A year ago at this time my boys – then ages 5 and 7 – and I had just returned from an exploratory trip to Hunterdon County BMX in rural Flemington, NJ. My kids had wanted to try out a real BMX track after having seen a friend of mine post some photos and videos of his son on Facebook tearing it up at a track down in Richmond, VA. Flag football season had just ended and soccer was winding down, so we finally had a crisp autumn Saturday to ourselves. So we reached out to the track director to get the skinny, and loaded up their stock, hi-ten steel, knock-around bikes and some old clothes into the Jeep to go check it out.

 

I was a fairly avid BMXer as a kid back in the 80’s, but never really took my skills outside of the safe confines of the neighborhood trails. So I was just as new to BMX racing as my kids were. Our plan was to hit up HCBMX on a late-season Saturday, pay our $5, and ride the track during practice hours before the races. After all, there was no way my kids would last a whole day on a track, much less want to compete with the experienced riders in their respective age groups.

 

We got there just as the track opened and were greeted by kids and families as if we were regulars. We jumped right into the mix by helping the numerous track volunteers in removing the heavy tarps. An obvious newbie, I inquired with any parent I could seek out about how the whole process worked. I was given crash courses on bikes, classes, equipment, motos, mains, track etiquette, etc. as well as a fair share of pep rally speeches about how great racing was and the camaraderie of the extended “BMX Family.” I fearfully watched my little ones in their sweatpants, hoodies, and borrowed helmets and chest protectors descend the starting hill alongside kids in full matching race gear and $1,000 bikes with loud buzzing freewheels. “This is gonna be a disaster,” I said to myself.

 

Despite a few nasty wipe-outs that looked far worse than they actually were (and a predictable number of muddy tears), my kids were hooked. Not only did they endure the practice session, they both insisted that I sign them up for the following races. I informed them – as gently and honestly as a parent could – that they had little chance of winning their races, but I was proud of their moxie and I would gladly sign them up.

 

And here we are a year later, having just completed our first full season of BMX racing. My now 6 year old has amassed 4 wins as a novice and a #6 ranking in the state. My now 8 year old struggled to begin the year, but got his first win recently and countless 2nd and 3rd place finishes in stacked gates. He also earned a #6 state plate. I even bought myself a cruiser bike, and at the ripe old age of 46 got into a few races myself as a sign of solidarity to my children. And because, well, it’s fun as hell! I guess they were right about that BMX Family thing.

 

As a new parent, I had a ton of questions and concerns. If you’re reading this, you probably do too. Looking back, here are some things people told me that helped out, and a few things I wish people had told me:

 

  1. Resist the urge to buy a brand-new race bike right away. This might be obvious advice to many, but as with any new sport, the temptation to dive right in and buy the latest, top-of-the-line gear is hard to suppress. Have your kid use their regular bike for a few races, or let them use the track loaner a few times. Kids are fickle, and while it might seem like he or she is gung-ho at first, the interest may fade just as quickly as it came on. It’s a shame to see how many brand-spanking-new race bikes are on Craigslist with “kid tried racing once and hated it” in the listing. It’s best to gauge the skill level of your child, as well as their level of interest, before you make a decision on what bike is best. An occasional racer may not warrant an expert-level bike with carbon forks and $500 wheels when an entry-level bike will more than suffice. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to buy a used bike for your kid’s first season. You can always upgrade, and as stated before, there’s certainly no shortage of them around if you look.

 

  1. Buy used gear. While the entry fee to your local race may seem like a bargain compared to a round of golf or a day on the slopes, the cost of all the gear is just about the same. Factor in transportation, countless trips to the snack bar, and all the BMX swag, and this affordable family sport quickly turns costly. Look on Craigslist, ebay, or one of the many BMX groups and marketplace pages on Facebook and you’ll find an abundance of new or lightly-used body armor, pants, jerseys, knee/shin guards, as well as bike parts, car racks and just about anything else you’re looking for.

 

  1. Save your money for a good helmet. Take all that money-saving stuff I said before regarding bikes and gear and do the opposite for a helmet. As the saying goes, “$10 helmet for a $10 head.”  Believe me, the first time you see your little one go over the handlebars you’ll be thankful you splurged.

 

  1. Buy a neck brace. The single most common hospital-worthy injury at the BMX track (or on any bike really) is a broken collarbone. Even the most basic $30 neck collar will help to prevent this injury.

 

  1. Your kid is going to crash. It’s gonna happen. More than once. With my kids; quite often. And they’re going to get hurt. Hopefully not seriously…but they will get plenty of bumps, bruises, and scrapes. As a parent, sometimes it’s going to hurt you more than it hurts them. You’ll find yourself cringing as eight riders enter the first turn at full speed. Let them pick themselves up and dust themselves off. Tell them that everyone crashes, and teach them how to fall properly (tuck & roll). Don’t be that crazy helicopter parent that freaks out and goes running on the track when they tip over (unless of course it’s a serious injury). With proper gear and training, they’ll be fine. Our kids play multiple sports, and we’ve had worse injuries on the hockey rink and football field.

 

  1. Your car/truck will get trashed. I’m a bit of a neat freak when it comes to my car. Despite my best intentions, the inside of our Durango looks like we’ve been hauling pigs all summer. There is dirt in every orifice. And the dirt at the track is clay, so you know how fun that is to get out. Add to that we were hauling the bikes inside the car for the first few races because we didn’t have a rack (get one!) so there are scratches all over the place.

 

  1. You don’t need goggles. I don’t care that the pros wear them in PULL magazine and they look cool, you don’t need them. Tracks are hardened clay and macadam, so there’s really never any dust. The track is never wet and muddy, and almost all of them shut down during inclement weather. And why would you want to wear extra gear (especially on your face) when it’s 95 degrees out? That said…

 

  1. BMX tracks get hot. I mean like Africa hot. And sometimes there’s no shade. So bring a pop-up tent or large umbrella and LOTS of water.

 

  1. Consider carefully shorts vs. pants. Most track guidelines will state that you need long pants and long sleeves to race. But read further and it usually says shorts and short sleeve shirts are permitted so long as you have proper knee/shin and elbow protection. BMX pants/jerseys are great, and they do offer decent ventilation. But if you race primarily in the summer months, I don’t care how much ventilation your pants/jersey provide – you’re going to be dying out there when it’s 90 degrees with 90% humidity. It’s bad enough to be sweating inside a full-face helmet, but at least you can take that off between motos. And a hot kid is a miserable kid.

 

  1. The point system is confusing. I like to think I’m a smart guy, but damn if I don’t have to read the USABMX rule book after every race to understand how my kids earn points. Like Common Core math, it’s confusing at first, but slowly you’ll get it and it even might start to make sense. Just wait until you try to figure out the science behind moto grouping!

 

  1. Avoid Nationals your first year. Unless your kid is a total BMX prodigy, the quickest way to kill their budding confidence is to put them in a massive national race lined up against the best riders in their age group from all around. BMX parents are like hockey parents – they have no issue driving 500 miles to have their kids compete. If a National race is in your area, take your new rider to go check it out and see the next level of competition. But don’t enter them their first year. Believe me; they’ll be intimidated just watching. State races (and to some extend Gold Cup) are a good platform if you want to test the waters with better, local competition.

 

  1. Learn as much as you can about BMX bikes before you jump in. Unless your kid is older and mechanically inclined, you’re going to be handling all matters concerning their bike from purchase to set-up to repairs and upgrades. I’ll admit, I didn’t know squat about BMX race bikes a year ago. I didn’t know anything about the different parts, bike set-ups, frame sizes and types, components, or the difference between a freewheel and a cassette. This goes back to what I discussed in item #1. Had I known what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently regarding bike-related purchases.

 

  1. Ask questions. Don’t feel like you might sound stupid. We all started out as that new parent at the track. You’ll come to find out that BMX parents are always eager to make new parents feel welcome and informed. And make friends with your track operator – they’ll often be your best resource for information.

 

  1. Get involved and volunteer. Ask any track operator and they’ll tell you that running a track is rewarding on a personal level, but it can be a downright tiresome and thankless job at times. Ask to help out any chance you get. Grab the microphone and announce a race. Help with the tarps or raking the track. Show up on work days (with your kids!). Run the concession stand or bake something for the bake sale. The possibilities are endless. It will show your kids that you’re committed to their sport just as they are.

 

  1. Have fun! That applies to kids and adults alike. Enjoy yourself. I whisper this into my boys’ ears before each race. “Remember three things: Go fast. Be safe. Have fun. And I love you.” It always elicits a smile.