BMX, which stands for Bicycle Moto Cross, is a form of cycling considered to be an extreme sport. BMX has developed a specific form of bike tailored to the sport, with features adapted to meet the particular demands placed on the bikes, including rigid frames, 20-inch wheels and fixed gears. However, bikes are further adapted to the specific type of BMX sport that a rider takes part in; race, freestyle or jump.
Race
Race BMX bikes are designed primarily with speed in mind since they are used to race other riders around a dirt track. As a result, their frames are the most lightweight of the BMX family, traditionally made from chrome alloy or aluminum. Wheel rims are narrow to help improve turning ability and to save weight and the bikes have only a back break to aid safety. Additionally, tires have a nobbled tread pattern to aid grip around the dirt courses.
Freestyle
Freestyle BMX bike have ultra heavy duty steel based frames to increase their strength when practicing aggressive tricks and landing jumps. Wheel rims are wide to provide width for absorbing the shock of extreme stunts and tires are fairly smooth since these bikes tend to be ridden on tarmac and ramps which require less grip. Bikes also tend to have front and rear brakes to aid control and to allow specific tricks to be executed. Some bikes are fitted with axle pegs, which provide an extra platform for executing tricks and stunts, and have a handlebar rotating device to allow the bars to be spun through 360 degrees without tangling brake cables.
Jump
Jump BMX bikes tend to have a mix of properties taken from the other forms of BMX bikes. Frames are lighter than freestyle bikes in order to promote greater airborne ability but heavier duty than race bikes since they need to be able to absorb landing shock. Tire treads tend to be nobbled to provide prowess on dirt tracks and bikes have only one brake, like race bikes, to improve safety. Jump bikes also often tend to be fitted with a handlebar rotating device to allow bars to rotate freely so that tricks can be easily executed.
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