Company, Event, Date Name Stay in the saddle Company, Event, Date Name SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Non-occupational accidents in Switzerland, 2015 82 000 road traffic 418 000 sports 564 000 in and around the home Every year, over one million people are injured on the roads, doing sports or other activities as well as in or around the home. SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Mountain biking Mountain biking through fields and forests, over challenging single trails or downhill mountain bike pistes is popular. But things don’t always run smoothly: Every year around 9000 people in Switzerland suffer an accident while mountain biking off road. SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Protect yourself with the right equipment Bicycle helmet (EN 1078) Wear it properly: 1. The front edge should be two finger widths above the bridge of your nose. 2. Side straps should fit snugly, with room for one finger between the strap and your chin. SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Protect yourself with the right equipment Bicycle helmet (EN 1078) Sports goggles Long fingered gloves Protectors (activity dependent, e.g. piste biking) Functional clothing and weather protection Bike shoes with good treads for walking sections Provisions Repair kit Pocket first-aid kit Well audible bell or trail bell Mobile phone, maps, GPS Emergency phone number 112, emergency app SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Protect yourself with the right equipment If you are riding your mountain bike on public roads, the same rules apply as for regular bicycles. Lighting system with steady lights, white at the front and red at the rear, permanently attached or removable – visible at night in fine weather at a distance of 100 m Reflectors: white at the front and red at the rear, permanently attached Yellow reflectors front and rear on the pedals – except on safety pedals, racing pedals (clipless pedals) Brakes for front and rear wheels Pneumatic tyres or others with roughly equivalent elasticity, fabric should not be visible SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Thorough preparation is essential Choose a route that suits your technical and physical abilities. For downhill (piste) mountain biking, choose a destination with well-maintained mountain bike pistes marked by difficulty level. You can find maps, route guides and GPS tour recommendations at www.mountainbikeland.ch. SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Set a good example Reckon with the unexpected – think ahead, ride with concentration and at a speed adapted to the prevailing conditions. Ride downhill in a defensive manner – for E-MTB riders, this also applies to riding uphill. Avoid busy hiking trails and alert hikers to your presence early (e.g. with a bell). SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Observe the mountain biking code of conduct SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018

Further information Find out more in the following bfu brochures (available in French, German and Italian): «Mountainbiking – Die Natur ruft» (Art.-No. 3.020) «Kluge Köpfe schützen sich – Den Velohelm richtig anziehen» (Art.-No. 3.112) Order them free of charge at www.bestellen.bfu.ch. Find even more accident prevention tips at www.bfu.ch. SafetyKit Mountain Bike 2018