Racing BMX Bicycles

BMX racing took a giant step when it successfully debuted in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This introduced a number of new people to the sport that has been around for decades. BMX racing bicycles differ from most cruiser, mountain and other bikes. They are not the same as freestyle BMX bikes either. They are designed specifically for one thing: BMX racing.

  1. History

    • The first BMX bike was the created by Schwinn in 1963. It was the "Sting-Ray" model. In 1970 Scott Breithaupt put together the first credited BMX race in Southern California. In 1974 Gary Turner used lighter materials and innovative welding methods to design a new bike. He partnered with Richard Long and created GT Bicycles Inc. in 1975. The 20-inch wheel was introduced by a number of manufacturers this same year. The BMX-specific sized bicycle wheel is still used today.

    Significance

    • BMX stands for Bicycle Motocross. The creation of the first BMX bicycle gave the youth of America a way to become motocross riders. Motocross is motorcycle racing that occurs on enclosed off-road courses. Kids all over America and the world began using these bikes to simulate motocross racing, which allowed this new sport to emerge.

    Geography

    • BMX bicycle racing has several governing bodies around the world. The two main associations in the United States are the NBA (National Bicycle Association) and ABA (American Bicycle Association). There are BMX associations all over the globe in many different countries, including France, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and others.

    Function

    • BMX racing is a sport that involves racing BMX-style bicycles. The riders are members of a racing association that rewards points for race results. The points are tracked during a season and the rider with the most points wins. These riders are ranked for the next season according to their ending points. The BMX race takes place on a track created using dirt. It will be enclosed in an area and feature several obstructions such as mounds of dirt at various heights, water obstacles, high banked curves and more. There are both amateur and professional BMX bike riders.

    Features

    • BMX racing bicycles vary from other forms of bicycles. The main differences are they are typically smaller, lighter and stronger. BMX racing bikes usually have rear brakes and frames built purposely for the rider's size. BMX freestyle bikes are dissimilar and include features that allow bar spins and fakie pedaling. They also have smaller seat and chain stays, fitted pegs and lower gear ratios than racing BMX bikes.