Jun 24, 2019
Nearly a third of elite enduro mountain bike racers finished their races after sustaining a concussion in competition, according to a newly released enduro mountain bike medical study funded by EWS and completed by Edinburgh Napier University of more than 2,000 EWS racers from 46 countries from 10 EWS events.
 
A quarter of amateur riders continue riding immediately after sustaining a concussion, according to the second part of the study, which surveyed more than 3,000 amateur level, enduro-oriented mountain bike riders.   Delaying treatment can prolong recovery by 10 days. New concussion protocol help you get back on the bike sooner post injury and can shorten full recovery time.

It’s time for a pop quiz.

You’re out there in full enduro mode, ripping
down the gnarliest run of the day, feeling the
flow, when suddenly your front wheel washes out,
sending you over the bars and into the dirt like
a human javelin. You get up, a little woozy and
unsure of what just happened. What do you do next?

A: Make like Taylor Swift, Shake It Off, and jump
back on your bike and finish the run.

B: Take a moment to let the fog clear; check your
bike, and then saddle up and let it rip.

C: Give yourself a few minutes to assess yourself
and your bike. Then walk/cruise it out, getting
off for any steep, technical stuff so you can get
out safely and get checked out as soon as possible.
D: Count back from 20 and make sure you know what
day it is. If successful, hop back on and shred away.

You picked C, right? Seems like a no brainer (pun
fully intended), but way too many people are
actually picking those other choices instead.
According to the largest ever medical review on
the sport of mountain biking, which included more
than 2,000 Enduro World Series (EWS) racers,
nearly one third said they went ahead and
finished their race immediately after being
concussed, and 43 percent of the racers said they
took ZERO TIME OFF the bike after a concussion.


The survey, which also
polled more than 3,000 amateur level enduro
riders, found that lots of mountain bikers of
every level blow off their brain injuries even
when they’re just out there riding for fun.

Specifically, the report, which was funded by EWS
and conducted by Edinburgh Napier University,
found 25 percent of recreational mountain bikers
out of 3,000 surveyed (1,941 who completed the
entire survey) kept riding right after sustaining
a concussion. Sixty-three percent didn’t follow
any safety protocol before getting back on their
bike in the days and weeks that followed a brain injury.

As one would expect, the study revealed injuries
of all sorts, including many of the usual broken
collarbones and bashed shins. But the concussion
statistics, in particular, are what caught the attention of the researchers.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Concussion

Concussion
was still the third most common injury in the
amateur mountain bikers. Though women only accounted for 10
percent of the surveyed population, they
sustained three times as many concussions as
their male counterparts. (Women appear to be at
higher risk in all sports; researchers are
investigating the why.) Almost half of riders who
reported a concussion also said they have had
significant recurrences of concussion injury.


This prompted the researchers to call for
better concussion education and more rigorous
concussion safety protocols at events. Despite
news reports, magazine features, and even movies
being made about the dangers of traumatic brain
injuries, it’s clear too many people still don’t take concussion seriously.

“It’s a problem across all sports and
recreational activities,” said athletic trainer
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, Ph.D., a writer on the
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
Position Statement on the Management of
Sport-Related Concussion. “People don’t recognize
and understand all the symptoms of concussion,
and if they do, there are other factors-like
riders not wanting to lose fitness-that lead them
to avoid getting checked out.”

While every concussion is different, there are
some telltale signs to watch out for. These
include: headache; loss of consciousness;
amnesia; foggy headedness; nausea; rapid and/or
severe mood swings; unsteadiness; slowed reaction
times; irritability; and drowsiness.

But here’s the thing McLeod wants everyone to
know: Head injuries no longer mean riding the
La-Z-Boy for weeks on end while your brain mends.
The 2017 Concussion in Sport Group consensus
statement overturned the long-standing notion
that you needed complete rest to recover from a
concussion. Instead, the report, recommends 24 to
48 hours of rest and then gradually becoming more active as symptoms subside.

“That means under the direction of a health care
provider, you could be doing 20 minutes of riding
and then some other exercises on the first day,
and ultimately get back to safe, unrestricted
riding sooner than someone who doesn’t seek
medical help right away and just pushes through,” McLeod said.

One study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that
adolescents who followed this type of active
protocol postconcussion recovered in 13 days
compared to 17 days for teens who did no aerobic
exercise during their recovery.

“There’s recent evidence that if you delay
seeking treatment for concussion, you take up to
10 days longer to recover,” McLeod said. “It’s
like taking one little step forward and five steps back.”

 - by SELENE YEAGER
Selene Yeager is a
top-selling professional health and fitness
writer who lives what she writes as a NASM
certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified
coach, pro licensed mountain bike racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.

CLICK HERE to see articles from Bicycling.com and HERE from Singletracks

After a six-month winter, Tioga Road will open Friday on a limited basis with access to the high country of Yosemite National Park. The Lassen Park Highway will open Saturday afternoon. Full operations at Echo Lake near Tahoe, Caples Lake near Carson Pass, and a dozen campgrounds in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area also will commence this weekend.
Two weeks from Fourth of July weekend, summer finally is arriving to the flank of the Sierra Nevada. Hot sun in the past 10 days has melted snow across millions of acres of national forest up to about 7,500-foot elevations in California’s mountain country. That is allowing rangers to open roads and trails for camping, hiking and boating at hundreds of small lakes and streams.
At the same time, many high-country wilderness areas remain inaccessible. Snow depths higher than 10 feet this week include at the Pacific Crest Trail above 9,500-foot Leavitt Lake near Sonora Pass, at 7,707-foot Grouse Ridge in the Bowman Lakes Recreation Area north of Tahoe, and at the 8,500-foot staging area for the trailhead for Lassen Peak.
Here are the latest tips for summer trips across the Sierra:
Tahoe Basin
Echo Lakes/Desolation: Echo Lakes finally became ice-free last weekend. The water level topped off this week and patchy snow continues circling the lake. The hiker’s boat taxi started this week and the Echo Chalet expects to open all operations by the weekend. The Pacific Crest Trail is snow-covered into Desolation Wilderness as far as Aloha Lake, but some ambitious hikers with crampons and ski poles are making the trek, anyway. Contact: Echo Chalet, 530-659-7207, www.echochalet.com.
D.L. Bliss/Emerald Bay: Eagle Point Campground opened for last weekend, joining the recent openers at D.L. Bliss State Park and the boat-in sites at Emerald Bay. In the vicinity of the shore of Lake Tahoe, all Forest Service campgrounds are open. In the surrounding higher terrain, you hit snow at 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Contact: D.L. Bliss State Park, 530-525-9529, www.parks.ca.gov; Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 530-543-2600, www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu.

North Sierra
Lakes Basin Recreation Area: In the Lakes Basin (also called “The Gold Lakes”), campgrounds opening Friday include Packsaddle, Berger and Diablo. That means all the campgrounds at Gold, Sardine, Goose, Packer and Haven lakes will be open for the weekend. The road to the trailhead to the Sierra Buttes is clear, but the trail is buried by snow, with no projections when it will become passable. Contact: Yuba River Ranger District North, 530-288-3231, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe; Beckwourth Ranger District, 530-836-2575, www.fs.usda.gov/plumas.
Carson Pass Lakes, Highway 88: Caples Lake (7,800 feet) became ice-free Monday, with immediate good fishing for big trout, and Caples Lake Resort will be open this weekend for lodging and boat rentals. Nearby on Highway 88, campgrounds are scheduled to open next Thursday at Silver, Kirkwood and Woods lakes (the last could be delayed by snow on the access road). Contact: Caples Lake Resort, 209-258-8888, www.capleslakeresort.com; Eldorado National Forest, Amador Ranger District, 209-295-4251, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.
Bowman Lakes Recreation Area: When you drive in on Bowman Road/Forest Road 20, the road is clear for 4 miles to Fuller Lake and beyond another 4 miles to the turnoff for Carr, Feeley and Lindsey Lakes. You turn right, and 2 miles in, become blocked by snow. It’s 50-50 if this route will clear by the Fourth of July. Nearby, the route to 7,707-foot Grouse Ridge, with 12 feet of snow measured at the lookout, is not even on the radar. Contact: Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District South, 530-265-4531, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe.
Independence Lake, Truckee: The snow depth was measured at 84 inches here this week. Contact: The Nature Conservancy, Nevada Field Office, 775-322-4990, www.nature.org.

Central Sierra
Yosemite National Park: Tioga Road will open Friday with limited hours, 10-11 a.m., and then in the afternoon, 3-4 p.m. Snow-clearing operations are continuing on shoulders, parking areas and visitor facilities, rangers said, and during the process, no parking on Tioga Road will be allowed. Tioga Road/Highway 120 spans from Crane Flat up to Tuolumne Meadows and beyond over 9,943-foot Tioga Pass. Many high-country areas above 8,000 feet still have several feet of snow, creeks are high and meadows are flooded. Rangers predict snow-covered trails well into July, and in some high-country areas with little sun exposure, into August. For camping along Tioga Road, there are no tentative opening dates for Tuolumne Meadows, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and the best guess by rangers is Aug. 2 for the first weekend of August. These late openers are compressing summer visitors to Yosemite Valley, where the waterfalls are still roaring and parking places are difficult to find after 9 a.m. (and to Glacier Point). Contact: Yosemite National Park, 209-372-0200, www.nps.gov/yose.
Crystal Basin Recreation Area: The road is clear (and paved) for 30 miles to Loon Lake (6,378 feet). In the process, you pass Ice House and Union Valley reservoirs, and snow-free spurs to other lakes. The campground at Loon is projected to open by the end of June and will be the last of 20 campgrounds in the region to open for the season. Contact: Eldorado National Forest, Placerville Ranger District, 530-644-2234, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.
Highway 4, Ebbetts Pass: Highway 4 is snow-free with hot weather at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and access out of Dorrington to the Stanislaus River, running high and cold. Near 8,730-foot Ebbetts Pass at the Pacific Crest Trail, the verified snow depth this week was 18 inches, patchy with drifts. Contact: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 775-331-6444, www.fs.usda.gov/htnf.
Highway 108, Sonora Pass: Highway 108 over 9,623-foot Sonora Pass is open and clear. Nearby, the gauge at Leavitt Lake reports a 115-inch snow depth and the PCT above Sonora Pass is impassable. Pinecrest and Beardsley lakes are open, full. Contact: Stanislaus National Forest, Summit Ranger District, 209-965-3434, www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus.

North state
Lassen Park Highway: The Lassen Park Highway will open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and campgrounds at Manzanita and Butte lakes are open, along with camps at Southwest Walk-in and Warner Valley. Because of high snow above 7,500 feet, camps at Summit Lake, Juniper Lake, and the trailhead for Bumpass Hell geothermal area, will not open until well into July, and perhaps later. Contact: Lassen Volcanic National Park, 530-595-4480, www.nps.gov/lavo.
Mt. Shasta: The Everitt Memorial Highway is clear to Bunny Flat (6,950 feet), where you then run into the wall of snow. On giant Shasta, the snow has settled, hardened, and with low winds most recent days (on Thursday, forecast to blow to 40 on the summit), set up for excellent early-morning climbing conditions. Fifth Season Climbing Report, 530-926-5555 (recording, updated daily) or 530-926-3606 (in person).
Trinity-Divide: From Lake Siskiyou, South Fork Road is snow-free over Mumbo Summit to Grey Rocks and to Castle Crags, in time for the Castle Crags Century cycling event Saturday. Contact: Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mount Shasta District, 530-926-4511, www.fs.usda.gov/stnf; Castle Crags Century, http://castlecragscentury.com.
Medicine Lake Highlands: The drive from Highway 89 at Bartle is blocked this week by 2 feet of snow some 28 miles in, just 2 miles from Medicine Lake. Contact: Modoc National Forest, Doublehead Ranger District, 530/667-2246, www.fs.usda.gov/modoc.

To see the original article and photos in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Photo by C. Ferris
Thunder, lightning, hail, snow, rain, wind. Spring has all of that, plus bright, blue-sky sunny days and mild temps in our area. All that adds up to great bike rides, except for the thunder and lightning bit.
The robust snowpack in the high country means hiking at elevations below about 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Cycling is in that boat also. Above those elevations there is snow, a lot of it.
There isn’t a really good count of how many miles of mountain bike trails we have in El Dorado County. Best guess is there may be too many to count. Someone should tally it all up and write a book about it. There’s also not a good count on how many miles of safe road bike riding we have.

Road bikes, the skinny tire type, are best suited for hard-packed dirt or paved roads. Safe simply means roads with enough shoulder space to ride away from the traffic lanes as much as possible. Some of our county roads have just enough space on the side of the road for the white fog line, and nothing more.
If you’re a cyclist, it’s time to take advantage of the fantastic June weather and start pedalling, especially if your favorite hike is still waist-deep in snow. There’s plenty to choose from for both fat-tire and skinny-tire riders.
We actually have some of the best mountain bike riding here. Some of the trails draw riders from all over the states and internationally, too. From very gentle to very technically challenging we have it all.
One of the more famous trails, which won’t be rideable any time soon, is Mr. Toads up in Tahoe. Right now it should be named Mr. Toads Very Snow Covered No-Ride Trail.
Local bike shops in Tahoe are sending mountain bike riders to the Corral Trail, Power Line Trail and Tahoe Mountain. They span quite a lot of territory and are currently free of snow. They are also good for just about anyone who is competent on a bike, travelling through some wonderful Tahoe forest scenery.
The Crystal Basin Recreation Area has many miles of trails for mountain bikes and good roads for the skinny-tire riders. Mountain bike rides up there are on USFS logging roads or marked trails. Some of those roads go on forever, taking quite a few twists and turns.
Road bike riders may enjoy the trek from Ice House to Wright’s Lake. Right now you can’t actually get to Wright’s, from Highway 50 or Ice House, but you can ride quite a ways. Traffic is light this time of year. The forest up in Crystal Basin is just simply stunning right now.
Sly Park Recreation Area in Pollock Pines has a mountain bike trail that circles the lake. There are some technical aspects to that trail. Goofing up at the wrong spot may land you in the lake.
Just across Mormon Emigrant Trail after the second dam is a series of well-known trails that wind around the forest and attract riders from all over. It’s called Fleming Meadows and is a great place to ride. Take a map though. A wrong turn can mean a long ride that you may not expect.






For a challenging road bike ride, Mormon Emigrant Trail/Iron Mountain Road will test your stamina and maybe make you think you’re crazy. At 23.72 miles one-way it’s longer, and in spots more difficult, than Blue Lakes over on Highway 88.
It’s a U.S. Forest Service road, and on their list, it’s Forest Route 5.  How much time you have or want to spend in the saddle will determine where you park. No matter where that is, from start to finish, one-way or out-and-back, you’re on your own.
There are no services along the road. The road ends at Highway 88. There is a rest stop there, but that’s it. No water, food or latte carts along the way.
For a sweet, in-town ride, the El Dorado Trail, any part of it, is perfect. Nothing is too strenuous, the scenery is great and the paved trail provides a smooth ride. Snacks in town after your ride are mandatory.
Take advantage of what we have and — get outside!
By Charlie Ferris
To see the original article and photo in the Mt. Democrat newspaper, CLICK HERE 

Park association representatives from the Empire Mine Park Association, South Yuba River Park Association and the Friends of North Bloomfield and Malakoff Diggins met recently regarding consolidation. The three groups are working through the process of consolidating their charters and support work.
A transitional committee led by the three presidents of each association (Brianna Cosbie–Empire Mine Park Association, Robert Coats-South Yuba River Park Association, and Holly Mitten-Friends of North Bloomfield and Malakoff Diggins) will continue to work together until the new foundation is operational, according to a release.
Coats has lent his leadership and expertise to guide the group through the steps necessary to form the new association, to be called the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation. With a target of Oct. 31 to be operational, the team has spent time documenting the assets, existing and future budgets, and mission-related activities projected to take place over the next two years.
A new board will be established, initially including representatives from each of the three existing park support organizations, plus additional individuals with demonstrated interest and expertise to support the state parks.
Each park support association is individually viable, with volunteers and assets; however, by consolidating functions, activities, and energies the new association will be even more robust. The new association will honor previously designated funds, grants, and park-specific event proceeds, to be expended in the park of origin. The long-term picture will be a foundation that generates enhanced support for all three parks.
Matt Green, acting superintendent for the Sierra District, expressed support for the establishment of the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation.
“This model of a super structure to support multiple parks has proven to be very effective,” Green said. “The Sierra State Parks Foundation is a similar organization that supports all of the Tahoe basin state parks, plus Donner Memorial State Park. I look forward to a long and productive beneficial relationship with our Sierra Gold Parks Foundation partners.”
When all three Western Nevada County parks were under the threat of closure due to budget shortfalls, the community rallied together — with elected officials and parks volunteers — to make operational funding available. The repeated threats of closures over the years have led to reliance on park associations to maintain trails and visitor centers, support schools programs and conduct special events.
Source: Friends of North Bloomfield & Malakoff Diggins
CLICK HERE to see original press release as printed in The Union newspaper.