Cuts and scrapes happen frequently due to the active nature of mountain biking. When you break the skin in an injury and sustain bleeding, this is referred to as a cut. This can happen if you fall off your bike onto something sharp, like rocks or discarded objects.

A scrape is more minor in nature, as it is shallower than a cut and involves little or no bleeding. Scrapes can happen if you come into contact with the ground at low speed, for example.

While mountain biking, you might also catch yourself against part of your bike or a tree or other vegetation with sharp parts as you travel past at fast speed.

Possible causes for cuts and scrapes include:

• Falling off your bike onto a rough surface
• Catching your skin on a sharp part of your bike
• Coming into contact with trees and other obstacles while riding past