Pain vs Reward

With downhill mountain biking getting faster every year, riders face new injuries that come with pushing limits. Athletes talk about the risks and how they deal with the pain when things go wrong.

The abuse DH mountain bikers' bodies take is enough to make anyone question their sanity. Their feet and knees, especially, take a beating, but training and science help with recovery.

When a mountain biker falls, the arms and hands are the first line of defence in cushioning the body from impact. For a pro rider, that can mean the difficult choice to end a season early.

Broken collarbones go with downhill mountain biking like tree roots and tyre size debates. Athletes and healthcare pros weigh in on the most common injury in the sport and how to recover from it.

For a downhill mountain biker, protection is a balancing act – too much can hamper performance, but too little can mean injury. An athlete's torso is very vulnerable, but difficult to protect.

Despite mountain biking helmets being safer than ever before, head injuries still occur and can have serious consequences. Top riders explain how to reduce the risk after multiple crashes.