K. Richard Douglas
BMX (Bicycle Motocross) is a versatile, action-packed sport that originated during the 1960s. It includes racing, freestyle, flatland, BMX park and dirt jump events. The riders often engage in maneuvers like spins, grind and flips. The focus is on speed and agility. Riders can be found at skate parks, dirt trails and on city streets.
As would be expected, a BMX bike needs to be durable as well as offer control and maneuverability. They generally are outfitted with 20-inch wheels. Riders need to have the athletic abilities that allow the endurance, bike handling and speed required to be competitive in the sport.
One experienced BMX rider comes out of the biomed ranks. Dustin Arp, CBET, is a network of care supervisor, anesthesia specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“I have been riding BMX for 28 years. It has brought me all across the U.S. and to different countries in search of exciting new things to ride. I also film and create videos of my friends riding and have produced three full-length BMX videos,” Arp says.
Arp credits his older brother for his introduction to BMX.
“He had a BMX bike growing up. He also had a subscription to a BMX magazine called BMX PLUS. My exposure to the magazine and him having a bike really sparked my interest,” he says.
Arp not only rides BMX but has captured the sport on video.
“Filming a full-length BMX video is a lot of work but very rewarding. It’s basically a compilation of all the best tricks my friends and I film over the course of two to four years compiled into one video. Most of the clips are filmed in and around the Denver metro area. Multiple road trips are also taken during the filming of the video to keep things fresh and ride new spots,” Arp says.
He says that the best part of any video project is the premiere when the video is done.
“It’s always amazing gathering everyone together in one place to watch the end project. It’s awesome to have a period in time documented that we can all look back on and remember. I think the overall message from these videos is to just get out there with your friends and have fun and create something,” Arp says.
After nearly three decades of practicing the sport, Arp has had to adjust some of the surfaces he rides on the most to compensate for wear-and-tear.
“For the first 25 years, I was always riding street; jumping off obstacles and grinding down rails. As of lately, my body can’t take that abuse anymore so I have transitioned into riding dirt jumps and skateparks. Riding those types of terrain, when executed correctly, is a lot less impact on my body,” he says.
Participating in BMX has also meant travel and interesting experiences.
“My first international riding trip was to Barcelona, Spain. That was an incredible experience I will never forget. The architecture is really different than it is here in the U.S., which made for some amazing spots to ride. In 2023, I took a riding trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. That city is the most bike-friendly city in the world. Multiple bikes lanes on every street made it very easy to get around. Incredible spots also. There really is no better way to explore a city than there is on a bike. You really can get a true feel for a city and really get up in it,” Arp adds.
TAKING THE ADVENTURE OFF ROAD
His BMX adventures aren’t Arp’s only passion. He is also into off-roading and camping. The off-roading involves a modified truck.
“This is a new endeavor I started four years ago when I bought my truck. I’m lucky to live in Colorado because we arguably have the best trails in the U.S. The adventures consist of picking an area to explore and go get lost. Always on the hunt for the best camp spots, fishing holes and amazing views I can find,” he says.
Arp says that the adventures also consist of exploring the many abandoned mining towns along the trails as most of the trails are old mining roads.
“Most the roads I drive on are very remote. I come across a lot of wildlife such as bear, moose, deer, mountain goats and big horn sheep,” he says.
What modifications has he made to his truck?
“Full suspension upgrade, big tires with beadlock wheels, armor, regear, steal front bumper with winch, rear steal bumper with swing out spare tire carrier, and I built a drawer system in the back bed to accommodate all my camping gear. It’s better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it,” Arp says.
Some of Arp’s favorite destinations for off-roading and camping include the San Juan Mountains, Moab, southern Utah, White Pocket Arizona and the Black Hills in South Dakota.
For those considering either getting into BMX or off-roading, what advice does Arp have?
“For BMX, I would start with getting a bike. After that just get out and cruise. Hit the streets or skatepark and have fun with it and progress at your own pace. You really have to put time in on the bike to get good at it and feel comfortable. For off-roading, I would start with any 4×4 vehicle,” he says.
After that, he says to download an app called onX Offroad. The app shows you all the trails in your area and rates them by difficulty.
“Then find some trails and get out there and explore. Then, slowly modify your rig as needed for whatever types of terrain you choose to tackle,” Arp adds.
On the job, Arp is a certified advanced technician at the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado.
“I take care of all the ICUs. I also take care of all the anesthesia preventative maintenance work. I just hit my 20th year of doing biomed last summer,” he says.
There is never a dull moment with this experienced biomed; dialed in for a BMX ride or an off-road adventure.
