After the success of our first article ‘Five things BMXers do, which normal people don’t!’ we decided it’s only right to have a second instalment. To be honest, we could do a hundred of these with ease, here’s another bunch for you to get stuck into.

Latest issue of the mag, or a fidgets spine set up?

1. Use hand held objects as a BMX!

BMXers do not have a day off. We can’t just sit there and watch TV, our nature dictates we need to be doing something. If we’re not moving about and busy, we feel like we’re going to melt into the ground in a sea of boredom. Right through school and even now, I find myself using a pen, phone, cash card anything that would do an imaginary whip over the spine of a book as a BMX. It won’t leave me, it’s a habit. In 1996 I got a detention in science for continually fufanuing a gas tap with a 15cm ruler.

No need to hide it, we all know what it is!

2. Use 4130 as their alarm code/pin number.

We’re not really meant to talk about this, because every BMXer’s PIN number is 4130. Lets not hide anymore, the steel which is the backbone to everyones bike, and which binds an entire industry is grade 4130. It has been since day one, and this is why we all use these unforgettable digits as our most secure personal numbers. Also, it’s used in many Twitter and Instagram accounts right through the BMX world.

Embarrassing nightclub photos via Bicycle Android.

3. Shut down dance floors.

Something I’ve noticed in my almost 20 years of riding BMX. For some insane reason, a BMXer and/or group of BMXers know how to shut down a dance floor, in any club and in any country. I always felt it harks back to the very foundations of why we go nuts on a bike, 1. because it feels great and 2. because we can show off in front of our friends. One of my favourite moments is when a group of us were in Germany, and the DJ played ‘England belongs to me by Cock-Sparrer‘ things got messy, but our hosts were psyched.

Glass of water will fix this. Really?

4. Only visit A&E or a doctor when there’s physical sign of damage.

To ride BMX you do have to be able to take a hit, every session we come back bloodied and bruised. However, it appears many riders will only request the services of a doctor if there’s a limb missing, or if it’s at least pointing the wrong way. Why is this? There’s teeth facing in all directions after a run in with a cross bar, but unless the teeth are in a thousand pieces on the floor, there’s no reason to seek medical advice. Street Dave, above, almost lost his whole face! I was with him moments after impact and here’s what his first words were; “I’m alright, I’ll just have a glass of water.” Not, can you call an ambulance! Always the same…

Chester Blacksmith by Ricky Adam.

5. Have shitty hands all the time.

The old adage of spotting a BMXer just from the shoes they’re wearing is certainly a thing of the past now. Almost everyone on the planet owns a pair of Vans, right!
Unless you move breeze blocks for a living though, you’ll spot a BMXer quite easily from the sheer distress their hands will be in. Usually filthy, and rough with callouses. It’s often to the detriment of a healthy sex life when any BMXer comes limping into bed, and starts the romantic fondle, only to be told to get off because “your hands feel like sandpaper”.