How to Save Money on BMX Bikes and Bike Parts

If you are an avid BMX biker, you are probably well aware of how expensive this sport can be. Between buying the bikes themselves coupled with the ongoing cost of parts and accessories--whether replacement or aftermarket--and it's no wonder why BMX is such an expensive sport. Luckily, there are ways of getting good prices on bikes or bike parts without sacrificing quality in the process.With the popularity of BMX constantly on the rise, more and more stores and websites are starting to sell parts and accessories, giving you tons of options to choose from. One great way to save money on BMX bikes and accessories is to shop around at as many places as possible and compare all the prices and selections. This can easily be done by shopping online and you will likely find a better selection and cheaper prices using this method anyway. There are literally dozens of stores online and by visiting them all and comparing them you increase your chances of getting the best deal possible. Make sure you check stores that specialize in selling BMX bikes and parts as well as other department-type stores such as Amazon, and always be on the look-out for free shipping deals if you want to save the most money.Another great option that many choose to take advantage of is buying used BMX bikes and parts. By doing this you can give your wallet a huge break while at the same time doing someone else a favor. You can find used bikes and accessories fairly easy by visiting local cycle shops, pawn shops and even skate shops. Dick's Sporting Goods also buys and sells used items sometimes so if you have one near you be sure to check them out.The internet also offers a great selection of used BMX bikes and used parts with websites like eBay and Craigslist being a couple of the best resources. All in all, BMX doesn't have to be such an expensive sport, you just have to know how to be a smart shopper, and with these tips in mind you should find great success.

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How to Do 360's and Other BMX Tricks

To tire Trap(it is best to learn this on a mini ramp until you can do it on the ground). Get average speed going up the ramp. Hit the lip and do a fly out and 180 by kicking the rear end around as you're about to land. Lean back slightly and lock back brakes. (David the Jesus)360know what foot you go to the ramp into) If you go with your right foot, spin to the right and vice versa. When you get to about one foot before the end of the ramp, jerk your front tire to right and follow through with your body. Master this motion and soon you will get a 360. (Matt)Curtain CallGo as fast as you can and hit the ramp. Once you are five feet in the air, put your left foot on left front peg and hold on with just your left hand. Take your right leg and arm off the bike while holding on with just you left arm and leg.Flatland Bar SpinStart with your left foot on the left back peg. Keep right foot on pedal. Slow down to a walking pace Put your left or right hand on the front of the seat. Pedal quickly with the right foot and pull up with your hand that is on the seat.Try balancing with your front tire up and spin your handlebars around. Grab the handlebars and put everything back on. (Once you get good at this, you will be able to do 3, 4, or 5 bar spins).SupermanGet a lot of air, and keep on trying. It'll take a little (okay, A LOT) of pain to get it right, but it's well worth it.Turndown 360sThe key to doing a 360 is to turn your head and upper body in the direction you plan to spin throughout the rotation; where the head leads, the body will follow ... hopefully.Double tail whipsTo do a tail whip, swing your right foot over the frame, and when at a fast walking pace, jam it in between the front forks and the tire. With your left foot still on the pedal, push the frame around in a counterclockwise direction.Keep your left foot in the air and use it for balance. Make sure to hold the front brakes. When the frame gets all of the way around, use your left foot to stop it, by placing it on the seat post.Take your right foot off of the tire and put it onto the right pedal, then swing the left foot over the frame and onto the left pedal, then pedal away. You've done it!720sBigger spins take more windup with the upper body (throwing your body into it), and more time to come around. Entering a spin slightly on edge can help get the bike turning, but wait until you've left the ground to really start the rotation (spinning too early may cause you to catch an edge).Turn your head and upper body in the direction of the spin as you leave the lip of the jump. Continue to look that way-over your lead shoulder-until you spot the landing. Fixing your sights on the landing and extending your body will stop the rotation, allowing you to set 'er down real nice.

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How to Protect Yourself When Inline Skating

When you start out in any sport, you may think the most important thing to learn is how not to fall. In reality, there is a skill even more important than that...learning how to fall.  Learning the proper way to take a spill can mean the difference between getting up and brushing yourself off and being taken away in an ambulance. One of the sports in which this is the case is inline skating. While it is of course important to learn how to stay on your feet and avoiding falling at all, by learning what to do when you do fall, and wearing the proper protective gear, you can ensure that a fall is just a minor blip in your day.First off, you should have the correct gear. This gear includes wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet. The first three are strong suggestions, the helmet, on the other hand, is a necessity. When you are inline skating, you will be traveling at extremely high speeds. No matter how experienced a skater you may, you may still encounter a surface that you are unfamiliar with and unprepared for, or some sort of object in the road. Not wearing a helmet can spell devastation if you ever take a bad fall. Concrete is incredibly unforgiving when you hit it at a high speed. You may feel silly wearing a helmet, but the alternative is just not worth it.Next, keep your options open as to where you can fall. This may sound silly, however, if you are traveling along a hard surface, try to stay somewhere near a softer one in case you need to wipe out. Grass or sand will be a lot more forgiving than concrete. If you are in a skate park, try to aim for softer areas as opposed to sharp angles.If you are traveling along and falling is inevitable, it is time to make a conscious choice of how you will fall. The most important aspect of the fall is to keep your body loose. If you tense up at the last minute, you are more likely to break something. Have some faith in your safety gear and relax into the fall. While it is usually a better idea to fall forward, try not to brace yourself with your hands as the impact will damage your wrists. Try to slide into the fall if possible instead of hitting the ground straight on. If you do fall backwards, try to fall in a curve, don't land directly on your butt so you protect your tailbone. Roll into your fall and then stop yourself from hitting your head by putting your arms out to the sides to stop you. You may have a couple of scrapes and bruises, but hopefully you will be mostly unscathed.Knowing how and where to fall will keep you safe as you inline skate your way to fun!

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How to Enjoy Inline Skates and Skateboards Safely

It was a typical case of "anything you can do, I can do better." Mona had been a very good ice skater as a girl, and she had even played on a few ice hockey teams.She was athletic and tough as nails. When the teenage boy next door jokingly challenged her to a rollerblade race, the competitor in her quickly accepted the dare. Mona, Super Mother and Editor of the Local Newspaper, laced on a pair of borrowed skates, took a quick practice run, and rolled to the starting line.Ten yards into the contest, she hit a rough piece of pavement, and she skidded to a stop on bare hands and knees, breaking her wrist in the process. Her accident didn't make the front page of her paper, and Mona felt lucky it didn't make the obituary page, either.More than 15 million people participate in rollerblading, or inline skating. And that includes many adults. About 25,000 skaters are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year.Dress For FailureFractures to the wrist and lower arm account for nearly half of all injuries to skaters. Lacerations, abrasions, head injuries, and concussions are also a danger. The proper equipment can cut down on the danger when the inevitable spill occurs. Equipment includes:- a helmet with a hard plastic shell and padding underneath. It should have a chin strap, and it should not block your vision or hearing. Be sure to purchase helmets that meet the recommended safety standards set by ANSI or Snell. An approved bicycle helmet will do.- elbow and knee pads designed for skating. They should have a hard shell cover and fit snugly so they don't slide out of place.- wrist guards. They should have a hard plastic splint on the top and bottom. Wrist guards and elbow pads help reduce the risk to these areas of the body by more than 80 percent.- a good pair of gloves.- Purchase the proper skates (or boot), based on your skating experience and exercise goals. For best results, an inline skate boot should fit snugly but allow for a little extra toe room in the front. Go to a store with knowledgeable sales people.- Wear a thin liner of silk or polypropylene under a medium-weight athletic sock. Thick, all-cotton socks do not keep the feet dry and contribute to blisters and other foot problems.Don't Skate Around The Basics- Before you start take a lesson, including how to fall safely, from a qualified instructor. Contact a local retailer, or search for safety tips on the Internet. The National Safety Council Fact Sheet Library is one source.- Achieve a basic skating level before taking to the road.- Observe all traffic regulations.- Skate on smooth, paved surfaces away from heavy traffic and crowds of people.- Do not skate on surfaces that have water, dirt, sand, or gravel on them. You'll lose traction and control of your skates.- Avoid intersections at the bottom of hills.- Do not skate at night. It is difficult to see obstacles in your path, or to be seen by others.- Skate on the right side of paths, trails, and sidewalks.- Warn pedestrians when you are approaching from the rear.- Inspect your boots each time you skate.- Rotate the wheels when they begin to wear unevenly.- Skate defensively, especially on streets. Skaters are more invisible and vulnerable than bicyclists.- Check out a new route by bicycle or car before skating it.Skateboard WarningsOver 100,000 skateboarders require emergency room treatment each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Skateboarders with less than a week of experience have the most injuries, usually due to falls.- Learn how to fall safely.- Do not ride a skateboard in the street. And never hitch a ride on the bumper of a moving vehicle.- Check out the area for holes, bumps, rocks, and debris before you ride. Seek out parks and areas designated for skateboards.- Never skate in the rain.- Always skate with friends. If you are injured, you will need help.- Wear closed, slip-resistant shoes, a helmet, wrist braces, gloves, and special padding for knees, elbows and hips.- Before using a board, check it for hazards. Serious defects should be repaired by a professional.

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How to Clean Inline Skate Bearings

Clean bearings roll smoother, are faster and will last longer than dirty bearings. Grit and sand can cause small pits in the balls and create an uneven rotation. Below are instructions on  how to clean a bearing with a removable shield. If the shield on your bearings are stationary, ignore the steps which are directed to removing shields.If you clean and lubricate your bearing often they should last you a long time. Always avoid getting your bearings wet, and keep them free of sand! Clean and lubricate skate bearings immediately if they become wet.Tools You Will Need:Small bowl or metal panStraight pinBearing cleanerSmall cleaning brush such as a toothbrush. Soft or medium, nothing too hard!Clean towelsPaper Towels1. For removable shields: Insert the end of the straight pin into the end of the C-ring which holds the shield onto the bearing body. Very gently pry the C-ring up and towards the center of the bearing, working your way around the circle. Remove the shield slowly, always taking care not to damage it.2. Place bearing in container or bowl and flush with bearing cleaner to remove contaminants. Citrus cleaners work well. Use the small brush or toothbrush and remove larger pieces of dirt and grime. If your bearings are particularly dirty, you may have to repeat this step. Be sure to change your solvent with each rinsing.3. After you have cleaned the bearing, pat it gently dry with a clean, lint free towel. Place on a paper towel and allow it to air dry. Make sure that all water has evaporated and dries out completely before proceeding to the next step.4. After the bearing has completely dried, apply 1 to 2 drops of quality lubricant to the inside of the bearing. A little lubricant goes a long way. Rotate the bearing slowly to work the lubricant in to all of the moving parts. Make sure the balls are completely covered in oil/grease.5.  Replace the shield by placing it on top of bearing and slipping the C-ring into the groove next to the shield. Then work remaining length of C-ring slowly and gently around the fitted groove until it snaps back into place.6. Put your freshly cleaned bearings back on your skates and spin them to insure oil/greases is evenly distributed and wheels are spinning smoothly.Warning: Always use extreme caution whenever working with any cleaning solvent. Bearing Cleaner is a toxic chemical and should be washed off skin immediately.

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How to Choose the Right Roller Blade Wheels for Your Rollerblades

Roller blading has officially taken over the traditional sport of roller skating as the new way to step out on wheels. Rollerblading and inline skating is excellent fun and can also be great exercize for anyone seeking a different option to standard skating, or one thing besides running, biking, or walking. Rollerblading fundamentally takes a skate and puts the wheels in sequence, typically four wheels in a straight line. But this straightforward layout gives a skater additional speed, agility, and control on the pavement.Roller blading allows the skater to make sharp turns and cuts, which has developed an entire new sport of roller hockey - hockey on roller blades or inline skates. Roller blading also makes it possible for a skater to climb up hills, and descend them as well, much like a skiier would, which makes it great exercise for people who need to get outdoors. All of this fast action on skates does have a single consequence, and that is the wear within the roller blade wheels. Rollerblade wheels naturally wear out as time passes and should be replaced.Roller blade wheels will wear out very first on the insides of the wheel, and generally the front and back wheels will wear out very first. Thus before replacing rollerblade wheels, they may be rotated a number of times to even wear. Rotating generally just implies switching them from a single skate to a different and reversing the wear side, and also usually moving the outer wheels to inside. You can make your inline skate wheels last another 80-100% of life as a result of rotation.Ultimately you will have to replace your roller blade wheels. At this point, discovering replacements isn't tough, but acquiring the right wheels does take a number of decision making. You will find a number of considerations, the very first being dimension of the wheel. The dimension of roller blade wheels is measured in milimeters, and typically comes in 72mm to 80mm sizes (you will discover considerably 1 for unique purposes). Several roller blades can accomodate any dimension, but other won't hold the larger sizes so assess your handbook. In general, the greater dimension wheels will likely be quicker, and will last longer. The smaller wheels will provide you with far more control and stability. Something within the low end (72-74 mm) is advised for the beginning roller blader.The subsequent thing to consider is hardness in the wheel. Hardness is measured by the durometer scale, which uses numbers and letters to indicate hardness in the wheel. In general, the harder the wheel, the lengthier it'll last. However softer wheels give a skater much more command and effectiveness. With the common skater, once more something moderate is encouraged. See the recommendation that came with your guide, or search for something between 78A and 82A.Finally, you want your wheels to appear great right? Let's not kid our selves, most guys don't want pink wheels, and a number of people don't want loud colors. A lot of will consider the color and style of the wheel and how it matches their skates into consideration. Do not be shy in doing so. Obviously cost is a concern, and these days it is possible to acquire wheels from all types of sources, both in stores and on the net.So if you will be looking for replacement inline skate wheels, retain these basic considrations in mind: dimensions, hardness, and style.

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Loaded Longboarding

There's a lot of buzz and development in Longboarding technology. Decks have become utterly indestructible based on the abuse being deliberately done to them to prove point. Videos where someone will just do a body flip and land on the board just to test the flex and reliability has been a common show. The construction of these boards from mixing maple wood, bamboo and fiberglass has strengthened the amount of reliability for these decks. This also means additional costs, but it's definitely becoming an investment in the long run.Then there's the trucks for longboards such as Paris, Randals, and the infamous Original Longboard trucks. All special in their own offerings.  There has never been a time where you have different wheels for each riding style. Wider, softer wheels is best for high speed rides and drifting. Softer wheels provide more traction and support.Here's a brief review on a few selection from Loaded Longboards. Their boards are well known for their bamboo composite decks and crushed glass deck top which is an alternative to grip tape. The Vanguard. I could say that it will be one of those all around boards for carving, commuting and pumping due to its symmetrical shape and stance. However, not meant for high speeds due to its flex nature, this is one board that will surely put a smile on any rider just for the overall graphic of this beauty.The Ceviche. This is the answer to the rider who wants to get a piece of the traditional skateboard tricks. Best used for riding in banks and bowls, pumping, carving and commuting this board is meant for the old school tricks master. Definitely shows that Longboarding is for everyone. Aside from the overall design, the graphics is one sweet eye candy.The Pintail. if you just want to have the best time pumping and carving hills, then this is the board to get. Due to it's light and fluid nature and adding the *torsional stiffness this board promises higher energy return. *Torsional : noun: the action of twisting or the state of being twisted, esp. of one end of an object relative to the other.In conclusion, it does not matter what Longboard you're using. It's if you're going to use it at all in the first place and have a good time under the sun. It also takes guts to try longboarding due to all the hazards that come with the sport.

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