well…. until the day it does not.
Therefore, hoping for the best, knowing about the worst and preparing for the most likely thing to happen is usually the best option.
Check your gear.
Is your bike in good condition or does something need to be fixed?
Ending up in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike is no fun. Make sure that your bike is up for the ride and bring some tools so that you can fix minor issues. Also check that the rest of your gear is in good condition, because you don’t want to realize that your knee pads, helmet or back protector is unusable or missing whilst unpacking when you are at the start of the trail. This is what I bring:
Multi-tool, chain splitter, inner tube, tubeless repair kit, an air canister and tire levers.
Check yourself.
Like your bike, you need to be in good condition too.
Ask yourself these questions before the ride; Am I fit enough, skilled enough? Do I know how to take care of an injury, do I know how to navigate? Am I prepared for this?
“Our strength and wellness can be very different from day to day. Every trail does not require 100% all of the time, but some trails really do.”
If you want to do a big ride then give yourself the best chance of succeeding and do a self-scan before your ride. I do this a lot and therefore I sometimes change my route or ride because of it. One of my biggest flaws is navigation. I get lost very easily, so this is something I need to take into consideration when I am out on my own. I try to go on short trails close to home to practice this so I can get better and when I ride with others who are good at it I try to participate and learn from them.
Good things to do before you go.
Check the weather forecast and make sure to check the mountain forecast a couple days ahead, as upcoming weather can come in earlier. I once got stuck in a tent on the top of a mountain in a thunderstorm that came in one day earlier.
“Always let someone know where you are going and when you might be back.”
If you get lost or injured and without the possibility to contact anyone this narrows down the initial search area. If I am out longer than planned or if my phone is low on battery, I send a pin-drop with the latest location on the map to someone I know. When I got stuck in the thunderstorm my phone was out of signal, but I told my husband where I was and he also knew that I could navigate in that area, had good gear and that I had the skills to take care of myself and make healthy decisions.
If you are riding in a new area or country, make sure to learn or write down the emergency number. If you are within an area that has their own mountain rescue or emergency unit make sure to know their number. Some areas have their own safety guidelines that you should read and learn! If you are abroad, also check your insurance so that you don’t end up with a massive bill.
Good things to bring!
I like to carry as light as possible so for a day out I’m usually fine with the 6L Norrona hip pack. I usually ride with my husband so we divide supplies between us. Here are some things I bring for safety and why:
– Extra layers and protective gear. Exposure to cold and rain is one of the biggest dangers when you’re out on the mountain. I usually bring a wind or waterproof jacket or an extra base layer, because weather can change quickly. I brought the falketind aero60 wind jacket and it packs really small and is superlight. If it is a colder day, I bring the waterproof falketind paclite jacket, very durable and lightweight. A very good protector from the weather is Norrona wind sack and it comes in two different sizes. A cheaper and disposable option is a foil blanket.
– Extra snacks and dextrose. If something happens that slows us down I will need more energy. Power bars and dextrose are easy uppers that keep me going when I am tired.
– Pocket knife. You never know when you need it.
-Portable charger. If you get stuck somewhere or the ride takes longer I want to be able to charge my phone if I need to call for help.
– Allen keys. Don´t go on a bike ride without it.
– Emergency medical care material.
Emergency bag and paramedics:
I train police officers as emergency paramedics and my sister is a paramedic, so it is safe to say I take emergency care and safety very seriously. I think everyone should! I don’t want to go out on a remote trail with someone who is unable to take care of me or themselves if something happens. Therefore, I make sure to keep my medical supplies and my paramedic skills up to date. Good things to know are how to stop bleeding, call for help, protect yourself from bad weather, how to perform CPR and how to stabilize a fracture.
I always bring plasters, sterile compresses, steri-stripes, band-aids, medical tape, a jacket and paracetamol. A band-aid can be used in many ways, for example as a sling, supporting band aid or if you tie a loop on the end it can be used as a tourniquet.
I also bring a band aid that sticks to itself, works great not only for me but is perfect if my dog hurts one of her paws.
Trail dog safety
As I bring my dog with me on the trails, I have a responsibility to keep her safe. I give her extra water and food the day before and I always bring a portable water bowl. She has a harness in which I can lift her in if needed, a band-aid and a “dog sock” to protect her paws if she gets injured. The most common injury for dogs is that they cut or burn their pads on something sharp or warm on the trail. Bedrocks can get super warm if your dog is a fast runner.
If reading this article scares you or if you are thinking “that’s not going to happen, she is exaggerating” be mindful of your responsibility towards yourself and your riding buddies and prepare and take charge of the lack of skills or your lack of safety measures. Better safe than sorry!
About Helena
Helena is a mountain biking life and sports coach that loves going up and down mountains. She has been working with stress management and how to perform under pressure within the police for more than 10 years and also coaches athletes and sports enthusiasts how to reach their goals.
