That Time My Nephew Scared the Hell Outta Me
Alright, so last weekend I took my nephew Jake out to the trails behind my property. Kid’s 9, full of energy, got a small 50cc dirt bike for his birthday. Looked at him bouncing around barely holding on, knees wobbling, wearing basically just a helmet and jeans… yeah, my stomach dropped. Realized quick I screwed up big time letting him ride like that. Got home, poured coffee, got mad at myself, and hit the books hard. Here’s exactly what I did, step-by-step, to unfck this situation fast.

Gear Hunt: Like Finding Tiny Body Armor
First stop? Decent gear. Went to the local shop feeling overwhelmed. Helmets looked like sci-fi movie props. Asked the guy behind the counter, “What’s ACTUALLY needed for a kid?” His list made sense:
- Helmet: Forget “looking cool.” Snagged one with dual-density EPS foam, MIPS tech inside (basically slips a bit on impact – like letting the brain wobble safely). Fit is KING. Made Jake wear it in the shop for like 10 minutes, fussed over strap tightness. Two fingers under chin rule? Applied it.
- Goggles: Cheap scratchy ones fog immediately. Grabbed anti-fog coated with tear-offs because kids crash. A lot.
- Boots: This one hurt the wallet. But stiff MX boots? Non-negotiable. Saw cheapos that bent like paper – hell no. Went sturdy, broke ‘em in walking around the house so he doesn’t pitch a fit on the trail.
- Gloves: Kid sweaty palms? Bad news. Got palm sliders and knuckle guards built in. Padded.
- Chest Protector/Roost Guard: Sounds intense, looks like turtle shell. Shields ribs, spine. Essential.
- Knee/Shin Guards: Little knees get hammered. Plastic shells inside pants felt solid.
- Elbow Guards: Figured he’d scrap them first. Took extra padding.
Suiting him up felt like wrestling a greased pig. Worth every cuss muttered.
The Bike: Not Just Kick-and-Go
Jake’s bike? Quick once-over showed loose bolts. My fault. Dragged it to the garage:
- Throttle Check: Twisted grip gently. Returned smooth? Good.
- Brakes: Squeezed levers – firm grip. Pads looked okay.
- Tire Pressure: Used gauge. Too soft. Pumped to manual spec.
- Chain: Tightened until slight sag stayed. Greased it up.
- Kill Switch: Tested it twice. Stomp-panicked kid needs INSTANT off.
Basic stuff, but skipping it = asking for disaster.
Teaching Session: Screaming Less, Yelling Louder
Took him to a dead-flat field. NO obstacles.

- Basics Drill: Mounting. Balancing feet-down. Kill switch location. Gear shifting (simple up/down). Rehearsed sitting position – elbows UP, looking FORWARD not down. Felt like a broken record.
- Slow Crawl: Hands OFF brakes initially. Just clutch feel. Walking pace ONLY.
- Panic Stops: Yelled “STOP NOW!” randomly. Watched him mash levers. Practice = reflex.
- Cornering Slow: Practiced leaning BEFORE turning handlebars. Looked awkward as hell.
Patience wore thin. Had to walk away twice. Kids don’t listen till something hurts.
Small Wins & Crash Test Dummy Moments
Took him to the easiest trail loop. Supervised ride:
- Stopped constantly. Checked posture, grip, breathing (heavier than expected).
- Hills: Walked first ascent/descent TOGETHER. Pointed out safe lines, loose rocks.
- Rocks/Roots: Practiced slow roll overs. Feet ready to dab.
Then it happened. Corner too fast, sand patch. WHAM. Bike down, kid face-planted into dirt. Heart stopped. Ran over…
Kid pops up. Helmet scratched to hell. Chest guard smeared mud. Gloves tore slightly on palm. Kid grinning? “That was AWESOME!” Boots did their job protecting ankles. Gear saved a potential ER trip.
Took that moment. Pointed at scuffed helmet: “See THIS? Helmet did it’s job. Your head didn’t. Gear ain’t optional.” Lesson finally clicked.

Won’t pretend it’s easy. Gearing up sucks. Teaching is exhausting. But watching him cruise safely later? Priceless. Stop cutting corners. Protect the tiny daredevils.