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It seems like everywhere you go, BMX bikes are popping up. And for a good reason! These bikes are versatile and can be used in many different types of terrain. Read on to find out more about BMX bikes so that if you see one or want to buy one, you’ll know what it is and what its used for.
What is a BMX Bike?
BMX stands for Bicycle Moto Cross. Heavy-duty wheels and frames typically characterize them, but they also come in hybrid bikes which can handle road or mountain biking.
The BMX bike got its name because it was initially marketed as a banger (a cheap bike), but nowadays, BMX bikes can cost several thousand dollars.
What are BMX Bikes For?
BMX bikes are typically for racing, doing banger stunts, or just any type of off-road riding. The BMX bike has become so popular because you can use them on different types of terrain, not just pavement.
BMX bikes are a relatively new bike design that dates back to the 1970s when they were introduced. BMX bicycles and the sport began in Southern California due to the creativity of a group of youngsters.
Children in the 1950s were inspired by motocross bikes when they converted their popular Schwinn Stingray bicycles into versions resembling motocrossers.
Bicycles were introduced to the American market as a more affordable alternative to motorcycles, and they were also safer for kids! Children raced their modified bikes on trails and dirt roads, establishing their own sport, BMXING.
What Makes a BMX Bike Different From a Regular Bike?
BMX bikes are totally different from your standard road or mountain bikes. Although any regular person might notice slight differences between many bikes, a real biker can distinguish between BMX bikes and other kinds of bikes.
Several of these differences are precisely what make BMX bikes the best model for stunts and tricks, whether on the road or off the streets.
BMX bikes have a lot of cool features that make them unique. Here are some of them:
1. Brakes Are Seldom Necessary.
You can’t have a BMX without brakes, but these aren’t the ones you find on other bikes. The “u-brake” is instead used to stop by foot when needed, and it’s not always easy coming up with enough friction from your shoes or boots as well!
The BMX bikes also have a hand brake, but it is used more as an emergency safety measure to avoid crashes.
A BMX bike only needs to stop in extreme circumstances and can do that without pads or brakes, unlike other types of bicycles that rely on them for safety reasons.
There are also some notable differences in how they work depending upon where along the bike this pedal meets metal against concrete, so make sure to keep that in mind before going too fast while stopping suddenly.
2. Fewer Components
With one gear and no freewheel assembly, the BMX bike is perfect for stunts. Not requiring pedaling efficiency also makes it less complicated. There are fewer components to risk fail when performing tricks in tight spaces or while navigating rugged terrain like hillsides with obstacles on them.
A BMX bike is a great way to go if you want more speed and control, but it also means that there’s less weight on your back.
It only has one gear, so when coasting or slowing down for turns/stops (or even just going uphill), they’re not as valuable because of how quickly the chain gets stuck in-between pedals without any force input from street riders!
That said though, these bikes make stunts easier by letting us backpedal, which allows motion reverse power-slides – never underestimate what this can do at high speeds!
3. High-Strength Wheels
The wheels of a BMX bike are very different from those on standard bicycles. They vary by what the bike will be used for, with small wheel sizes and knobby tires being common in off-road tracks explicitly designed for them.
Meanwhile, 20-inch freestyle BMX bicycles are the most common kind, although the tires have varying treads for each sport. They’re utilized in off-road trail riding, requiring a rough pattern with deep grooves to provide maximum traction on different terrains.
And, because BMX bikes are designed for tricks and stunts, you’ll want a rubber tire that can handle the wear and tear of constant pressure from your feet.
They’re also thin but resilient to give them more excellent responsiveness than regular bicycles, which have wide wheels with thicker treads to allow more stability when riding on different surfaces like dirt, snow, sand, and mud.
4. Durable Design
One of the most important things about a BMX bike is that it has to be lightweight and durable. When you’re riding one for stunts or tricks, even if your discipline doesn’t require anything more than cruising around town on two wheels-it’ll take some abuse!
That’s why these bikes exist in steel alloys like molybdenum – because this metal can hold up against pretty much any beating while still being light enough so as not to slow down an athlete too much when they want to speed into turns instead (or vice versa).
BMX bikes can also be made from aluminum and carbon fiber for the same reasons. These materials are used in professional BMX bicycles because they’re lightweight but still sturdy enough to stand up against wear-and-tear that comes with tricks or stunts without compromising performance at all!
This is what makes BMX bikes so durable and also what makes them so fun to use!
5. Lightweight Construction
The shorter 20-inch long tube on a BMX bike means that it is much easier to perform stunts and aerial tricks because there’s no need for extra length.
With this smaller frame, one can swing their bicycle 360 degrees in midair without damaging the structure or risking falling hard onto the pavement below. This tiny frame reduces the weight of your bike, making it perfect for stunts. The material also helps with executing tricks and jumps in BMX parks!
Meanwhile, chrome steel alloy BMX bike frames make for an excellent platform to perform freestyle tricks.
Not only does this material possess these properties, but it can also be combined with other materials such as aluminum in order to have both speed capabilities while maintaining stability at high speeds or when landing jumps perfectly without fear that they’ll break apart on impact!
Types of BMX Bikes
Not all BMX bikes are built the same. It’s not just one thing with a bike and then some more bikes for balance–BMX Racing has its own set of rules!
Typically, there are two types of BMX bikes:
BMX Racing Bikes
This BMX bike is for those who love to race on a circuit track, usually around a city block with a combination of road and dirt track. This BMX bike is typically much taller than a freestyle BMX bike because it needs to be ridden on both pavement and off-road terrain.
Freestyle BMX bikes
These BMX bikes are for those who love BMX tricks and stunts. It’s noticeably shorter than other BMX bikes.
However, Freestyle BMB bikes can also be broken down into the following subcategories:
1. BMX Street
With the rise in popularity, street riding has become more and more prevalent. BMX riders are finding unique setups out in their neighborhoods to take advantage of all kinds of terrain, from ledges on walls or stair sets with bar spinning tricks like tailwhips right into a manual for extra flair!
There’s an almost infinite number of combinations you can do: slides down curbs while balancing; performs handrails manuals (which you might call ‘oldies but goodies’) alongside nosemaniads; bails off high banks by using creative footwork—there really isn’t any limit here!
2. BMX Park
BMX Park riding is the type of biking on transitions like quarterpipes, box jumps and spines. This can be a fairly recognizable form to some people since it often takes place at skateparks with different structures in them – many that have popped up worldwide or even just within local neighborhoods (to make sure those areas stay safe!).
Ramp riding is an endless pursuit of new tricks and combinations. A popular one is where you see a lot of flips, tailswhips or spins on top while trying some grinds with your feet in between gaps carved out by these ramps.
There can also be stalls if they’re going down into their bowls that have been specially made for just this purpose!
3. BMX Dirt
BMX dirt riding is a type of biking that has roots in the sport, but it’s also evolved into something more creative. Riders often use jumps they find on race tracks to perform tricks.
There are different kinds with everything from dobis (a jump followed by another) to tabletops where riders land after jumping over an obstacle like wall or curb without touching the ground first.
The creativity behind these barriers makes them all unique, giving BMX dirt riders so much potential for their imagination!
Dirt jumpers are always on the move, and they never stop. It’s not uncommon for a dirt jumper to travel thousands of miles to find new spots with unique terrain features that will provide them endless hours of entertainment as well as fresh air from all those long days spent practicing tricks around town or riding bike parks everywhere!
4. Flatland BMX
Flatland BMX riding is a style of biking that was inspired by ramp riders and those living in areas without much terrain.
The tricks are performed on flat ground, requiring plenty of balance and bike control for them to do well at it.
This type can be tough to master. Still, with time, you will become better acquainted with this complicated technique, which includes spins (manuals) and nose manuals while also being able to use barspins as seen through tailwhips, among other things!
BMX flatland bikers may have a hard time finding places to practice their tricks, but if you do live in an area that offers it, then definitely give this bike style a try!
5. BMX Racing
BMX Racing is like a mix of freestyle and racing. There are different classes, which all depend on the age of your biker! Youth racers use 24″ wheels while adults race with 20-inch bikes in what’s known as “under-18”. The courses also differ depending upon where you’re located.
Children will be doing stunts through jumps and berms, but when it comes to Cruiser class riders, they have larger diameter tires so that everything rolls easier over surfaces such as sand or grassy hillsides.
Racing is all about making your way through the pack and being the fastest. Freestyle tricks may be entertaining to watch, but they’re not common at all in racing circles!
Racing puts more emphasis on these rankings than anything else – we don’t usually see people doing flip- Fiscal cracks or backflips, if you will (although some riders do).
What Are The Benefits of Riding a BMX Bike?
1. Helps with weight loss
BMX riding is not just a great way to stay in shape. It’s also one of the best ways to lose weight. It increases your metabolism while building muscle and lowering body fat levels – depending on how intense you’re riding can burn between 250 and 450 calories per 30 minutes!
What’s more? The key here isn’t duration or frequency but intensity; if we want an effective workout with little impact, BMX riding would be ideal. This activity tends towards low-impact rather than high-intensity exercises.
2. Strengthens muscles
When BMX riding, your arms get more work than you might expect. While the lower body does most of the heavy lifting for bike-riding activities like transmission and balance on dirt tracks or pump parks, your upper torso is also working to handle turns by turning in opposite directions with quickness while holding onto bars at high speeds.
Plus, there’s pushing off using both feet as leverage from either side when slowing down ahead of corners – which means your hands will have plenty still left over!
3. Improves balance and posture
Do you know what they say is the best way to ride your bike? With a straight spine and good posture. This will help you stay safe, avoid falls over bumps in the road or accidents with pedestrians!
When bikers ride, they tend to lean forward slightly as if it were a natural position. This forces your body weight over the front part of your bike and allows you to react quickly when needed.
You also have a better view of what’s ahead then!
This means that BMX bikes don’t just push their bodies but also their minds to react quickly and stay focused while riding. This builds upon balance skills you already have while teaching the biker how to be in command of their bike at all times!
A correct position improves balance while strengthening essential muscles such as those around your lower back. This, in turn, will help you keep your posture straight when riding BMX bikes.
4. Better sleep
BMX is a great way to keep your body in check. As you ride, the levels of cortisol will start decreasing, which can help with regenerative healing and improve deep sleep cycles!
Plus, if riding gets too exhausting (or fun), then chances are that crashing on an extra-long good night’s rest isn’t far behind either.
We know what you’re thinking: “BMX bikers don’t have time for sleeping! They need to ride their bikes all day long. The last thing they want is an excellent night’s rest- bah!
But trust us, your body will thank you later – and so will the people around you when you’re not cranky all the time!
BMX bikers tend to go for rides ranging from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on their skill level.
This will get anyone exhausted enough if they ride long sufficient, which means crashing hard and hitting the sack right after- what better way is there than getting your beauty sleep?
5. Eliminates stress
Do you know how much time you waste on your daily commute? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Instead of taking the metro or bus just five minutes away from home, why don’t we explore some other options like riding a BMX!
BMX riding is excellent at releasing endorphins into our brains which makes us feel better. It also helps improve performance during work hours and studies for school kids alike!
Why? Because they can get back in their heads without all those traffic jams getting them stressed out before even starting class!
Not only does BMX riding get rid of stress, but it also helps with physical exhaustion after long days at work. This means more free time to relax and recuperate before the next day – no need for commuting anymore!
What Are The Risks With Riding BMX Bikes?
BMX bikes are an adrenaline-filled way to get around, but they come with risks. You might think that doing tricks on a BMX will make you more agile and creative; in reality, it just makes your balance worse!
Falls from high jumps can be especially dangerous for riders who have spent hours practicing their skills at home before entering real competitions.
You may think you know what you’re doing, but bikers are often injured because they don’t have the proper training to do tricks safely.
BMX biking is a rush for most people who jump on these bikes, especially if it’s your first time. There are tons of things that can go wrong, and riders can get seriously hurt, but the thrill is worth it for some bikers!
Unlike other sports, BMX riding can be a hazardous and even life-threatening hobby.
High-speed collisions between competitors during racing events are possible as well. Skin abrasions or head injuries may result from this type of sporting activity without proper precautions taken by the rider.
However, there’s no reason to get discouraged because these risks will lessen significantly over time with enough practice.
It is also essential for riders to wear appropriate safety equipment (helmet, body armor gloves) to help them mitigate the chances of getting hurt while enjoying themselves at their respective hobbies. Just like any new skill requires taking things slow before handling anything more than an easy wheelie!
Conclusion
BMX riders are some of the most daring people you’ll ever meet. They thrive on adrenaline and love to push themselves more than any other type of biker out there.
As with anything, racing BMX bikes comes with risks but the thrill is worth it! You just have to take certain precautions.
Now that you’ve learned everything there is about BMX Bikes, are you ready to join the hype? Share your experience with us below!
