A wise suggestion for anyone that has wrap-around handguards and is riding this weekends Whiteway funday (or rides any other MX track):
To drastically reduce the chance of a severe wrist breakage following going over the bars (generally from mislanding a jump) then remove or slacken your full wrap-around brush guards.
Failure to do this means your hands are trapped between the bars as you fly over the bars, snapping the bone at the wrist.
I had a minor off (probs 10 mph or so) at Crediton as the bike nose-dived off a drop-off. Luckily I'd remembered to slacken the brush guards that morning, so I just sustained a sore - but not broken - wrist.
Its not just me that thinks/knows this, it has happened to many people - and MX tracks are the most likely place this would occur (and that's why MX racers never use this type of guard).
So even if you think you are there to potter around at slow speed, don't think it cant happen to you. Slacken or remove those guards now.
Yep -ride it like you stole it . Cuz you can't do that on the lanes
Just enjoy yourself. Typically 14psi will be approx tyre pressure for a track like wwb - especially with the dry forecast. Make sure everything's nice and tight on the bike. Make sure you potter round the first few laps - because riding an mx track is nothing like laning and totally different to watching it. Then slowly build up your speed and as for the jumps - be careful and do what feels safe. Whiteway is a nice track to ride but has been designed around expert class - so don't expect to clear table-tops and doubles !!
I took the plastic wraparound part off my hand/lever guards very soon after nearly breaking a finger in a fairly minor over the handlebars incident at Hazelwood.
I left the metal part on to protect the levers and put up with the occasional rap on the knuckles, and it helps with picking the bike up too.
I agree take the wrap arounds off I won't use them after seeing a broken wrist at an enduro took mine off that day never used them since flexi levers aren't cheap but do the same job as wrap arounds
I have never used, and will not use them !
Been laning since about 79 ish and have never bashed myself hard enough to make me cry. I tend to try and look where I'm going ........ famous last words ..... it'll happen now !
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