Equipment

When racing BMX you must wear a helmet, but not any helmet. You need to have a full-face helmet because it will protect your entire face in case of a crash. In the years past you could wear any kind of helmet, but they changed the rule saying you must wear a full-face helmet to race today.

If you are racing you always have to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. You could also buy race uniforms which are specially made pants and tops made of strong fabrics. These uniforms have pads sewn into them for the riders safety. The legs on the pants of a uniform are tight so the pants can not get caught in the chain.

Gloves are not required to wear when racing, however they are a good idea to wear because they protect your hands and wrists. They also give you better grip on you handlebars. Some tracks have asphalt turns and if you would happen to fall with no gloves on your hands will get cut up very bad. This could even result in getting stitches. The gloves are made out of strong fabrics that will not rip easily if you were to fall. The gloves are also made to breathe so your hands will not get to hot. When you go to the track I would recommend you to wear gloves.

Shoes are an important part of racing. You can either wear clip shoes or clip less shoes. If you decide to wear clip shoes your shoe will be attached to the pedal which means you can not slip off your pedals. You can also get more power if wearing clip shoes. To the right is an example of a clip shoe. You can also wear a "plat form" shoes which mean your feet are not attached to the pedals and will have less power. To the left is an example of a "plat form" shoe.

The forks are made of tubes that support the front wheel and must be strong because they take most of the shock from the riding. Many forks are made out of steel but some racers have carbon fiber forks because they are light and very strong. You should check your forks regularly to make sure your forks are not bent or cracked. The forks are a very important part of the bike because without them you would not be able to ride your bike without crashing.

BMX bikes are lighter and stronger then your usual bike. They are made to go fast. BMX bikes have 20 inch tires and are usually a bit smaller than you average bike so you can maneuver them easier.

When racing lots of dirt and rocks are kicked up by the bikes so racers often wear goggles to protect their eyes. Goggles are light weight and are made to not fog up while riding. They are a little expensive but they are well worth the money.