Built sturdy and small for aggressive and agile riding techniques, BMX bikes are fast and maneuverable in the hands of an experienced rider. Primarily used for racing in the early years of BMX, a parallel stunt-riding style, known as free style, has grown up around the bike over the last few decades. These sports truly demonstrate the versatility of the bicycle design, which is now widely available in a range of sizes and frame geometries.
History
The history of BMX began in the 1960s when bicycle manufacturers began producing smaller bikes that young kids could use to copy the recently popularized sport of motorcycle motocross. Bikes, like Schwinn's Stingray, where half the size of road bikes. They were fast, easy to ride and maneuverable. Soon, youngsters all over the country were performing simple tricks, such as wheelies, on these newer, more agile bikes. Eventually the crossover to racing occurred and the term BMX, for Bicycle Motocross, was born. Newer frames and hardware focused on both the racing side and the trick-oriented freestyle side continued to evolve. The 1980s and 1990s saw significant advances in the freestyle side, with more and more complex and innovative stunts being performed. In 2010, BMX racing is a featured sport in the summer Olympics and trick riding is classified as a leading extreme sport.
Construction
The frame of today's BMX bike is shorter and the geometry is radically different from that of a standard road bike. The seat tube is significantly shorter, bringing the center of gravity much lower on the frame. The head tube is also at a steeper angle and lower on the frame. Because it is more compact, the frame can withstand the substantial abuse of jumping. Most BMX bikes use a 20-inch wheel, much smaller than the 24- or 26-inch wheels of a road bike. The gears are also different. While most road bikes use multiple gears, the BMX typically is fixed gear drive with only one crank sprocket and one drive sprocket on the rear axle.
Disciplines
Different disciplines have popped up as BMX has matured over the years. BMX racing is just that, racing BMX bicycles against others for time on built-up dirt tracks with jumps and turns. Freestyle displays trick riding and is frequently seen in skate parks and other urban locations where rails, jumps, steps and ledges offer riders an opportunity to demonstrate their skills. The latest innovation as of 2010 is dirt jump, which involves jumping of huge dirt ramps and performing spectacular aerial stunts.
Pros and Cons
BMX bikes are good for racing, for stunts and for short distance riding, such as around a neighborhood. They are good for children due to their sturdy nature, relatively small size and riding ease. Outside the racing or freestyle environments, they are not well suited to adults. BMX bikes are difficult to ride for long distances, having a fixed drive gear that can make uphill riding difficult. Their short seat tube prevents the rider from fully extending his legs, making for an uncomfortable ride.
Sizes
A range of sizes of BMX bikes are available to suit any rider, from very young to adult. The mini is the smallest class of BMX bike and is best riden by youngsters four to six years old. Children six to nine years will find the slightly larger frame of the junior class more accommodating. The expert size has a longer top tube than the junior size to fit kids nine to 13 years of age. Finally, the pro size is a full-size frame that can be used by those 12 and up.
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