Safety in the spotlight after accident

Should mountain biking courses on the Island be graded for difficulty?

The question has been raised after Isle of Man Newspapers' sports editor John Watterson was badly injured when he came off his bike during an event at Arrasey Plantation last Friday.

The sport has grown in popularity in recent years, and participants in organised events have to wear gloves and a helmet.

However, treasurer of the Manx Mountain Bike Club Andrew Beattie says accidents can happen, even to the most experienced riders, and it may be time to 'colour code' various routes to indicate their difficulty (play audio file):

Mr Beattie says off road riders should also go out in groups, so if there is an accident there is someone there to help, or raise the alarm.