Ever wonder as you’re about to nose over a bulbous rock garden leading to an off camber drop what injury you’re most likely to suffer if things got sideways? Like, sideways in a bad way?
For example, last December, while finishing a ride on the easiest part, just a steep descent on a slightly rutted fire road, just after recklessly zooming through single track on a rigid bike, my front wheel washed out, I went down sideways, landed hard on my right shoulder, and fractured the glenoid bone (back of your shoulder socket) and tore my shoulder labrum (the cartilage that forms the sides of the socket), and fractured my elbow. Interesting! All that bad stuff from one little fall! Who woulda thought?
Well, the Enduro World Series released a comprehensive study of the injuries its riders suffered over a two-year period. It’s probably not a shock that broken clavicles were the norm, as well as busted hands. Concussions were the most common of head injuries reported.
Granted, these are pro enduro racers, so they’re probably going much faster than us workaday riders, and are at the very edge of their abilities. But a busted collarbone is a busted collarbone. And it’s interesting reading nonetheless.
You can read the whole study right here.
h/t Pinkbike