Start by choosing a good bike. A steel frame is stronger than aluminium. If you’re older than 14, try and find a long one. Wheels should have 36 or 48 spokes, and medium fat tires. Pedals must be grippy, and big handlebars are better. Look out for bends on the bike, but cracks are even worse. Check the frame down tube, stem, bars, cranks and forks for damage.

Once you’ve found a bike, you can get to work. Put the stem as low as it can go. A tall stem is very easy to bend. Put the seat down low, and move it backwards so it’s out of the way. If you want your bike to be lighter, you can cut the post down to about 10cm. Take off the front brake, reflectors, kickstand, pegs and anything else non-essential. A light bike is easier to jump with. Pump the tires up. Foreign bikes can run 100psi in the tires, with baladi bikes, 40psi is about the hardest you can get the tires before they expolde. If you can find soft rubber grips, use them. You will be pulling hard on them when you jump, you don’t need blisters. Lastly, tighten everything on the bike: cranks, headset, stem, pedals, bars, hub cones. Make sure nothing rattles.

Wear trainers, not ship-ships. Gloves, long sleeves and football shin pads can make life less painful.

Yalla, go ride!