BMX, which stands for bicycle motor cross, is a fast-paced sport involving small bikes performing jumps and maneuvers over a hilly, closed dirt track. BMX has grown immensely during the past decade, even becoming an Olympic sport beginning with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
History of BMX
Most believe BMX started when kids in the 1970s got bored riding their bikes up and down the street. They started to take them "off-roading" onto the dirt vacant lots of their neighborhoods. In 1972, a popular documentary about motorcross, called "On Any Sunday," featured an opening scene of some kids in California riding their small but maneuverable bikes over the dirt hills and valleys near their home.
In 1981, the International BMX Federation was born, with the first world championships being held the next year.
Equipment
BMX gained popularity so quickly because kids in the 1970s were already out riding their bikes for fun in the summer, and not much more was needed other than dirt to ride on in order to participate. Most BMXers started out with the Schwinn Sting Ray, but with the rise in popularity, multiple bike manufacturers began developing bikes specially made for BMX.
The American Bicycle Association, one of the original BMX organizations, recommends a bike with no greater than a 20-inch wheel diameter for those starting out in BMX, the largest size allowed for their novice league.
Today, many BMX competitions also require riders to wear full-face helmets similar to the ones worn by motorcross competitors. High speeds and huge jumps are characteristic of BMX racing.
Track
The BMX track is usually a dirt track made up of multiple hills and jumps, on which the riders can do tricks, flips and other maneuvers. Most tracks are large enough to accommodate up to eight riders at a time and feature a long straightaway that is usually 900 to 1,200 feet long. The ABA places regulations on tracks for official competition, including the width of the track at the start, the width at the main straightaway and the width and number of turns.
Competition
Most BMX races consist of eight racers completing multiple laps on the track, with the winner being the racer who can complete the required number of laps the fastest. Riders usually participate in several heats to determine who will compete in the final, or championship race.
Because of the jumps and turns in BMX racing, crashes are frequent, and riders can be penalized for actions that are judged to be interfering with other riders or performing unsafe maneuvers and stunts that put themselves or other riders at risk.
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