The word that I commonly used for any upcoming BMX rider is “don’t try to be an adventurous hero”. How much it can be dangerous without a proper guide and BMX safety gear, you don’t know better than me. Relax! Don’t be feared, it’s not a hard sport as everyone expects. I am just concerned about the safety priority like any sport.
Who doesn’t want healthy and cool riding? Safety gear does the job by protecting one from unwanted incidents.
Recommendation for Beginners to Read: Basic BMX Tricks
4 Essential BMX Safety Gear
The essential safety gear list isn’t so long. So practically what safety things you should wear to protect yourself comfortably on a bicycle motocross riding are placed below.
Helmet
Surely helmet is the most essential part of the safety gear you need for any type of BMX cycling. The key part of our body is the “Head” which is protected by this helmet. To save yourself from head hurt wearing a helmet is a must.
There are mainly two categories of a helmet. One is a “Full-Face Helmet” and the second one is an “Open-Face Helmet”. Full face mainly suits with advanced BMX-like racing. But most riders recommended that. Because of that, it protects the head, face, and teeth at a time. On another side, an open face is ideal for beginners. But it only covers your head like a cap. Though I am not a pro in BMX, I would like to wear a full-face helmet to get super safe.
By the way, to choose the helmet you have to notice some facts. Make sure that your helmet fits with your head well, but not so tight that can feel pain. So take the perfect size for you. Don’t go with a heavy one. Full face is usually heavy but lightweight is also available if you searched. So, lightweight and comfortable are other characteristics of the best BMX helmet.
Finally, I suggest, that what types of helmets you choose don’t matter, having a helmet is the key fact.
Gloves
Do you think you riding without a pair of gloves? No way! Good gloves protect your hand as well as give you the comfort of riding. Better grip, more control, hand cleaning, hand protection on falling, etc can be ensured by using a pair of gloves.
Different variant sizes and prices are found when you will go for buying. Don’t think that “more the price, more the good”. Just check for lightweight, thin, flexible, breathable, trendy, and more important to comfort your hand. On my choice, SixSixOne is on my favorite list.
So, for protecting your hand from unexpected injuries with a cool hand look, ensure a pair of BMX gloves.
Elbow Pads
Some riders commented that “why do we need to wear elbow pads as we have full sleeves shirts”. Well, you can replace elbow or forearm pads by wearing full shirts.
But believe it or not, you don’t get enough elbow protection only a shirt. Especially if you are in sports racing or at a beginner stage then elbow pads are a must needed to avoid serious injuries. But if you have strong muscles and abs by cycling, then it does not matter to you. Don’t take it seriously, I am just kidding.
Choose your elbow pads depending on your budget, they are lightweight, and comfortable. They are making well to fit with you.
You know, elbows and forearms are worked very important and sensitive parts of our body during riding. So to protect them from any crash, I hope you need to think about keeping pads.
Knee Pads
Knee pads are those things that cover your knee or shin to protect you from injury and getting dirty. Like elbow pads, many ones take knee pads also as an option because of wearing long pants. But why you will take the risk? Any incident can happen at any time.
Knee pads are mostly lightweight with different price segments. It is good to know that these pads are designed well-fitted to wear under jeans or other pants. One thing, you have to consider a little in terms of mobility to wear these.
So, it’s now up to you. In what ways do you want to protect your joint injury, by wearing knee pads or long pants?
Optional Safety Equipment
Optional doesn’t mean not looking forward to those. There’s also some addition of gears that can make your bicycle motocross more exciting and safer. So, let’s figure out these in there.
Neck Guard
As I mentioned, the nick guard is an optional or one’s personal preference. But this can add a few safety values to your racing. It does the job of limiting the motion at the time of your fall. I wasn’t regular with that. But sometimes I just used it for filling the empty side between the head and shoulders.
Low to high range, you will meet different types of neck guards. Of course, a small and thin one is preferable. Honestly, it seems weird to many ones.
So, what are you think? Can it worth keeping on your BMX list? Decision yours!
BMX Mouth-Guards
To protect your dental from damage mouth-guard plays a role. 2 layer mouthguard is good. Actually, it’s an upper-level safety thing.
The mouthguard is comparatively cheap. You have to know the instruction about how to use it. If it seems quite large, then cut it to your desired size with a knife or else.
So, putting it in your mouth won’t be a bad experience.
Goggles
Another essential BMX safety equipment is a goggle. In terms of riding, goggles not only work as sunglasses but also protect your eyes from mud, dirt, and dust. They save your eyes from ultraviolet rays and give you a pro look.
Goggles are found in different ranges. Most of those are worthy to use.
So, it’s my word, that to protect your eyes from getting stuck by dirty objects, and to ride in a unique view, BMX goggles have to be on your list.
BMX Wrist Braces
To save your wrist from injuries BMX Wrist Braces are effective safety equipment. Does it sound funny? Whatever, they also look good in hand along with the safety job.
BMX Wrist Braces come in different technology and features. Prices are also reasonable.
So grabbing a BMX wrist brace on your hand will return you both safety and a cool look.
BMX Jerseys and Pants
BMX Jerseys and Pants are designed with better airflow and are lightweight. They can save your knee and elbow from unwanted injuries. They can be a good replacement for knee and elbow pads. Not only that, they are so trendy to look at. Specific cycling jersey and pant also recommends basic cycling tips.
So, it’s up to you whether you want, pads or clothes. It’s your choice now.
Gear Bag
And it’s the last one! Does it need to tell about the use of a gear bag? Hope it’s not. Keeping your equipment safe in a bag is one of the safety gear. To make it easy I always used a good gear bag.
Frequently asked questions
What protection do BMX riders wear?
BMX riders typically wear a combination of protective gear to reduce the risk of injury while riding. The standard protective gear for BMX riding includes:
- Helmet: BMX riders always wear a helmet to protect their head in the event of a crash or fall.
- Gloves: BMX gloves are used to protect the rider’s hands from blisters and cuts, as well as providing additional grip.
- Pads: BMX riders may wear knee and elbow pads to protect their joints from impact and abrasions.
- Shoes: BMX riders wear specialized shoes that offer good grip on the pedals and provide additional support and protection to their feet.
The specific gear and level of protection needed may vary depending on the type of BMX riding being done and the skill level of the rider.
Is BMX dangerous?
BMX riding can be dangerous due to the nature of the sport. BMX riders often perform high-risk stunts and tricks on ramps, jumps, and other obstacles that require a great deal of skill and control. The potential for falls and crashes is high, which can lead to injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and cuts.
However, with the proper safety precautions, training, and protective gear, the risk of injury can be minimized. BMX riders who take the time to master their skills, understand their limits, and wear the appropriate protective gear can greatly reduce the likelihood of injury.
It’s important for BMX riders to also take into consideration their surroundings and the conditions of the riding area. Uneven or poorly maintained riding surfaces, obstacles that are too difficult, or riding in inclement weather can increase the risk of accidents.
What is the most common injury in BMX?
The most common injuries in BMX riding are related to falls or crashes and can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and spinal cord injuries. In particular, the most common injury in BMX riding is a wrist fracture, which can occur when a rider falls and lands on an outstretched hand. Other common injuries include ankle and foot fractures, shoulder dislocations, and head injuries such as concussions.
It’s important for BMX riders to wear appropriate protective gear, such as helmets, gloves, and pads, to reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, proper training and conditioning can help riders develop the skills and control necessary to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries.
Why You Should Wear Safety Equipment?
During my 4 years of bicycle motocross riding, I experienced many brutal accidents that caused serious injuries. And the recovery time was quite far. Many riders broke up with it forever. Even I also suffered from 2 injuries in my BMX in Ohio. Danger can come without telling.
So my question is, “why we will turn this exciting sport into a dead race?” Those BMX protective gear will largely ensure your safer and cool racing journey as well as for cycling (skip indoor cycling). And how they will give you protection, are already mentioned previously.
After that, if you aren’t able to understand the benefits of wearing safety then I won’t forbid you to be a superhero.
And here I have done. That’s all about BMX safety gear you should wear in your sporting time. So, be safe and become a pro.
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