BMX racing seems to be on a surge of late with loads of kids entering the sport each year. The Balance Bike/Strider class of racing is probably responsible for part of this surge in addition to the high profile Olympic competition in Beijing and London.
We decided to head out one weekend to our local track with my youngest when he was three years old. It was a great introduction to the sport and the family/volunteer environment which surrounds it. The atmosphere is infectious for the little ones and creates a motivating and safe place to improve their balance bike skills. Racing is usually one night during the week and one morning on the weekend depending on the track. With no commitment necessary, heading out to give racing a go requires little time and monetary investment.
USA BMX and Strider bicycles has created a formal class of racing, 18 months to 5 years, where the wee ones race”half track” (the third straight, final corner and final straight). Any balance bike can race (not just Strider brand) and kids need only a regular bicycle helmet, full sleeve shirt/pants and closed toe shoes. It’s a good idea to throw some gloves, elbow and knee pads on the little ones as well. An annual license and insurance is needed to race (typically $30-40) which can be upgraded to a full track practice/race license should the child be interested and have the skill to tackle the starting gate and full track.
There is also a half track class of pedal bikes for those kids not ready for the full track. By age six if not earlier, most racers are ready for the thrill of the start gate and full track. My little guy was racing full track at age 4 and I remember seeing a couple kids that were still 3 years old racing full track! Local tracks are plentiful throughout North America so look yours up an plan to head out this spring.
How do you recommend doing the transition to pedal bike for a child racing or riding at the pumptrack? Do you use the pedal bike around the neigbourhood and go back to the balance bike at the racetrack? At three years old I think my child is ready for a pedal bike on mostly flat areas, but I can’t imagine riding the BMX track with a pedal bike right now.
Most tracks you can access outside of race days and let kiddo push around on balance bike. Half track racing avoids the start gate and roll in which is the toughest part. There is half track racing for pedal bikes for four and under as well. Four is probably the youngest for full track racing but 5 is the age most kids can get going on full track.
My grandson just learned how to run on the track and is enjoying himself a lot! That cute little guy rides a KOKUA! The KOKUA is also my grandson’s favorite to ride because it is so “bouncy.”.
Watching the little ones is so much fun for us!
My grandson is just getting started on the track and he’s having a great time! I see in the picture that little guy is riding a KOKUA! My grandson also rides a KOKUA and he Loves how “bouncy “ it is.
So fun for us to watch the little ones!
[…] covered the balance bike racers in another post so I will only say the little ones love the racing and environment. For all other classes the […]
[…] two wheels. Strider has also given back to the sport by developing a BMX race class for run bikes (see our post), learn to ride camps, and facilitation of special needs. They manufacture balance bikes for 18 […]