BMX bikes are the short version of the word Bicycle Motocross. These bicycles have an eighteen to twenty-four inch wheel versus the normal twenty inch. The BMX bike is used for racing on dirt tracks.
Racing on these off-road bicycles is popular today. The idea was born from motocross racing. The starting point is designed for eight racers or less. The track is a dirt track that winds and curves, using banks and corners that are flat. Jumps for the racer to maneuver are also an added obstacle.
The BMX bike is lighter in weight for maximum speed. They also are stronger than the typical bike with alterations made for quicker handling. The beginning of the BMX craze began in Palms Park, West Los Angeles, California. It was started with a group of boys who wanted to race their bikes. During that time, Schwinn Stingrays were the in bike.
An attendant of the park, who had raced motorcycles in MX (motorcycle motocross), organized them. From that simple start, BMX soon would become a popular form of racing for bikes. The organization included charging fees for the racers to pay and they raced one night a week for ten weeks. The winners were determined from these races and trophies were given for the top three. This went on from 1969 to the 1980s until it became more organized.
This inspired bicycle manufacturers to design bikes for BMX racing. Soon afterwards, in 1981, the International BMX Federation was started and world championships started in 1982. This has become so popular that is being added to the Olympics in 2008.
The modern BMX bikes have gone to extremes to make the lightest bikes that are possible. Without losing the strength that is needed for jumping and all the tricks that are used as part of the racing of these bikes, the BMX bike is being downsized for maximum racing. The more pricey BMX bikes use Spanish/Euro BB shells to lessen the weight. The simpler the design the easier the bike is to race.
Some racing includes mountain biking. The speed for descending these mountains can be quite high. This means the bikes must have the best handling to avoid crashing. Aluminum frames are the best for being lightweight. The bottom bracket needs to have an adjustment for height. Although the BMX bike must be lightweight to be the fastest it can be, it must also be able to last through the punishment these bikes take during the racing course.
As the racing progressed, the bike needed to be more maneuverable. Short chain stays were one of the improvements made to the BMX bike. Stand-over room was one of the concerns that had to be addressed for the rider. The tires also have to have plenty of clearance while holding up to the racing and jumping that is a part of this type of racing.
The BMX bike has advanced over the years to become one of the best for racing. As with anything, the search is always on to find improvements to the latest advances that have been made.
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