About

BMX (bicycle motocross) is a form of cycling which includes races on sandy and hilly tracks; as well as the performance of freestyle tricks on flat ground, wooden ramps, trails or obstacle found on streets. Freestyle bikes have extra places to position their feet while performing tricks and are much stronger then BMX racing bikes. Freestyle has now been split further into a number of disciplines with bikes being specialized to cope with the demands of different riding styles and terrains including Street, Flatland, Vert, Park and dirt.

Origins

Most people believe that BMX originated from America, but in truth, the true originators came from St.-Anthonis, Holland. The Dutch published their first magazine in 1956 way before BMX made its way to America. Later on, cyclists drew inspiration from motocross superstars and hence they began to compete on proper tracks to become a mainstream sport. Due to its easy accessibility with places to ride and practice tricks, BMX has now emerged as one of the top sports in the world. Many competitions and events are held all over the world, and the most prestigious of them all being the summer X-Games, where cyclists from all over the globe compete against each other for the title of BMX supremacy. With its sudden emergence and rise in popularity, BMX racing has also become an official Olympic event at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

What attracts them

All of us at some point of time learn how to ride a bicycle, either as a means of transportation, or as a form of recreation. Therefore, for those who are more adventurous, when they are introduced to the stunts and tricks pulled off by a BMX bicycle, there is a sudden rush of adrenaline and excitement. No matter what kind of neighbourhood one lives in, they can still participate in this unique sport.

Implications

BMX is a healthy sport, as cycling in itself is already a great low impact cardio exercise and when one applies this to BMX, which is even more vigorous, one will be able to experience a full-body workout. Other than the proper use of safety gears such as helmets, knee guards and elbow guards, do remember to maintain your bicycle in good conditions, as loose brakes or worn out tyres can cause the rider great injuries during the ride. Cycling increases strength, improves fitness level and uplifts your mood, add that to the joy of BMX and you’ll get to maintain a healthy lifestyle and also enjoy cycling to the extreme.