Go green
The nine rules of sustainable mountain biking
Our way of going into the mountains: respect for nature and for others.
- 1
Respect nature
If you love mountain biking, you also love nature and outdoor life. Respect the plants and flowers and do not disturb wild animals. Take home any waste you produce, such as inner tubes, food wrappers or supplements. A true biker also picks up the waste that others have abandoned when necessary.
- 2
Plan your outings
Get to know the area where you are about to ride early, evaluate it based on your skills and plan your outing accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: check and maintain your equipment, and carry everything you need to handle weather changes or mechanical failures. Bring enough water and food and, most importantly, check the battery of your phone and e-bike before leaving. Always inform family or friends about the itinerary and your estimated return time.
- 3
Stay on the trail
One of the functions of trails is to concentrate the impact of those passing through a forest or a sparsely anthropized area on a specific point, in order to reduce erosion and control its impact on the surrounding environment. Staying on trails is the most responsible and ethical way to practice mountain biking: do not cut the corners!
- 4
Avoid trails in case of mud
Riding a muddy trail means further damaging it by digging it up and creating channels that will be filled by the next rains, worsening its conditions. The result? Your favorite trail will be ruined and impassable for a long time, and many hours of work (often done by volunteers) will be needed to restore it. When these conditions are present, consider leaving when the ground is still frozen (in winter) or moving to another slope, perhaps with more draining terrain or better sun exposure.
- 5
Do not alter the path
Do not carry out unauthorized work and do not damage existing structures such as steps, signage, etc. If you encounter issues such as landslides or fallen trees, report them to the relevant authorities or to the associations and groups that maintain the trails in the area so that they can intervene. You are also authorized to perform simple cleaning and removal of any branches or rocks that have accidentally fallen on the path, actions that are useful for both your safety and that of others.
- 6
Respect others
Respect those who walk or ride on the trails and remember that you must always give them priority. Let others get off before you get on and moderate your speed on crowded paths, out of respect for other users and for greater safety, yours and others’. Do the same on paths and roads that pass through groups of houses; respect those who live near the paths. During the weekend, try planning outings in less crowded areas, especially where there are many families. Use common sense and put yourself in others’ shoes: do you like it when a car overtakes you at full speed?
- 7
Drive with caution
Adapt your speed to the crowding, type and conditions of the trail, as well as the presence of other users and your technical abilities, to avoid endangering yourself and others. The speed and riding style that can be maintained in a bike park with trails dedicated to mountain bikes is not sustainable on shared trails. Be aware of your limits, ride so that you always have control of the bicycle and wear appropriate safety and protection devices such as helmet, gloves, goggles and knee pads.
- 8
Give way correctly
Make sure that other trail users know you are about to pass them by giving a friendly greeting or using a bell. When visibility is poor, always assume there may be someone behind a curve or obstacle. On shared paths, cyclists must give way to all non-motorized users. On two-way paths, cyclists descending must give way to those ascending.
- 9
Overtake with respect
Ensure that every overtaking occurs in the safest and kindest way possible, whether you are overtaking another cyclist or a pedestrian.