Grind on a BMX Bike
Grinding is an important skill to know in BMX.
Steps
- Check all your hardware. Make sure that your tires are rock solid. If they're not, pump them up. Tighten your stunt pegs to ensure that they stay on the bike. Tighten your seat to ensure you stay on the bike and tighten your handlebars so you can get a good grip on the bike. Replace your helmet if it's cracked or if it has suffered a hard knock. Even if you can't see the damage, it's there.
- Learn how to bunny hop. The bunny hop is the simplest but most important trick on a BMX bike. Most other tricks (including the grind) use a bunny hop to get into or out of the trick. For example, a 180 is a bunny hop but spun around. However, without knowing the bunny hop, you can't 180.
- Find a rail to grind on. Make sure that the rail is in a safe place. This means that you can't grind crash barriers on the side of the road where accidents can and have happened to bikers. A safe rail would be away from traffic and pedestrians, such as in a garden or skatepark. The rail should be as high as you can bunny hop or slightly smaller.
- Ride towards the rail at a comfortable speed. As you get better, you can add to the speed but for now, start slowly until you perfect the technique. Don't be nervous, every BMX rider as been in your position. Relax into the trick and wait until your front peg is about to pass the start of the grind rail.
- Bunny hop up and over the rail. You want your pegs (not tyres) to be directly over the rail. Straighten up the bike in midair so you will land straight on the rail with your pegs and not fall off.
- Relax while you grind the rail. Spread out your body weight so the bike will not tip. If you feel the bike leaning to one side, don't wait until you crash. Jump off immediately. That being said, don't jump off just because you're scared. Your bike could fly in any direction and possibly break or hurt another rider or yourself.
- Bunny hop out. As you approach the end of the rail, be ready to pull off your front peg and jump out of the grind in a small bunny hop motion.
Tips
- When starting out, it's best not to use a handrail next to some stairs in case you fall and hurt yourself on the steps. Try to find a small, lone rail.
- Start out on a smaller rail, then move up.
- Don't get pegs on both sides of your bike, it adds weight.
- You should be able to balance on the bike perfectly before attempting this or any other trick.
Warnings
- Attempting to grind without pegs could result in serious injury.
- Riding without a helmet could also result in serious injury.
- BMX can be dangerous.
Things You'll Need
- A bmx bike.
- Pegs
- Helmet (optional but recommended)
