Racing for 5yr Olds

[davemac1974]

Hi Guys

My lad Dylan who's 5 says he wants to try going around the track and "race". I do realise that this may change rapidly when he sits at the start gate & looks down, but I obviously want to encourage him as much as possible.

The only protective gear he's got is his "Action Man" stuff, with a pretty flimsy kiddies helmet. I'm loathed to spend a fortune on race kit for him (as the wife keeps telling me), as he may change his mind before we even get to the track, but I'm thinking he needs at least a full face helmet in case he comes a cropper...which would really put him off.

Am I going a little far considering this is the ramblings of a 5 year old we're talking about, that only agreed to throw away his stabilisers a couple of weeks ago? 

If not, any idea's on a good starter helmet that won't cost the earth, or even if anyone has one for sale that their kid has grown out of perhaps. Or does it not matter because he'll be going around that slowly (not that I can call him how fast I currently am!  ).

Any help, advice, encouragement (for me and Dylan!) much appreciated.

Cheers
Dave

[RATTY]

Hi Dave, at 5 years old he is ready to have a go, the fact he has only just got rid of the stabilisers doesnt mean a thing. Gary72 little boy Jamie was riding Hersden days after they were thrown away, I still remember gary running round the track to push him up the hill....

Instead of buying kit, ask at your local club, most have lids you can borrow/hire, and most clubs run club races, a great place to start him off. 

[se bikes]

Hi Dave, at 5 years old he is ready to have a go, the fact he has only just got rid of the stabilisers doesnt mean a thing. Gary72 little boy Jamie was riding Hersden days after they were thrown away, I still remember gary running round the track to push him up the hill....

Instead of buying kit, ask at your local club, most have lids you can borrow/hire, and most clubs run club races, a great place to start him off. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wot the bald bloke said 

Jeez Rats, u type fast n beat me to it 

BTW Beard, my Josh was on a track at 4 in a piss pot, give him a nice tame track n start him from the bottom of the start hill, let him play on the track n build confidence, takes time but my baby is now airing tables at just 7 doing x ups n all sorts 

[KGB Matt]

My son has been racing since he was 4 but we were fortunate that he had all the gear from his quad bike ( never rides it now )



His helmet was 60 pound from a motorcycle shop ( i know you can get them off e-bay but we wanted a Gold label motocross helmet ) coz if its good enough for racing moto-x bikes it must be good enuff for a Quad bike and consiquently BMX.

His clothes came from a Motorcross shop too but were special order ( he was very small at the time ) But as long as your son has long sleeves and long trousers and a pair of gloves any type of clothing will do. we have just purchased his new kit from e-bay for 40 pounds ( top and race pants )

I guess what im trying to say is protect him as best you can and dont skimp on the essentials ( helmet and gloves ) he wont really be going fast enough to do any damage to a sweat shirt and joggers/jeans so race suit isnt really essential kit. If he does decide to give it up the next week you will probably get your money back on the helmet by selling it on.

If you are worried about elbows and knees then a cheap set of pads can be had for about 10 quid.

Hope this helps.

Matt

[RATTY]

And little Nick rocks, in the 6 months I have been watching him he has got so bleedin quick, he nearly beats his dad now, give him a couple more weeks

[KGB Matt]

And little Nick rocks, in the 6 months I have been watching him he has got so bleedin quick, he nearly beats his dad now, give him a couple more weeks

Ratty aint kidding either. 

Matt

[davemac1974]

Cheers guys, thanks for the advice 

Dave

BTW Beard...

PS. @ OSS QUEEN - You didn't just call me Beard did you???  He's the strange one of the pair of us, you know...the one with the massive forehead! 

[beard1973]

Yeah the big forehead and the balls to match!! 

[se bikes]

how the fook did i di that  , having the same banner confused me i think, dont take much, i am a blonde 

[davemac1974]

Yeah the big forehead and the balls to match!! 

  Your hair is receeding on your balls too??? 

[danny silverstreak]

Yeah the big forehead and the balls to match!! 

  Your hair is receeding on your balls too??? 

 

[wildwood1971]

Good luck with the racing - wish my lad would have had a helmet on when he smashed up his face down the local skatepark - trouble is nobody down there does and as he says i dont want to look a muppet. Mind you how he landed on the side of his face is anyones guess but he made a right mess of it. lucky for me it didnt put him off so if the little one does fall off just brush him down and get him to jump right back on and hope he gets his 1st crash out the way with as little damage to him or his pride as possible. Good luck and i think its ace when the nippers get into the sport this is what its about wish i could be there to shout encouragement.

Paul

[Haro82]

My little girl Imogen who is 5 said she wanted to have a go, and like you I wasn't so sure about buying all the gear so I took her down and let her have a go along the last couple of straights with a few jumps on with just her pink kids bike helmet on and she loved it. So I bought her a good helmet/sissixone pads ang gloves from Chainreaction online and she just can't get enough now. 

So go for it I think he will like it.

Here she is :-



     

Andy.

[davemac1974]

Cool lads, thanks for the stories, helps alot 

He finally managed to ride his Mini Burner yesterday, it's still too big for him but he's completely hooked on just riding around the street. The other kids were going "look at his old fashioned BMX, how cool is that!" "Can you build/sell me one?"  He was well chuffed 

[Big M]

Looking good on the Burner.

My eldest lad was riding a Haro Mini last year, he was just over 4, I had to cut the seat post down the get the seat as low as possible.

He started rining the finish straight at the local track and after a couple of visits built up to the whole track. He's just started racing this summer and is going well.

I got him a 'Nitro' moto-x helmet from ebay - about £40 delivered, some kids MX gloves from the local bike shop and he uses him skateboard elbow and knee pads for just now. Hopefully he'll get better pads for his xmas presents........

Only problem is, I've just bought myself a cruiser and after falling off on the doubles at the weekend, I'll be needing some pads too..