Christina 

Answer

Hi Christina

Bunny hopping is quite simple, if you know how to jump then you should know how to bunny hop.  You use the same techniques as you do jumping just you are on the ground and lifting your bike to your body. Using your arms and legs to help you.

I hope I have helped you

Melissa Mankowski, World Champion (Standard Byke Company)

Alicia

Answer

Hi Alicia 

The Best technique that i would use to jump is to position your body on your bike no further back than your seat, have your arms and legs slightly bent so that when you land you have something to absorb the jump. 

Have your peddles flat inline with your bottom tubes on your bike.  Once you have all that then you can start to prepare yourself for the jump, don't ever be scared of it because when you are you will never achieve your goal.  When you come to the top of the jump pump the bike up the lip of the jump to achieve your maximum speed then lift with your arms and legs and lift the bike over the jump and look at where you want to land.  If you do not make the jump the first time keep on trying and remember to never be scared of it that is the worst thing you can do.

I hope I have helped you, hope to see you around the track sometime come and talk to me I am happy to help.

Melissa Mankowski (Standard Byke Company)

Hi

I was wanting to know if u could tell me the best way to jump and the technique.  I’ve just bought my first bike a mongoose pro menace and my local track is quite big and I have no room to build my own jumps just wanted some help thanks

James

Answers

Hi James

Firstly, practice your bunny hops.  That is the same action as 'lifting' for a jump.  Then pick a small double, or even better a table top, at your track.  Don't be disheartened if you don't make it at first.  Just get as much speed as you can, and 'lift' right as you get to the top of the lip.  If it is a double keep your front wheel up the first time in case you don’t make it, then as long as you keep your bike straight the worst you can do is bash it.  If that happens make sure you have soft knees - bend them and your arms to absorb the shock.  Best of luck.

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Hi James

Well I have found that the best way to learn is to practice.  There is so many different ways to jump but the best technique and the one I use is to position yourself on your bike no further back than you seat, use your arms and legs as shock absorbers for your landing.

If you think the jumps are too big and you are not confident in doing it just try some thing like a table top even if it is too big just try it see how far you land and keep trying until you have made the whole jump.  When you become more confident in your self as a rider then go on to something bigger.

I hope I have helped you and look forward to seeing you jumping in the future.

Melissa Mankowski (Standard Byke Company)

Me and one of my good friends just started jumping jumps and I can do it really good sometimes but other times I wreck bad.  I was just wondering how are you supposed to jump, I dunno I think maybe I'm doing it wrong. And I've been trying to bunny hop for a long time but I just cant get it, got any advise?

Haley

Answer

Hi Haley

Thanks for your question. I find that it happens with a lot of females and some guys as well that riders tend to rely on speed alone to jump and just let the bike dead sailor over the jump. I will try to explain the technique as well as I can. What you need to do is work the face of your jump to help you across. That means using your body to push the bike up the face of the jump. Your body just before you enter the jump should be absorbed (tucked down) and it extends (becomes more upright) as you push up the face of the jump, then as you hit the landing you pump off it, which gives you extra speed as you come out of the jump. Remember you have to work the bike to get the maximum out of it.

The best way to know if you use your body enough is to try and pump around the track without pedalling to see how far you can get. Or work in a rhythm section pumping through the jumps and get yourself timed. Then go back next time making sure you pump up the face of the jump, through the jumps and pump off the jumps to see if you improved on your time. Another way to help your jumping is to work on a jump that you clear really well and start going into it at a slower speed so that you learn to use you body to help clear it and not speed. Of course the other main factors are keeping your pedals level and bars straight and learning to look for landings before dropping your front wheel. Good Luck with it all and keep working at it.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle)

Hi

I have been racing for a few years and I am just wondering how to jump and how you started?

Anonymous

Answer

Hi

The main thing you need when you're jumping is confidence. Just start on a small table top to get your confidence and work up to bigger jumps. The only way to learn is to have a go, even if you're scared to. It's just a matter of pedalling right up to the jump and lifting like a bunny hop right as you get to the top of the lip. Then, as you land, bend your legs like shock absorbers so you land smoothly. If you don't have a table top and you have to learn on a double, just remember that if your not going to make it just keep your front wheel up and the worst thing that can happen is you will bash it. The more you do it the better you will get. Good luck with your racing, hope to see you getting some air at a race soon!

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Australian 19+ elite champion

How long did it take you to learn to manual?

KC

Answer

Hey KC

I'm still learning (Ha Ha), no it takes a lot of practise to jump and manual.  If you stick to little things like small sets of doubles or even a tabletop.

You can even do it in your front yard by putting a line down and trying to get over that with your back wheel.  Once you do try to improve on that mark all the time.

With a jump on a track it is different because you have the speed behind you, when you come up to a jump bend your arms and legs to compress the jump and when you get to the top of the lip pull up with your arms and push down into your bike with your legs to keep the back wheel down.

I hope I have helped you.

Melissa Mankowski, (Standard Byke Company)
World Champion

What is a pump and how do you do it?

Veronica

Answers

Hey Veronica

Pumping is a technique used in BMX, you use it when you are pushing down and pulling up when going through a rhythm section to get the maximum speed you can out of the jump.

You use your arms and legs as a cushion to stop your body from jarring.  I hope I have helped you.

Melissa Mankowski (Standard Byke Company)

Hi Veronica

'Pump' is the term used for the technique of getting through jumps without lifting either front or both wheels off the ground.  If you do it correctly, you can actually use the jumps to gain speed without even pedalling.  Being able to pump smoothly will also help you to keep your speed up through a rhythm section.  As you get to a jump, lets say a roller, you need to suck the lip up by letting the handlebars come up towards your chest (by bending your arms and getting low on the bike).  As your back wheel goes up the lip you need to let the back of the bike come up by bending your knees while pushing back down the front.  The last part is to also push down with your legs.  As you get better you will learn to use your bodyweight by shifting it back and forth. 

I hope this helps... let us know how it goes!!!

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Hi Veronica

To pump is when we use our body and legs to work the bike through the jumps and corners.

Firstly if you were just going to roll through the jumps and keep the wheels to the ground you have to pump through them. You must use all parts of the jump, that means you push the bike up the face of the jump as you come to the top you then push it down into the jump then push it up the exit of the jump, again as you get to the top you push the bike down off the jump.  The best way to practice this is on a rhythm section of your track.  You go through it with no pedalling as you get better and use your body and legs correctly you should find that your speed will pick up.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle)

How did you learn to jump so good, This is my 2nd year in riding and I'm still having trouble manualling, any tips you are able to give me would be great.

Ashleigh

Answer

Hi Ashleigh

Start on a small set of doubles or table top and when you come to the top of the obstacle position your body on your bike no further back than your seat.  When you get to the jump you have to push hard with your legs to push the bike into the jump and use your arms to tuck your bike into your body.  If you see me at the track anywhere come up and see me I am happy to help.

Melissa Mankowski (Standard Byke Company)

What sort of training do you do to prepare for nationals or worlds?

Anonymous

Answer

Hey there

The sort of things I would do to prepare for the Nationals and the Worlds would be a lot of time on my bike whether it is Road Sprints, Grass Sprints, Road Rides, Rollers, Track/Gates and a lot of Track Work. I would also try and get to the gym a few times a week, swimming to keep up my fitness.

I always try to be on my bike all the time it definitely helps 100%.  I feel the more I am on my bike the better I feel on it when I race it at a big meeting, I feel a lot more comfortable on it then if you only ride a few times a week.

I hope I have helped you.

Melissa Mankowski, World Champion (Standard Byke Company)

Crystal

Answer

Hey Crystal

Well it really depends on how much training you do for starters, if you are always on your bike then your fitness will improve.  Doing a lot of track and road riding will also help to improve your endurance. 

So you know that your fitness is improving try doing a lot of full track sprints and see when you start to get tired then try to improve that mark every time you race.

I hope this helps you.

Melissa Mankowski, World Champion (Standard Byke Company)

Hey, I was just wondering how could I get more endurance for the track I mean I can stay with them half the track then I get tried I work out a lot and ride my bike at home but how can I get past that point?

Tiffani

Answer

Hi Tiffani

It sounds like you may need to do some longer sprints.  To vary these from just doing them on a straight path you could use your track once a week if you have one close by.

I used to do the track sprint at one time and I did find my endurance picked up, but I found them pretty hard. But as my fitness picked up they became a bit easier. Maybe time yourself so you know if you are improving.  I only did four laps at a speed as hard as I could go, after the first and the third you have a 5 min rest in between and after the second you have a 10 min rest.  Also I found grass sprints help.

Good luck with it all.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle) - www.tarshasbmxworld.com

What exactly do you eat before and during a race day and why?

Nic

Answer

Hi Nic

Contrary to popular old-school belief, you do not need to carb load before a race as BMX is not an endurance sport.  There goes the big bowl of pasta the night before and three bunches of bananas theory out the window.  Leading up to a race you should simply try to eat food that you are familiar with so you know you wont have any adverse affects.

There are small considerations however, for example you should avoid eating a meal high in fat (pasta with a creamy sauce, fish and chips etc) or red meat the night before as these are harder to digest and combined with your nerves on race day could leave you with an upset stomach.

Try to have your breakfast 2-3 hours before your first race.  This should have a low-glyceamic index meaning the energy will have a more gradual release into your bloodstream, sustaining you for longer.  Try porridge, beans on wholemeal toast, poached egg on wholemeal toast, wheat bix without too much sugar, bran etc.  White bread and crumpets are high glyceamic index.

You should then top up your energy with small light snacks throughout the day that again you are familiar with, for example fruit (okay 1-2 bananas are good here!), breakfast bars, bread etc.  Foods with a high glyceamic index are good to replace energy quickly after a race.  Try to avoid anything with meat or dairy (especially if you are asthmatic).  If your nerves are really bad and even these upset your stomach try carb shots - a liquid meal replacement.

An important thing to remember is fluids - drink plenty of water, 1-2 glasses at least an hour before and sip from then on, depending on how hot it is you should consume 2-3 litres per day.  Sports drinks are good for replacing electrolytes but dilute them with water and avoid carbonated drinks.

Great to see you trying to get the most out of your racing, hope this helps!

Tanya Bailey (Cassap Racing)
Australian Elite Female Champion

Ok, I have a 9 yr old daughter, this is her first year in racing we have been plagued by gearing most of the year.  I have had people tell me girls run big gears and bigger cranks.  For instance when she first started BMX a lady told us run a 44-16 see how she does on that with 160 cranks.  We did but her gates were terrible so we went down to a 43-16, gates still terrible so then I did what people told me not to do and that was I made her spin.  I put her on 155 cranks with a 15-40 with 1 1/8 wheel set up.

Her first national she got a second and the next day a 3rd our second national she got a 2nd and a 4th., but at local tracks she seems to be spinning that gear out so I sometimes put her on a 15-41.  Makes her gates a lil worse but she quickly makes the bad gate up around the first turn.

So now to my question with the 15-40 = a 53.3 is that to low?  It seems to get her out of the gate great but sometimes it looks like she is out spinning it.  What kind of exercises can we do to make her maintain her spinning even if she is span out for a few feet, and what exercises can we do to get her out of the gate a bit faster – build muscle or ? any help would be appreciated...

John

Answers

Hi John 

And welcome to the confusion that can be instilled on us with gearing.  I think you are pretty well on the right track with a ratio of around the 53 mark a 40 /15 with 155 cranks sounds OK. It is pretty well a standard type gearing ratio that the majority of riders would be on. As for the crank length unless she is a very big 9 year old that should be fine.

 Maybe some short sprints making sure the pedalling motion is smooth. I have also seen many young riders who are put onto clips before they have developed a good pedalling motion. With the clips they do not utilise both the pulling and pushing motion that clips require. If this is the case get her to do some training without the clips and on platform pedals.

I would just stick with that gearing and make her work it, eventually she will adjust to it. If you keep changing it then she will never get used of it. I very, very rarely change my gearing. I think to many people blame a riders gearing and do not take note of what the rider is actually doing on the track. I honestly do not think all the constant gear changes are necessary. Before you think about changing a riders gear at a meeting look at the way the rider is actually using the track. Firstly look at the gate start. Is the rider not balancing well so all their concentration is going on balance and not on the start. Is the riders gate technique right, are they really thrusting out of the gate, is there a slight pause before the second and third pedals.

Next the first straight are they backing off if someone comes close, are they really putting their best effort in from the gate and down the first straight away. Now for the turns. Is the rider pedalling all around the turn if possible, are they pedalling hard out and off the turn, are they backing off if a rider comes close? Lastly the jumps. Are they pedalling right up to a jump if you can hit it at that speed safely. Are they pumping up the face of the jump, pumping through it and pumping off it, then pedalling as soon as possible after the jump. If the rider is not utilising all aspect off the track to its best, then a gear change will not help. But if the rider is doing every thing right then they may require a gear change.

Everybody has a different opinion on gearing and what you should run for this track or that one. I think if you follow the procedure as above and look at what the rider is actually doing in a race first before you even think about a change of gear, you should not go too wrong. I do hope I have made some sense of this for you, I would love to hear how you get on.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle) - www.tarshasbmxworld.com

Hi John 

My Name is Melissa Mankowski and I am 15. It is up to the individual to decide on what gearing they want to run with.  I know it is hard because your daughter is still at a young age.

Try to keep her on a spinning gearing, her gates should be good and she will have to peddle to keep up with it, but as you know most tracks are going indoor and this will benefit her in the long run.

As she is still only 9 you need to keep her on a light gearing as you have to consider she is still growing as running a hard gearing over extended periods of time can cause damage to her growth plates etc.

My gear ratio is a 55.0, I have been running around this ratio for about 3 to 4 years now.  Some tracks you will have to pedal harder than others, but try to do a lot of GRASS and ROAD SPRINTS to build the muscles up in her legs and her whole body in general.  If your daughter is running clips get her to do the sprints with flat pedals.  

I really hope I have helped you.

Melissa Mankowski, World Champion (Standard Byke Company)

Question

My daughter is nine years old and I am thinking about putting her onto clip pedals. It seems that a lot of other girls her age are already on clip pedals and they seem to have got faster since they have been on them. I'm just wondering whether you recommend her going onto clip pedals or not.

Sam

Answers

Putting your daughter on clips is entirely up to you. I always say that they should learn to jump and be good skill wise on their bike first. But if you put her on clips my suggestion is try and change them back and forth to normal pedals every so often just so she doesn't forget how to ride on normal pedals and doesn't rely on clips all the time. Too many young kids now can't ride with normal pedals and I dont think that is a good thing. For example I do all my sprint training and general riding on normal pedals so when I put on my clips I feel a lot stronger. Anyway I hope this helped you out a little. Good Luck.

Natarsha Williams (Wooden Wheels/Entegee)

NBL #1 Supergirl

Thanks for the question in regards to your daughter riding with clips. It depends on how long she has been riding for and what her skill level is. I think it is important to first learn to ride and especially jump with flat pedals, and it also gives you a smoother pedalling motion. Having clips will give her more power but you don't want her to be dependant on them. If you think she is ready for them make sure she interchanges between clips and flats to avoid that from happening. Most pros still put flat pedals on their bike to do sprints or jump a new jump or ride trails.

Good luck and I hope your daughter benefits from this advice.

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Australian 19+ elite champion

I believe that anyone can go on clips as long as they feel comfortable on a bike. If a rider doesn't feel fully comfortable on a bike when they make the transition to clips, things like gate starts can become scary. Clips don't necessarily make a rider faster, I think it's just a mental thing, like if someone in their gate has clips they think to themselves that they can't beat them, but if they go hard they will still be able to beat someone on clips. Clips also help with bunny hopping and jumping, as you can lift up with your feet as well as arms, but the decision to go on clips is up to the rider and the parent.

Renee Junga (Cassap)

SA State Champion

What does (or could) your club offer that pushes your riding to a higher level, ie coaching ,track design, competitive race meets? Etc.

Darren

Answer

Hi Darren

I belong to Wanneroo BMX Club, Perth WA.  We have club racing once a week, open practice once a week and coaching clinics 1-2 times a week, one of which I run.  This helps me as seeing these kids learning new skills and improving all the time inspires me to do the same.  We try to change at least one straight of the track once a year, keeping up with the trend of faster, flowing, more technical tracks.  There is always senior rider input into the track design, this is important.  I think it's important to always be helpful to any new members who will probably feel like fish out of water,  I think once a year we give out a perpetual trophy for achievement as well. Also, ALL parents should try to pitch in every now and then as it is always the same ones doing the scoring, staging, fundraising, etc.

Yours in BMX

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)
Australian Elite Female Champion

Hi Darren

What can clubs do to make racing more exciting?  Well Liverpool have got their act together.  They are offering a Pro Girls class for their meeting in a couple of weeks.  This gives all the girls the chance to ride in a full gate with a dead man final or in this case a 3 final final.  Instead of 4 A Pro Girls and 5 or 6 AA Pro Girls.  This gives all of us the experience we need for the bigger races, for example the Nationals.  They will be used to riding in a full gate.  Track wise they are all going to the big jumps, more rhythm and things like that.  As for coaching we need a lot more female pros teaching the younger girls cause they generally listen to us more than they will the guys if you get my point.  The girls in the sport need to be promoted a lot more than they are, we don’t get the same recognition as the guys do, so by making a Pro Girls class it will be exciting as the guys racing and a lot more people will watch us.

I hope I have helped you.

Melissa Mankowski, (Standard Byke Company)
World Champion

Hi guyz... I have been riding for 11 years and I am 14.  Living in Alice Springs, NT, it is hard to keep going because there is a poor amount of senior riders that come and yet a lot of junior.  I was just wondering what I should do to stay interested, I have also just started jumping and I can already do a lot of things on the track. 

Emily

Answer 

Hi Emily

Thanks for the question... I hope you're not losing interest in BMX, I know how hard it can be when your riding on just one or two tracks all the time with little competition.  A few tips I have to give you would be first of all try to find a training partner, this way you can push each other and training will feel more like hanging out.  By the sounds of it the kids at your track are younger than you, you could encourage them and in turn they will push you.

Secondly set yourself some goals... short term goals could include following a training program or winning the state titles, long term goals could be winning the nationals or you know what, you will be 19 in 2008, just right for the OLYMPICS.  So if that's your thing put a poster of the Olympic rings on your wall and set your sights there.  That’s 5 yrs away so if you work hard and do well you could pick up sponsors and get to more races over east etc giving you loads of experience and a name for yourself.  Work out what you want and go for it, when you know what you want it’s a lot easier to work for it.  The main thing though I guess is to keep enjoying the basics, the feeling you have when you're riding, the people you meet through the sport and the places you see.

Best of luck

Tanya Bailey (Cassap Racing)
Australian Elite Female Champion

Hey, my sister races and there are only a few other girls at the track and there’s a girls race and stuff with about 4 people in it.   Anyway the guys don’t give my sis any shit about being a girl or anything except the other girls in her race give her lots of shit and one girl blames my sis for everything, If she falls off and things like that and my sis gets depressed a bit and then I believe she doesn’t race to her full potential do ya think you could give her some tips?

Me

Answers

Hey

Well sounds like your having a bit of trouble with these people.  All I can say is tell her to not worry about them, beating them is only going to hurt them more than just giving up.  Don't worry about what they say if anything they are probably just jealous that you are a better rider.  Go out and have fun, that’s all that matters.

Melissa Mankowski, World Champion (Standard Byke Company)

Hi 

I think this tends to be a girl thing and I am sure most girls have been through it.  It also happens in the boys classes.  I have been racing BMX for 22 years and it still happens even in the Elite classes.  Some also use it as a tactic to upset the other rider so they do not race well.

That sort of thing would of made me more determined to beat that person by so far that she could not blame me for anything.

Your sister should use this as a positive thing and work hard to improve her racing.  Learning not to be intimidated and focusing on putting in a good race makes you a better rider in the end.

Best of luck 

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle) - www.tarshasbmxworld.com

Hi 'me' 

Good to hear your watching out for your sis... very sweet.  In my experience the best way to shut girls like that up is to beat them.  They are most likely just feeling intimidated by your sister and think that if they are mean to her she will want to quit and then wont be able to beat them anymore.  Tell her not to stoop to their level, reply to their remarks with a smile (that's very frustrating) and walk off, then take her aggression out by beating them where it counts... on the track.

Tanya Bailey, #1A, Cassap Racing

I'm 13 years old and I want to be a professional bmx rider.  How can I start practicing if no one believes in me?   My parents doesn't know that I want to be a professional rider. I want it so bad. Thanks for everything. Your site helps a lot of people who wants to ride bikes, especially the girls.

Jerremy

Answer

Jerremy it is great to hear that you have set yourself a long term goal and let me tell you that you are the only one that has to believe in yourself.  At your age now I would suggest to make some short term goals that are reachable for you and work at them.  They could be anything from learning a new skill, beating a rider that always just beats you.  Short term goals should not be to hard.  Set yourself about three of these, write them down and put them up on your wall to remind yourself. When  you have achieved them work at another three short term goals.  You could also set some goals to be a bit longer and a bit harder to achieve.  This will give you things to aim at and help keep you focused on that big goal you have set for yourself. Also remember it is not always an easy road and to be a good winner you have to learn how to lose. You have to take the good races with the bad and learn from your mistakes in a positive way.

I set a long term goal at the age of 8 to be a World Champion it took me 12 years to achieve that goal but I never lost sight of that dream.  Life as a Professional rider is not an easy life it takes a lot of dedication and sacrifices.

I wish you all the best. Good luck with it all and I hope you get to achieve that dream.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle)

Hi Ladies,

I'm not sure if any of you ladies have read the latest forum on this site in regards to "getting a 30+ ladies cruiser class at Aussies & hopefully 4 the worlds".  Well as some of you may or may not ride cruiser l was wondering your thoughts on this situation, and wether you thought that the Elite and Challenge should have been combined at the World Titles in Perth. For any responses l get l thank you all for your time.

Ruth

Answers

Hi there,

I don't think that there was much thought put into the women’s cruiser classes at the worlds... the UCI said that the reason they combined elite and challenge was to trial the class to see how much interest it received.  However it was also trialed the year before in Brazil.  That year there was also Elite riders in the class, so maybe the challenge riders expecting a challenge class were ill informed.  I only found out I could race cruiser 2 weeks before the worlds after having expressed interest in doing so months earlier.  This didn't give me a chance to practice on a cruiser so hopefully it will be better organised next year.  The initial reason for me not to be able to race was that I didn't qualify at the nationals, however I saw this as a challenge class and thought it would be unfair to enter it.  The reason I decided to race at the worlds was that I knew there would be more than 8 other elite riders in the class.  I think it was unfair for the challenge riders to have to race elite and it should be split next year, which I know isn't much consolation for those who missed out on home soil.

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Hi Ruth

The cruiser classes were introduced at the World Championships in 2002.  I asked at that stage if I could race in these and was told I could not because an elite rider could not race in a challenge class.  So I put the thought out of my mind.  I did find out just before the championships that we could, but I decided against it, and yes there were Elite riders in that class.

 This year I received another phone call asking me if I wanted to race in this class but again decided against it.  The reason was not because I thought it was wrong, as that was the current ruling so that is what we had to except.  It was just ashamed that it had not been past on to the riders, but remember their had been confusion also the previous year.  Do not criticize the idea too much as it has been a start for the females as we never could race cruisers up to this point.

 As for wether I think the two classes should be combined.  If it is proven these two classes can provide the numbers required to have their own class then no they should not be combined.  It is now a case that the women have to show that we are fair dinkum and support what is in place and provide the numbers. Hopefully then this situation will change, but it may take time and patience.

I wish you all the best of luck and keep on the cause.

Natarsha Williams (Sun Ringle) - www.tarshasbmxworld.com

Hi my name is Melissa Mankowski, I am in the same situation my self because it's great competition and a chance to ride against the best as I can race ProWoman everywhere else but the Nationals and the Worlds.  At the world championships we had Junior Elite Woman racing 18 and under Challenge Cruiser.  Now they are trying for next year to have a Championship Class and a Challenge Class to make it more fair for the Challenge Riders, the 18 and under cruiser was combined with Junior Elite Woman racing in this class with 9 year olds. But as in the men they can only race Elite 20" or Elite Cruiser, and the up and coming Woman face and uphill battle to gain recognition and keep interested.  I believe that the Championship riders Junior and Senior should be made to race together and the Challenge classes to be kept as challenge only. 

I hope I have helped you out Ruth, Keep riding hard.

Thank You

Melissa Mankowski (Standard Byke Company)

Hi

My name is Jessica and I race BMX. At club meetings I have to race with the boys and they always tease me. I can beat some of them, but not all of them. I don't like it when they tease me, but don't know what to do.

Jessica

Answers

Dear Jessica

Sounds like you're experiencing the same problem I'm sure most girls have dealt with at some time in their BMX career. I'd say these boys probably feel threatened by you, especially if you beat some of them. Their pride is probably suffering a little and they're trying to make up for it.

Don't let it get to you, I’m sure they will grow up and get over it eventually and you may even become good friends with them. Until then don't let them know that their teasing is upsetting you, keep you're chin up and they'll get bored with it soon enough. Don't be put off by having to race against the boys, it will only make you stronger. Good luck and thanks for the question.

Tanya Bailey (Cassap)

Australian 19+ elite champion

Hi Jessica

I also raced boys and from a very young age. Yes, and a lot of them did not like it. What you have to do is look on it with a positive attitude. As you get into the more serious side of racing even the girls try to put you off by being nasty and saying terrible things. So you use the treatment the boys are giving you as part of your training. By that I mean you learn to ignore it by focusing on pay back time on the track.

I learnt to jump as good as the boys, and be as aggressive in the berms, just so I could get my revenge on those type of boys and this in turn made me a better rider. I found that I eventually liked the challenge and started racing the boys at carnivals as well. Guess what, I gained the respect from most of the guys over the years. Good luck with your riding and enjoy the challenge just as much as I did.

Natarsha Williams (Wooden Wheels/Entegee)

Elite Womens World Champion