The benefits of mountain biking for teenagers extend to all areas of their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Mountain biking is gaining popularity every year, however, statistics show this trend doesn’t apply to all age groups, as the number of teens who ride has decreased.

A 2021 survey by Tread Media showed the number of youngsters aged 12-15 increased from 0.86% to 1.13% between 2020 and 2021, and the number of participants aged 16-19 decreased from 1.95% to 1.75%

That’s a drop right at the age where they would decide to take it further or pursue other interests.

We say…

Let them ride!

The following benefits of mountain biking for teenagers are our top reasons to get your teen onto a trail ASAP:

1. Nature helps with depression. Studies have proven that spending time outdoors, and specifically amongst trees, has profound positive effects on your mental and emotional well-being. With the rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers on the rise, there’s no better time to get them out into nature as often as possible.
2. It keeps them fit. Mountain biking burns between 600 and 900 calories per hour and is a great way to tone and build muscle mass.
3. Exercise improves school performance. Dr John J. Ratey, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, has found “…strong evidence that aerobic exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance on all fronts.”
4. It teaches them to think strategically, make decisions, and solve problems. Any rider who’s had to figure out how to fix a bike issue or traverse a tricky downhill can attest to this. 
5. It’s a great way to spend quality time together. Mountain biking lends itself perfectly to being a solo or group sport. Get to know your changing teen by spending quality time with them in the beautiful outdoors.
6. It broadens their horizons. Mountain biking is a travel sport, depending on where you live. If they’re into competitive racing they’ll most likely need to do some travelling and will get to see new places every year.
7. It teaches social skills and boosts their confidence. Mountain biking is a social sport. Your teen will learn proper riding etiquette, how to deal with new people, and make friends who share the same passion for health and fitness. Having a sense of freedom on the bike, finishing a long ride, or taking part in an event is also excellent for their self-esteem.
8. It encourages them to face challenges head-on. There are many things that can go wrong on a trail, and overcoming these obstacles with patience and perseverance can teach your child they can do hard things. They will learn to push through and solve problems on their own.
9. They’ll develop grit. Sport teaches us that failure is not the end of the world. The lessons they’ll learn in resilience will be worth the scraped knees and bruised ego.
10. It encourages them to be punctual and well-organised. All it takes is one missed start or forgotten water bottle to teach them the value of being prepared.

Why aren’t more teenagers involved in mountain biking?

There are many possible reasons why the number of teen mountain bikers isn’t the highest age demographic.

High schoolers might find it challenging to be involved as much as they would like to. Being an active mountain biker involves travel, time and money, as well as potential safety risks. These are hard to overcome when you’re young, overwhelmed with school work, and dependent on the free time, permission, and finances of your parents.

Youngsters who have parents that also ride, on the other hand, are more likely to continue with the sport. Encourage your eager teen to participate more often by bringing them to events that cater to the whole family. Give them a goal that is challenging yet easy enough to do on their own.

Ride in events with your teen

The Sabie Xperience is a three-day stage race that focuses on family participation and affordability. It takes place over a long weekend from 29 April – 1 May 2023 and is the ideal family sports getaway to the beautiful forestry town of Sabie, South Africa. There are two events to choose from – the Challenge, for more experienced riders, and the Lite for teens, beginners, or social riders. It’s a fantastic way to spend time with your teenager and challenge yourselves to achieve a goal together!