| Bicycle motocross racing, also known as BMX racing, | | | | Together with the sport, the bikes themselves have |
| has come a long way since it was first | | | | continued to evolve. Anyone interested in BMX biking |
| conceptualized. In fact, the humble origins of the | | | | today has a high and diverse number of bikes |
| sport are often cited as stemming from the | | | | available. Which bike is best for you depends on how |
| motocross documentary, On Any Sunday, which | | | | you plan to ride. |
| opened in 1971. The opening scenes of that movie | | | | For short, BMX bikes are basically a type of mountain |
| followed kids on their Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycles | | | | bike designed to excel on off-road surfaces. These |
| riding dirt tracks and imitating motocross riders. | | | | bikes feature 18- to 24-inch wheels and are designed |
| Naturally, those scenes were based on something | | | | to be lightweight and durable. Their design makes |
| that was already transpiring. Generally it is recognized | | | | them particularly suited for racing and tricks. |
| that BMX as a sport found its place in California. The | | | | Actually there are three forms of BMX racing, with |
| bicycle races were predominantly composed of kids | | | | specially designed bikes in each category; namely, |
| who had the desire to participate in motocross but | | | | racing, freestyle and jumping bikes. Whether you |
| could not afford it. Instead, these riders would groom | | | | want to race competitively or just have fun on |
| their own dirt courses and use their bikes. Today's | | | | homemade trails, these categories can still be helpful |
| BMX racing tracks, with inline starts and expressive | | | | for determining which kind of bike is best for you. |
| obstacles, trace back to this origin. | | | | BMX racing designs evolved specifically with the idea |
| Ever since the invention of the bicycle there were | | | | of speed in mind. They are composed of lightweight |
| those who attempted innovations and tricks Majority | | | | frames and feature customized tires designed to |
| of bikes, up until this point, were designed primarily as | | | | excel on off-road surfaces. |
| a means of transportation. Schwinn's Sting-Ray | | | | Bikes for freestyle riding are very sturdy, with thick |
| changed that. The Sting-Ray was released in 1963 at | | | | frames and pavement-ready BMX tires. These bikes |
| a time when custom cars and motorbikes were | | | | are best for riding in skate parks, where you can |
| becoming popular. It was custom-built for riding | | | | learn and practice stunts and tricks. |
| off-road at high speeds and landing jumps. These | | | | Ultimately, jump bikes feature strong, sturdy frames, |
| bikes became popular fast, and quickly became one | | | | capable suspension systems and knobby tires. As the |
| of the best-selling bikes in the country. Afterward, | | | | name suggests, they are meant to handle jumps |
| more manufacturers took note and began designing | | | | comfortably, whether that be as part of a circuit or a |
| bicycles with similar custom features, such as | | | | homemade jump in the backyard. These bikes are |
| twenty-inch wheels. | | | | also good on trails. |
| While custom bikes kept on growing in popularity and | | | | Should you be just starting out riding off-road at high |
| design evolution, riders continued to test the limits of | | | | speeds, then you may want to start with a racing |
| what they could do. As this trend continued into the | | | | BMX, as these allow you to get out on the track and |
| 1980s, BMX came to be about more than just racing. | | | | will have you learning the basics in no time. It is also |
| Riders began to perform skateboard-style tricks, and | | | | never a bad idea to contact your local bike shop to |
| this is how the freestyle division of BMX was born. | | | | get advice on which bike will work for your purposes |
| As a result, new bikes were designed to provide | | | | and with your build. |
| optimal conditions for performing increasingly difficult | | | | Additionally, to these categories, bicycle customization |
| tricks. | | | | is becoming more widely accessible. This allows you |
| As the 1990s came upon us, the sport was nearly | | | | to tailor your bike to your specific racing and |
| ubiquitous. BMX was featured as a major part of the | | | | aesthetic desires. Whether you want a bike you can |
| X-Games on ESPN. That trend has continued to the | | | | occasionally take off-road at high speeds, or you are |
| present day, where BMX racing is bigger than ever. | | | | looking to become a devoted BMX racer, today's |
| The sport has grown to have its own international | | | | BMX rider has more biking options available than ever |
| governing body, and BMX races took place as an | | | | before. |
| Olympic sport for the first time in 2008. | | | | |