It’s racing season yet again, and no better time for further mastery of important techniques, skills, and, of course, best safety practices. Dirt bike racing is a fun and exhilarating sport, and rarely dangerous, provided you know what you’re doing.
So, if you’re about to hit the racetrack, especially for a competition, don’t forget to check out a few safety tips first.
Rent/Buy an Effective Bike
As you know by now, there are many dirt bike styles, designed to accommodate different riding purposes. We always encourage riders to find the bike that fits their physical profile. This means making sure your feet reach the pedals comfortably. You also don’t want something too heavy to maneuver through hills, jumps, bumps, and tricky terrain. For more on this topic, consult our previous post where we discussed buying a dirt bike for new riders.
Grab Some Safety Gear, Too
You probably know by now that dirt bike gear isn’t merely optional. Every rider, racing or not, should have at least an adequate helmet, goggles, jacket, long sleeves, pants, gloves, and close-toed boots.
Attend a Dirt Bike Training Clinic
The good news is that learning about dirt biking safety doesn’t have to involve endless preaching. You can learn how to ride the right way, through hands-on training, which will make you a smart (and, therefore safer) rider. In fact, Colorado Dirtbike Info offers training clinics for folks right here in the Rockies.
Always Do Tests & Inspections Prior to Riding
Dirt bike maintenance isn’t as extensive as your car or truck, but it has some of the same mechanical components. Always check oil levels, fuel, tire inflation, and other important stuff before a race. This should include a few test runs with the bike under controlled conditions. You don’t want to discover something’s wrong with your dirt bike DURING the race.
Learn the Course & Monitor Weather Conditions
Once you’ve conquered the basics of the sport, there’s still plenty to do at the racetrack itself. This involves researching the difficulty of the course, including any unusual features, and checking the weather forecast. Finally, the most responsible riders communicate with others on the track by using appropriate handle signals and sharing important information before the race.
Those are the basic elements of safe racing for anyone ready for the competitive side of dirt biking.
You can learn much more about dirt biking when you join a clinic or racing league through Colorado DirtBike Info. We’re the Rocky Mountain Region’s most reliable resource for everything to do with this awesome sport. Feel free to contact us to ask questions or inquire about racing opportunities.
