desire68

To most,this will be overkill,but when i'm riding the BMX or the DJ Bike(and when i finally get the trials bike) not only will i wear my lid but i'll also be wearing legpads and elbow pads! I've smashed both shins and elbows while riding and playing ice/street hockey to know that i really don't want to feel that pain if i can help it! To all you young guys/girls who don't like the idea of protective gear because it doesn't look cool,I'm twice the age of some of you and i can tell you that the shin smashes that i had when i was younger are still there today and you can still feel where the bone has been chipped on both my shins and elbows(so just imagine what you'll look like after surviving a head injury,If you survive!!) Some would call it overkill to where so much protective gear,some would even laugh,but when i go home after a ride,and i didn't have to go via the local general hospital both me and my family are happy with that!! HELMETS AND PROTECTIVE GEAR DON'T LOOK COOL!,CHIPPED BONES AND SMASHED HEADS LOOK WORST,PROTECT IT OR LOSE IT!! Mike.

I think I understand a lot more about wheel base and head angles now,should definitely be archived! Mike.

SquiT-man and butcha87, This is the most informative explanation of how to manual that i've ever read,Thanks guys,while reading the posts i could almost feel the technique that you guys were explaining,i'm gonna adopt all of the above this weekend and i'll let you know how i got on next week.I'm sure that i'll be able to pratice manualing properly now! Cheers, mike.

You know guy's,it's funny,wether i'm on the trials forum,a bmx forum or a DJ forum this question keeps coming up. Now i ride my bmx every day as i take it to work with me.On the way home in the dead of night i like to practice my manuals and i've got to tell you all,i still can't get the hang of them and it's really frustrating because i really want to be able to do this seemingly easy trick. The first time i tried them i looped out BIg time and the bike spat me off and left me with no thumb knuckle skin on both hands(and i was wearing gloves!!) so there may be a little mental block their,but i still keep trying. What i've found now is that,because i try them on my bmx every night,when it comes to my DJ bike,i struggle to lift it/find the balance point let alone manual for even a short distance! Someone must have found them hard to do at first but then found some technique that totally changed the way this trick is done?? I know practice makes perfect but it doesn't seem to be getting better at all.Should i stop trying to manual the bmx and concentrate on the DJ bike which will be a lot closer to my trials bike,or do i need a different technique as the crouching position/pumping thing doesn't seem to like me at all and i'm paranoid about looping out! Sorry to hijack the thread but i'm struggling with this as well and i really want to get this trick down!! Cheers, Mike.

Your advice and links are all good ones,thanks very much for the effort lads.The reason that i'll need both elbow and leg pads is because both of these body parts hurt like crazy when i bang them and i would be silly to think that i'm not going to drop,so it really is a need. The ones i like at the moment are the 661's that Sam posted at the top of this thread,i've been looking at these for a while now and they look like they do just what i need them to without going over the top! Cheers again lads. Mike.

Cheers for that,i've done a search on google and the 661's are looking to be the best choice for me as they are both light and flexy!! Mike.

Ok guy's,i'm still a noob so don't flame me for this,but i've been looking in to this whole tire pressure thing(and i don't mean to state the obvious!) but if rider (x) is 7.5 stone and rider :ermm: is 15 stone then the 20psi in the rear wheel of rider (x) is going to feel a whole lot harder than the same psi in the rear wheel of rider :). Assuming we agree on this,then it should mean that the psi of the tires is TOTALLY down to the rider and how much he weighs and not what seems to be a good pressure for someone else! Just my 2p worth Lol!! Mike.

I'm drawing that conclusion myself Sam,but i need both as i play ice/street hockey and my legs and elbows aren't in the greatest shape from playing so i do need the protection.Cheers for the reply/advice,the 661 pads are the only ones that i've been looking at!! Cheers, Mike.

Guy's, I want to save my knees,shins and elbows while trying to become half decent at trials riding,so what leg/elbow pads do you use/recommend. Cheers, Mike.

No probs Tom, I bought the opener in black,looks realy plain but mine has now been plastered with stickers so looks well cool!! Mike.

Cheers for the offer you guys,both Leicester and Stamford are not too far at all,so look out for a post soon about meeting up.Deffo gonna check out that spot by Nene college as i live about ten mins away from there! There's no point or fun in just riding about in my area as i want to actually meet up with other riders and learn somthing off them!! Mike.

Oh Man!!Where am i gonna ride this summer!?? Mike.

Not yet dude,looks like i'm gonna have to drive over there to meet some of the MK riders! Where are the MK ride spots then?? Mike.

Hi All, Any riders on this forum from Northampton or close surounding areas,I would really like to know where you ride.Trials,street and BMX,somone must know where the riding spots are,Help!! Mike.

Rich4130, To be honest man i havent a clue what it's like to ride in Northampton caus i havent had the chance to yet! I'm gonna start a post asking this question,so look out for the responces. Mike.

Tod, Read the rest of the thread man,you'll find that i had the same problem and Mason(Custom Riders owner) advised that i try the Capix,which i now have caus it's just so comfortable, and it fits perfectly and just to help you a little more,here is their web address www.capixco.com Hope this helps!! Mike

If your not a million miles away from Custom riders bmx shop you could try them,their on 617 Jubilee Road Letchworth Herts SG6 1NE Tel: 0870 330 8460 or 44+ (0)1462 650740 hope this helps, Mike

I tried one and they come up VERY small.The XL wouldn't fit my big head Lol! The worst thing about the pro-tec is the foam lineing,it's just sooo hard.It has a really thin soft layer of foam on the outside of the lining but the lid comes up so small that all you end up feeling is the REALLY hard protective layer! I couldn't wear one so i got a Capix instead,same kind of style but MUCH more comfortable with two ply,semi hard protective foam,and a soft outer layer. Check them out www.capixco.com and they are a little cheaper than the Pro-tec too! Mike.

Yep,that is verry ugly.no where near as nice as my Hoffman Lol!! Mike.