Getting Started

Firstly, you will need a BMX bike, the club has bikes that can be borrowed for people who want to try out BMX'ing.

 

BMX bikes don't have to be a mega-expensive, top-of-the-line model; just an ordinary BMX of sound construction will be fine. Any pegs, lights, reflectors, stands, mudguards, or protruding items of equipment on the bike will have to be taken off for safety reasons.

Norwich Flyers BMX

With BMX racing, as with any cycle sport, there is a perceived risk of danger, which is of course half the attraction. You should expect to receive a few bumps and bruises over the course of your race career, but by using the safety equipment below, that should be all you will suffer.

 

Essential Equipment

When riding with Norwich Flyers, you will need to wear:

  • Helmets - full face helmets are compulsory wear in training sessions and racing as crashes can occur in both competition and training;
  • Long-fingered gloves - gloves are non optional; the full fingered gloves increase the safety measures put in place for BMX riders;
  • Long-Sleeved Shirt - jerseys in BMX rising are vibrant and colourful, this harks back to the sports 80's heyday;
  • Trousers (or shorts with knee and shin pads) - a necessity to reduce the damage a tumble can cause to exposed shin.

Knee / shin and elbow pads are not compulsory but highly recommended.

Your First Race

Before you race for the first time, come along to one of our practice night sessions, which are held at the Norwich track on Saturday mornings during the winter season as well as Wednesday evening during the summer periods. There we will show you around the track and answer any questions you may have.

 

Your first race will be either be a local or regional event. You will be racing in a class of riders of your own age and ability, and your main goal of this race will be to learn how a race is run and to have fun! For upcoming race dates, visit our Events Page or visit the BMX East website.

 

  • Race licence - British Cylcing Race licence is essential, please go to the British Cycling website for more details.
  • Timing chip - timing systems are a critical element of BMX racing, in preparation for a race riders will require a timing chip, which is available from MyLaps.  Timing chips can be borrowed but it is worth getting in touch with the club for more detail.
  • Results - During the race, gate times will be updated on the OurSqorz website.

More Racing

So now you’ve raced at your first event, and the BMX bug has gotten hold of you, where do you go from here? Well, the only cure is more racing. As well as local races and club days, there is a regional series that runs through both the winter and summer and, when you are feeling confident enough, there is a national series that runs throughout the summer.