BMX Racing
Bicycle Motocross
BMX was born in the early 1970's and
made popular when sanctioning organizations like the NBA, NBL
and ABA formed and started to expand. Bicycle Motocross was
created in Southern California along with other sports like
surfing and skateboarding.
In the early days there were no
specialized bmx bikes made by major manufacturers. Most started
out with a modified Schwinn Stingray or put a 10 speed style
seat on their "banana" bike. Motocross bars were soon adapted
and the birth of the clamp-on stem made bikes durable enough for
jumping.
Early manufacturers included
SE, FMF, Mongoose, Redline, MCS, GT, Torker and Shimano. Some of those
names are still around, but most all have gone through owner or
management changes. Early standouts included pros Dave Clinton,
Bobby Encinas, Stu Thomsen, Greg Hill and Greg Esser.
BMX really started to gain
popularity in the late 70's when TV shows like Chips ran
segments highlighting the sport. Early Supercross races included
bmx in between motos and mains. But, it wasn't until Renny Roker
held the Jag BMX World Championships that international racers
came together to race bmx.
Through the 1980's bmx racing
gained popularity until many of the teenagers that built the
sport discovered girls and cars, and went to college. By then
other forms of biking were growing like freestyle and mountain
biking. BMX racing enjoyed some lean years in the late 80's and
early 90's.
Bikes improved with the advent of
stronger parts and better materials, but the 20" wheel remains
the choice of bmx racing. Cruisers though first 26" wheel bikes
now sport 24" wheels and primarily are used by older
racers. Today's bikes are built from similar materials as the
ones in the 70's, but technology and experience have made them
better.
If you are interested in racing
bmx and you don't know where to get started, contact either of
the major sanctioning organizations listed below:
www.nbl.org
www.ababmx.com
To learn more about the
history of bmx watch Joe Kid on a Stingray
If you want to improve your
skills, the best way is to learn from experience. Enroll in a
bike clinic at your local track or take lessons from a pro. The
Step by Step BMX video is also an excellent way to learn what it
takes to win at BMX racing.
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"This Instructional Video can open
up a whole new world for the bmxer. A beginner can watch this
video and go to the track and apply what they've learned."
Dave Clinton,
first #1 rider in the history of bmx and
first rider inducted into the ABA Hall of Fame. |
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Step By Step BMX
An Instructional Video for BMX Racing
Learn to Race
BMX - Step by Step Downloadable Video |
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