BMX riding consists of three different disciplines: race, freestyle and dirt jump. Tricks are possible in all forms of BMX riding, but they are particularly associated with the freestyle form of the sport. BMX tricks incorporate a large range of functions—some carried out while riding along the ground and others while traveling through the air. But all require a certain level of skill from a rider, as well as constant practice, before they can be performed effectively.
Endo
The endo is one of the best-known BMX tricks. It involves a rider balancing the bike solely on its front wheel, and as a result it requires nerve as well as excellent balance. An endo is carried out by firmly pulling on the front break and shifting the weight of the rider forward to lift the back wheel of the bike off the ground. The rider must be careful not to lean to far forward, however, as this might result in him traveling over the handlebars.
Wheelie
A wheelie can be considered the opposite of an endo in that it requires the rider to balance the bike on just its back wheel. A rider does this by pedaling hard in a forward direction while pulling up hard on the handlebars. Like the endo, the wheelie requires excellent distribution of a rider's balance to prevent the application of too much forward or backward force.
The 180
The 180 is an airborne half spin of the bike. It involves a rider turning sharply in one direction and making a bunny hop at the same time. The directional movement should spin the bike through a half turn. The rider will land the trick backwards and will need to pedal in a reverse direction and to spin the handlebars sharply to spin the bike back into a forward direction.
Bunny Hop
Bunny hops allow a BMX bike to jump into the air. They require a rider to bounce both the front and rear wheels off the ground at the same time. This is achieved by a rider crouching down low and then springing upward while pulling up on the handlebars at the same time. The bunny hop can also allow a rider to avoid obstacles and travel over raised surfaces.
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