The count down is on. We have only two weeks to go before the opening race at Erik Goetzinger BMX. With this in mind, this installment of the News will concentrate on BMX racing and what it takes to stay safe while racing. What prompted this was an editorial in the May 2008 edition of Transworld Motocross titled "Did you know that riding dirt bikes was dangerous?" Fortunately BMX doesn't carry the same risk as motocross does, not even close, but it does carry some risk and as the editorial summarized in it's last paragraph, "safe sports don't require helmets". Anyway, the focus of the editorial was not on the dangers of riding dirt bikes, but on the importance to do everything possible to reduce the risk, namely using the best safety gear possible. Anyway here is my BMX version .
Did you know you can get hurt racing BMX? Lets see, bicycles, dirt, racing, obstacles. Of course you can get hurt. If you race or ride long enough you will crash. It's part of the sport. Fortunately serious injury racing BMX is rare, but there are a few things that can be done to reduce injury in the case of a crash and in some cases avoid the crash all together.
The first, and most important thing to do is invest in a good helmet. One that is full faced and preferably new. Helmets are designed to protect your brains in the event of a crash and the better the helmet, the better the protection. To be effective the helmet must fit comfortably snug and be buckled. Don't purchase one that a rider can "grow into". Safety is a "now" thing, not a "when the kid grows into the helmet" thing.
Second, is clothing and gloves. Jeans and a long sleeve shirt work, but motocross pants and jersey are better. It's all about preserving skin. The ideal protection in this area would include knee and shin pads along with elbow pads. Gloves are another issue. A few riders don't like to wear them, but skinned hands hurt! It also takes a long time for them to heal. Gloves may be hot in the summer and a pain to put on, but you only have to have them on for a few minutes. It can take weeks for flesh and skin to grow back.
Third, is your bike. Yes, your bike. Now your bike can't protect you in the event of a crash, but it can be the cause of a crash. A well maintained bike is less likely to break during a race, which can cause an unexpected crash. If the bike hasn't been maintained over the winter it would be a good idea to have it looked over at your local bike shop, unless you feel comfortable doing the work yourself. If the bike has been maintained, that doesn't mean that it's set for the season. The bike needs to have some areas looked at before every race to make sure it's working properly. For more information on what needs to be checked on your bike take a look at our BIKES section.