BMX is a great sport for young kids to get involved in while they’re still fearless. And as long as your kid is kitted out in the proper protective gear and has some guidance, they won’t be in danger.
It’s also a great cycling discipline to tackle as a family. From four year olds to sixty year olds, anyone in reasonable health can give it a go. Have a read below to find out exactly what your kid will need to get started – the same applies to you too.
Kids BMX Bikes
Children can start riding a BMX bike when they are as young as four years old with one of the seriously cool BMX balance bikes that are starting to appear on the market today. If your little one has already got to grips with pedals, then 12 inch BMX bikes are perfect for 4-6 year olds and 16 inch bikes for 5-7 year olds. Once your kid is a little taller and a little older they’ll be in need of an 18 inch junior bike before graduating onto the regular 20 inch adult-sized BMX bike.
Kids BMX Protective Clothing
If your kids are into BMX racing or vert, you’ll want to make sure that they have the correct protective clothing. At a minimum this would be a well-fitting full face helmet but it’s also worth considering getting them body armour and elbow and knee pads too.
O’Neal has a good range of kids BMX protective gear such as the Underdog Kids Protector Jacket, the Dirt RL Kids Elbow Guard and the Rocker DH/FR Kids Knee Guard. You could purchase all three for £169.97 and have your kid fully kitted out against any tricks that may go wrong.
Kids BMX Helmets
Any child riding BMX will need to have a proper BMX helmet as they cover more of the head and face than a regular helmet, therefore offering them more protection.
A half shell helmet is likely to be sufficient if your child is just into street or freestyle BMX riding. However, they will need a full face helmet for vert or racing to protect their chin and jaw too.
A couple of great half shell helmets to consider are the Bell Fraction Youth Helmet and the Giro Surface Helmet. Likewise, for full face helmets the Fox Rampage and the Troy Lee Designs D2 in a size small are perfect for young riders.
Kids BMX Racing
BMX racing is accessible to all ages so it’s a great activity for bike-loving families to get into together. Races occur regularly around the UK throughout the spring and summer. To find an event near you, take a look at British Cycling’s BMX racing calendar and you could sign yourself and your little ones up at the same time.
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Mum’s Guide to Kids Road Biking
