Clothing and safety equipment

Gear

CLOTHING AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Riders should wear appropriated clothing any time they ride:

  • Wear full length trousers but avoiding baggy trousers. You can also wear knee pads.
  • Tuck in trousers and tracksuits into your socks to avoid getting caught
  • Wear flat shoes with laces tied
  • Wear clothes appropriated to the weather
  • Always wear a helmet
  • Wear full-fingered gloves
  • Wear a long-sleeved top and/or or elbow pads

HELMETS

Helmets are quite possibly the most important accessory any BMX biker needs. Since it protects the brain, a helmet will prevent most head injuries from occurring, whether the terrain is concrete or dirt. According to data from the Brain Injury Association, a helmet will reduce the risk of a brain injury by as much as 88 percent. There are two main types of BMX helmets available, and which to use will come down to the style of BMX.

FULL FACE HELMETS

Full face helmets are recommended for BMX racing, because they protect the face as well as the sides and back of the head. Anytime a biker is likely to encounter a situation in which his or her face comes into contact with obstacles or other bikers at high speed, facial protection is definitely recommended.

OPEN FACE HELMETS

Open face helmets protect the back and sides of the head without covering the face. This can be useful in freestyle BMX biking, when the facial protection part of a full face helmet limits the wearer’s vision.