Very encouraging mountain biking news! Mountain biking boosts your health and fitness in numerous ways.

RealBuzz.com posted an article about the “health benefits of climbing every mountain” and here is a quick summary of them:

• Builds leg strength: quad, calf and glut muscles, plus your tendons
• Optimizes fat burning: this takes place when your heart rate is between 65% and 75% of your maximum heart rate – which is 220 minus your age for men and 225 minus your age for women
• Works the cardiovascular system: your heart and lungs work more efficiently when you’re fit

Here is mountain biking news you already knew: mountain biking is fun for the entire family.

You can mountain bike with your children or with your spouse or with friends. It’s a fun way to spend the day – or an entire vacation.

Remember to wear your mountain biking protective gear, especially your mountain bike helmets, every time your family rides.

That way, you’ll be able to enjoy the health benefits of mountain bike riding, plus the fun you’ll have sharing an activity with friends and family – while being protected.Here is more information about mountain biking protective gear, including mountain bike helmets.

Skateboarding news: Baltimore’s Bucky Lasek secured the skate vert gold in the AST Dew Tour, with an amazing second run.

In the Baltimore stop of the Dew Tour, ten top professional skateboarders went for the gold in a best of three runs format. Canada’s Pierre-Luc Gagnon won the first run, with a score of 93.50. So how does Lasek respond in run # 2? By “flipping, twisting, spinning, and even breaking out a brand new fastplant spin for the occasion to push ahead with a score of 93.75.”As Bucky put it, “I wasn’t here to get second place and I wasn’t here to go home hurt: I was here to win it for Baltimore.” And, that he did – with real style. Nobody could catch Lasek in run # 3 and he celebrated with a victory lap – and then he added some breakdancing moves, as well.

Wondering where the next skateboarding news will take place?

The next stop on the AST Dew Tour is Cleveland, Ohio, in July – and the Summer X Games will be held in August in California. Skateboarding categories at the X Games are street/park, vert and luge.

If you like what Lasek did on the Dew Tour, you’ll love his skate helmet

Lasek’s ProTec Classic skate helmet has 70s styling and the hard-to-find translucent color with exposed stainless steel rivets. This key piece of skateboard protective gear comes in 4 different shell sizes for a custom fit, plus a comfortable two-stage liner. The skate helmet comes with a sticker sheet of Bucky’s sponsors, too, so you can customize your own skateboard protective gear – with your own unique style.Check back in . . . I suspect we’ll be watching Bucky Lasek make even more skateboarding news this summer!

Read more about the skateboard protective gear you need to stay protected.

Announcing . . . the addition of Fox MTB and BMX protective gear to the XSportsProtective inventory . . .

You can’t get any better BMX news than that! Fox has a great reputation as a company that provides premium MTB and BMX protective gear – and I can tell you that this reputation is well deserved, which is why I’m so excited about making this announcement.

At XSportsProtective, you’ll now find the following MTB and BMX Fox protective gear:

• Fox BMX helmets: Flux Fox BMX helmets or the Transition Fox BMX helmets
• Fox BMX gloves: Digit gloves, Mojave gloves, Unabomber Fox BMX gloves or Sidewinder BMX gloves
• Fox BMX shin guards, knee guards and elbow guards
• Fox BMX body armor: the Launch BMX body armor

Now, let us know your BMX news. Where are you riding this summer? What’s been your biggest adventure so far?

Email us at info@XSportsProtective and let us know your BMX news. If you already rely upon Fox BMX safety gear for your riding protection, what is your favorite piece of Fox BMX safety gear? Why? How has it protected you? What would you recommend to people who will be trying out BMX protective gear from Fox for the very first time?

Thanks!

What did you think about the BMX news from June 14^th – that Mike Day joins Kyle Bennett on the US Men’s Olympic BMX team?

On June 14^th, Mike Day competed in a race to earn a slot on the Olympic team. USA Today called Day’s run “the race of his life” and a “dominant performance”. His lead was so big and the final heat of the day was cancelled. No one could mathematically catch up to him, anyhow.That means that Kyle Bennett and Mike Day – and a third rider, who won’t be chosen until after June 25 or maybe not even until July 1 – will head to the Olympics in
Beijing, China. USA Today predicts the third man to be Donny Robinson, the world’s top ranked BMX racer.

What do you think? What BMX news and predictions have you heard?

BMX news from the Los Angeles Times: more than 100 friends and family members came to watch him clinch his Olympic spot.

In the LA Times newspaper article, Day was quoted as saying that he spent much of the week before the race calling people and asking them to support him on June 14^th. Jill Kintner, the female racer who will be representing the United States in the Olympics, designed bright yellow Mike Day Fun Club shirts for this occasion – and his fans sure weren’t disappointed!

I also have some exciting news about BMX safety gear . . .

I’ll soon be announcing the addition of even more top quality name brand BMX safety gear, though, so please check back often.

Mountain biking news: the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race is off and running!

On June 13, sixteen mountain bike riders began a 2,711-mile race that started in Banff, Alberta in Canada, will take the riders along the spine of the Rocky Mountains and then end in Mexico.These riders will take mostly dirt roads on their journey, carrying with them all they will need in food, water and shelter. There are no support crews or any other form of outside assistance, so these riders are “truly on their own” and “facing snow-packed passes, unnervingly large carnivores, and no hint of a cell phone signal.”

Here’s the second part of the Great Divide mountain biking news.

On June 20^th, a second set of riders started across the United States portion of the race only, which is 2,490 miles in length. The Tour Divide blog is providing up to date mountain biking news about both races and their “high-quality human drama and unparalleled long-distance adventure.”

OK, so maybe you’re not planning to cross the U.S. this summer. But, when packing for your mountain biking adventures, remember the importance of mountain bike protective gear.

Whether you mountain bike for weeks or days at a time – or even for one hour, remember the importance of mountain bike protective gear.

No matter how long or short you ride - down the block to the CircleK or into the backcountry - mountain bike helmets save lives. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a helmet advocacy group, head injuries are the cause of ¾ of the 900 bicycle-related deaths per year. The good news is that helmets reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by 85%. Argue all you want about state helmet laws and mandatory use, but the facts are pretty clear. Helmet use saves lives.

So, be more protected with mountain bike protective gear! Choose full face mountain bike helmets or regular mountain bike helmets from XSportsProtective today.

The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends the use of skateboard protective gear, saying “Always wear safety gear.”

NSC recommends the following in skateboard safety gear:

• Skateboard helmets, specially designed skateboarding pads and closed, slip-resistant shoes
• Padded skate shorts, and skateboard pads for hips, knees and elbows
• Skate wrist guards and protective skate gloves

The mission of the NSC is to “educate and influence people to prevent accidental injury and death,” while their vision is “making our world safer.” Hard to disagree with either of those!

Here’s more important information about skate helmets from the NSC.

The NSC, which is a not-for-profit, charitable, international public service organization dedicated to its mission and its vision, states that skateboarding helmets save lives; here is more NSC news about skate helmets.To quote them directly: “Brain surgeons and doctors across the U.S. agree that wearing helmets can save lives.”

XSportsProtective carries the skateboard safety gear that you need – according to the recommendations of the international public service organization: the NSC.

At XSportsProtective, you’ll find:

• Skateboard helmets
• skateboard pads
• padded skate shorts
• skateboarding pads for knees and elbows
• skate wrist guards and protective skate gloves
• and more

Here is more information about skateboard protective gear. Order yours today!

Exciting BMX news: the BMX Olympic trials for men are taking place on June 13. Will your favorite make the team?

The trials are taking place in Chula Vista, California. For the men’s Olympic BMX team, the top ranked rider, overall, will make the team; so will one coach pick and the winner of the trails race.If you’ve got tickets and can attend the trials, that’s great! If not, NBCSandiego.com will provide live coverage and moment by moment breaking BMX news.

Updated BMX news for the US women’s team: Jill Kintner wins a spot after racing against top ranked Arielle Martin.

A month ago, Jill Kintner thought she’d lost all hope of competing in the Olympics after she’d reinjured her knee during a training crash. After finishing sixth in the BMX world championships in Taiyuan, China, though, she discovered that she’d earned enough points to secure the only certain spot for a United States female BMX athlete on the Olympic team.

Olympic trials are full of unanticipated surprises. Protect yourself from unexpected injuries by wearing your BMX helmet every time you ride.

BMX safety gear is crucial to protect yourself – and nothing is as important as a quality name brand BMX helmet. To help decide what BMX safety gear you and your family need, call us at (800) 930-4084 or email info@XSportsProtective.com. We have what you need!

Before you send your children and teens off to BMX summer camp, be sure to provide them with the BMX protective gear that helps keep them protected.

Your children and teens are excited about spending part of their summer at a BMX camp– and who can blame them? BMX is a thrilling sport and, because of the upcoming summer Olympics, we’ll be hearing more and more BMX news in 2008. Before camp begins, though, it’s important that you order the gear they’ll need to be protected.

BMX protective gear checklist: BMX helmets to BMX gloves, BMX pads and more.

• Check out your options in BMX helmets, including BMX full face helmets for added protection.
• Review your options for BMX gloves, including SixSixOne BMX gloves and gloves from EVS, ProTec, Troy Lee Designs and more.
• Order BMX protective pads, including BMX pads for knees and BMX pads for forearms and elbows.
• Consider a BMX chest protector and other upper body armor.
• Take a look at the rest of your options in BMX protective gear that will help keep your loved ones protected.

One more thing . . . Here’s more information about BMX summer camps. Enjoy!To place your order or talk with a specialist, call (800)930-4084 or email info@XSportsProtective.com.

BMX news: will BMX superstar Kevin Robinson break a world record in Central Park on June 12, 2008?

Making BMX news is nothing new for Kevin, who has won seven X Games medals, three of them gold – but, wait until you hear what he is going to try now. Kevin Robinson will attempt to clear the height of a six-story building while riding his BMX bike.On June 12, he will ride down a 60-foot roll-in and then up a 27-foot Super Quarter Pipe. After catching air, he will attempt to glide at a height comparable to a six-story building. This will take place on Dead Band Road in Central Park at 7 p.m.

The more thrilling the BMX news and adventures, the more important it is that the rider wears BMX protective gear!

Here’s the bottom line: BMX protective gear is necessary for every rider, from beginners to the experts – to the people in line to set world records.If you ride BMX, then BMX protective gear is for you. Period.

BMX helmets are key to your safety. Wear one every time you ride.

Studies have indicated that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by as much as 85 percent and reduce the risk of brain injuries by 88 percent. BMX helmets can do the same for you.XSportsProtective has the top name brand BMX helmets you want and need, including the:

• Troy Lee BMX helmet: D2, Steve Peat
• Giro BMX helmet: Remedy in gold and black
• ProTec BMX helmet: Ace Spade
• and so much more.

Order your BMX protective gear today!

Exciting BMX news! BMX is getting national attention, thanks to the upcoming Summer Olympics.

On June 29, 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to add a BMX racing event for both men and women to the Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China in August 2008.

Some may wonder if BMX is ready for the Olympics, but the Today Show wonders if the Olympics are ready for BMX!

“The world’s in for a shock,” said Kyle Bennett, the top-ranked rider in the United States and second in the world told the Today Show. Why? The Olympic BMX course contains a hill that is nearly three stories high. From that venue, eight riders at a time will race down the hill at speeds nearing 40 miles per hour, which gives them enough speed to jump up to 45 feet.

It’s going to be great fun to watch!

Which United States riders will make BMX news – and BMX history?

Ranked close behind Kyle Bennett is Donny Robinson and the top ranked female is Arielle Martin. The United States, though, as a BMX powerhouse, can send the maximum number of athletes, which is three men and two women. The men’s team will send the top ranked rider, the winner of the Olympic trials on June 14 and a coach pick. The women’s team will consist of the top-ranked rider and a coach pick.

What about you? What BMX protective gear will you need to join in the fun and excitement of BMX riding?

Take a look at the BMX protective gear we recommend at XSportsProtective. Not surprisingly, the most important pieces of gear are the BMX helmets, with choices in fullface BMX helmets and the regular, openface BMX helmets.Also, check this blog often as we share even more BMX news and recommendations for the BMX protective gear that will help keep you protected.