A little bit of history

It was in the 1970s in California that this practice first saw the light of day. Inspired byar motorcycle racingcross, children and teenagers have started to imitate them on their bikes, not being able to afford a motorcycle. They build tracks themselves and dress in motorcycle clothing.cross.

The phenomenon quickly gained popularity and spread across the United States before being introduced to other continents from 1978. The first official competitions took place at the same time, marking the beginning of a new era for this extreme sport.

En 1981, the International BMX Federation ("International BMX Federation") was created. A year later, the first world championships took place.

Over the years, BMX has ended upar develop its own codes, bringing it closer to the codes of cycling. Thus, in 1993, BMX was officially integrated into theUCI (International Cycling Union).

2008 in the BMX racing made its debut at the Beijing Olympic Games, marking official recognition of the discipline on the world stage. It would be necessary to wait until the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 for the BMX freestyle also be integrated into the games program.

The different categories

La Race

La Race is a speed race where participants compete on dirt tracks with bumps, tight turns and jumps. The tracks are usually between 350 and 400m long, it takes less than a minute to complete a full lap.

The rules are simple: 8 competitors are launched from a ramp and must reach the finish line as quickly as possible. The 4 fastest advance to the next round. Tricks during the jumps are forbidden, under penalty of sanction, in order to avoid injuring the other runners.

Le Freestyle

Le Freestyle is a discipline focused on acrobatics. riders perform tricks using ramps, rails and other urban elements. The freestyle is divided into several subcategories:

• Le Street : As its name suggests, street is practiced in the street. Street obstacles (ledges, steps, etc.) are used to perform acrobatics.
• The Park: The most well-known subcategory of the freestyle. The latter consists of performing acrobatics on skatepark modules. The lack of infrastructure makes this discipline difficult to practice, the bicrossTheirs then prefer to turn to the street which does not require any particular infrastructure.
• Le Dirt : Also called Dirt BMX, this subcategory is practiced on dirt bumps. These are, in general, built par users. The purpose of the dirt is to perform spectacular figures in the air.
• The Flat: This subcategory consists of chaining tricks on a completely flat surface, hence its name "flat" or "flatland". riders are most often balanced on one wheel or on the pegs of their bike. Flatland can be compared to dancing, like breakdancing, because of the movements the cyclist performs with his bike. Thus, in competition, participants are mainly judged on their style and originality.
• The Green: Short for "Vertical", vert is a subcategory of the freestyle where the riders will perform stunts on a large 4-meter high U-shaped ramp (also called a "halfpipe"). This is the least practiced subcategory.ar very dangerous and requiring very heavy infrastructure.

The BMX bike

There are several types of bikes for BMX depending on the category practiced. Indeed, there are BMX bikes specially designed for racing or for freestyle, with some differences for each.

However, the basis remains the same: the bikes are small and light (between 12 and 15kg), with a low seat and wide handlebars so that the bike is easier to handle. In general, these bikes have only one speed and a brake at the rear, in order to control the speed of the bike after landings. The size of the top tube varies depending on the height of the rider. The wheels are generally 20 inches. Please note, however, that for children under 1 metres, it is recommended to take a bike with wheels between 40 and 16 inches.

For racing, aluminum or carbon frames are preferred. The bike has no suspension and is often equipped with automatic pedals. It also has very little equipment, the goal being for the bike to be as light and fast as possible.

For the freestyle, it is recommended to have a bike with a steel frame, more robust. The tires must also be more resistant. Bikes for the freestyle can be equipped with beats so that cyclists can use them as footrests when performing stunts. They can also be equipped with freecoaster, a variation of freewheel, allowing you to ride backwards without causing the pedals to move in the opposite direction.

Equipment needed for BMX

The practice of BMX, whether racing or freestyle, requires equipment to ensure the safety of the bicrossAmong the essential equipment, we find the helmet, gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, and back protectors. The helmet is the most important element, itar It protects the head in the event of a fall. It is also recommended to wear a full face helmet for racing. Other protections help prevent injuries to the joints and spine.