Bicycle motocross, or BMX for short, began in California in the 1970s and has evolved through a series of technological advancements and seen a revival of interest. BMX bikes are small frames on 20-inch wheels, with raised handlebars, a front and rear brake, freewheel hub and low seats. It is the geometry of the frame, a short wheel base and high body clearance over the bicycle that make BMX bikes so maneuverable and their riders able to manipulate them so well. BMX racing takes place on a challenging course with jumps and banks.
BMX History
With the popularity of recreational motorcycle use as well as racing, young people began using bicycles to emulate their motorized heroes, and a market developed for off-road, smaller bicycles and race events. According to .23mag.com, Marvin Church developed a straight-frame bicycle that had a high clearance bottom bracket that allowed longer cranks. This enabled the bike to be pedaled efficiently and forcefully and BMX races became the platform for motocross-inspired riders to show their strength.
Freestyle BMX
As mesmerizing as any fine performance art, freestyle BMX riding is a display of balance, strength, agility and grace. Freestyle BMX street riding uses urban obstacles as features to challenge skills and defy gravity. BMX street freestylers can project themselves by bunny hopping, or lifting themselves off the ground and onto objects like benches, handrails and architecture. They have the ability to balance on one wheel and can slide or grind things by extended bars called pegs, which are attached to the axle of both wheels.
Vertical BMX
When BMX riders take their skills to the half pipe, a huge, half-cylinder-shaped ramp used for aerial stunts in sports like BMX, skateboarding and snowboarding, the crowds sit back in awe. Gaining heights of 15 feet or more over the lip of these vertical ramps, BMX half pipe riders, called vert or vertical riders, can use their air time to maneuver, spin, contort and reorient themselves before reentering half pipe. Since the 1990s, this kind of BMX riding has become more popular with bigger audiences and is a staple event in the X-Games. Because of the skill required to execute these maneuvers, vert BMX riders must be in top physical condition and be willing to risk injury to improve their skills.
Dirt Jumping
Many BMX racers take to dirt jumping, which is known for its sequential jumps that have riders approach, take flight, maintain control in the air and land, then repeat in a matter of a few seconds. These courses often wind around in a tight fashion, keeping riders moving through bends and berms with hairpin turns and steep banks. Dirt jumping courses are smaller than BMX tracks, making them easier to modify or maintain. The jumps are increasingly difficult and require concentration and responsiveness.
Olympics and Organizations
Companies like Haro, Schwinn and Redline paved the way for BMX product manufacturers, but today mountain bike companies like Specialized put time and capital into the BMX markets. According to Specialized.com, modern BMX bikes come with integrated bearings and built-in chain tension devices. There are a number of entities that organize events, like the National Bicycling Association and the BMX Federation, as part of the Union Cyclist International. BMX racing became an Olympic sport in 2003.
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