From Giraffes to seconds to speed, here are 7 facts you probably don’t know when it comes to BMX racing and freestyle. BMX is a global sport and one that shows the true talent, skill, and precision of each trick, flip, jump, spin—every aspect of the sport. It can be truly mind-boggling to see riders flip high in the air with their bikes, and once you realize the effort and work that goes into you, your amazement only grows.
Sport Alert!
What’s that? Yes, you heard it right: The X Games are coming up, and with them, a whole host of the best of the best, the who’s who of the extreme sports world! Not to be missed, The X Games are held in Southern California in July. Founded 28 years ago, the X Games have a collection of sports that sometimes differ year to year, but generally include skiing, snowboarding, BMX biking, and skateboarding. Interested in finding out more? We’ll be going over all aspects of the sport from top to bottom, and side to side. After all, it’s THE extreme sport of the year!
For now, check out the top BMX moves of the x Games 2021 below, straight from the X Games themselves:
Now, let’s move onto our best insider facts you may not know about BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle:
Two Giraffes
What do Giraffes have to do with BMX? Nothing, really. But if you stack two average sized male giraffes, you get 26 feet—which is the starting ramp size of a BMX supercross track! We thought that was quite an interesting comparison, but please don’t get any ideas of using a giraffe (or two) in any of your tricks, and stick to ramps made for BMX use, please.
Blink and You’ll Miss it
When thinking of BMX races, you might think they last for minutes, not seconds. But in reality, most BMX races last for around 40 seconds, give or take. During the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, French BMX racer Anne-Caroline Chausson won the women’s championship race the in 35.976 seconds flat, while the winner in the men’s race, Maris Strombergs of Latvia, won the longer race in 36.190 seconds. As you can see, the race from start to finish is over in less than a minute.
Closer to the Dirt, Closer to the Win
…unless you fall off, of course. But what we mean is this: BMX bikes are buit differently then your average bike, and there is good reason for. Unlike road-racing bikes which have wheel diameters of somewhere around 27 inches, all BMX bikes have smaller tires, usually around 20-inches or so. Being smaller than average bikes, you’ll be closer to the ground, being abel to build speed, preforming impressive jumps and flips.
No Gears, No Fear
When it comes to BMX bikes, you won’t be getting any gears, and only one break. You’ll be going from zero to 100 in less than a few seconds, and most likely you would even have time change gears. Remember, BMX bikes are mention for speed, ruggedness to handle extreme landings after jumps, and at the same time be light enough to with gaining speed.
Kick Your Problem-Solving Skills Into High Gear
When experience the thrill of flipping in the air on your bike tens of feet into the air, increasing your problem-solving skills may not be a benefit you think BMX can give you. But if you think about it, BMX is all about problem-solving, building pactaince, and finding new ways to overcome your problems and disadvantages. Here’s an example:
Let’s use a 360 Double Set. This is a challenging move, and in order to successful complete there are a few challenges you need to overcome, and problems you need to solve. You need to learn how to solve the problem of catching air before spinning 90 degrees, then 180. After that comes the hard part: You have to navigate the final 180 in order to face the correct way while landing!
As you can see, this would take time to master, going over your moves, learning the rhythm and feel, figuring out what went wrong, and finding out how to change and perfect each stage. It’s time-consuming, as learning just about anything is, and you’ll need to think “out of the box” while getting each sequence down pat.
BMX Origins
If you don’t know, BMX stands for Bicycle Motocross, and its origins date back to the 1960s, an offshoot of the motorized motocross that was growing in popularity in California. It took off during the 70’s and 80’s, slowed down a little for a decade or two, and has resurged again for sport and family fun. From 5-year-old kids to other members of the family, BMX has grown to become a staple in American sports. Spread out across America, there are over 400 American Bicycle Association certified BMX tracks in the United States, with most hosting races and events during the warmer weather. No matter where you are located, there is a good chance of a BMX racetrack being close by for you to discover!
There are no Limits
When it comes to BMX Freestyle, there are no limits. You can start creating your own sequences and maneuvers, and you’ll realize you literally have endless possibilities. When it comes to building your skill set, mastering different jumps, tricks and other maneuvers that can work together to help you stand out amongst the crowd. You’ll find endless ways to constantly improve your craft, and you never be bored, that’s for sure!
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