WHAT IS BMX?

BMX IS A CYCLING DISCIPLINE THAT IS PRACTICED ON CROSS BIKES WITH 20-

INCH DIAMETER WHEELS. BMX ENCOMPASSES TWO MODALITIES: RACE, WHOSE
OBJECTIVE IS TO COMPLETE THE COURSE IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, AND
FREESTYLE, WHOSE OBJECTIVE IS TO PERFORM STUNTS.

BMX IS AN EXTREME SPORT THAT MUST BE PRACTICED WITH DUE SAFETY

PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS: HELMET, KNEE PADS, ELBOW PADS,
CLOTH OR PLASTIC GLOVES AND WIDE SHOES. THE BIKE HAS TO BE IN GOOD
CONDITION TO AVOID ACCIDENTS.

BMX IS THE ABBREVIATION FOR BICYCLE MOTOCROSS, A MODALITY BORN IN

CALIFORNIA (UNITED STATES) IN 1969, WHEN A YOUNG MAN NAMED SCOT
BREITHAUPT DECIDES TO USE A BICYCLE ON A MOTOCROSS TRACK, TO IMITATE
THE SKILLS OF HIS IDOLS IN THIS SPORT. A BICYCLE MANUFACTURER NAMED
AL FRITZ, ALERTED BY THE HIGH DEMAND OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND OBSERVING
THEIR TASTES, BEGAN TO MANUFACTURE BICYCLES SIMILAR TO MOTORCYCLES.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, IN 1977, THE AMERICAN BICYCLE ASSOCIATION (ABA) WAS

ORGANIZED AS A NATIONAL ENTITY FOR THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT THAT WAS
INTRODUCED IN EUROPE IN 1978. IN APRIL 1981, THE INTERNATIONAL BMX
FEDERATION WAS FOUNDED, AND THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
WAS HELD IN 1982. SINCE JANUARY 1993 BMX HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE
INTERNATIONAL CYCLING UNION (UCI).

FROM THE USA, THE NASCENT BMX WENT TO EUROPE, WITH ENGLAND,
HOLLAND AND FRANCE BEING THE FIRST TO WELCOME IT AND START ITS
DEVELOPMENT. IN 1974, THE NBL (NATIONAL BICYCLE LEAGUE) WAS BORN IN
THE US AS THE ONE IN CHARGE OF PROMOTING BMX AT THE LOCAL, STATE,
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS IN THIS COUNTRY. SOME WRITINGS TRACE
THE ORIGINS TO «...ANOTHER TYPE OF EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE OPEN
AIR... "CYCLOCROSS" (BORN IN FRANCE AT THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND
DERIVED FROM MILITARY EXERCISES), IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS FOLLOW A
ROUTE THROUGH MUDDY TRACKS AND OBSTACLES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF
MOUNTAIN-BIKE OR MOUNTAIN BIKING...». CURRENTLY, WE CAN DEFINE BMX
AS SPORT THAT IS PRACTICED ON SMALL BICYCLES, WHICH ALLOW THE
CYCLIST TO GAIN GREATER ACCELERATION AND PRECISION THAN WITH A
NORMAL BICYCLE, USUALLY THE WHEELS ARE 20 INCHES.

HOW IT CAME ABOUT

FROM THE UNITED STATES, BMX BEGAN ITS EXPANSION TOWARDS
EUROPE; THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO PRACTICE IT WERE ENGLAND,
HOLLAND AND FRANCE. DUE TO ITS GREAT IMPACT, THE AMERICAN
BICYCLE ASSOCIATION (ABA) WAS CREATED TO GIVE GROWTH TO
THE SPORT WHICH HELPED TO INTRODUCE IT IN EUROPE IN 1978. IN
APRIL 1981 THE INTERNATIONAL BMX FEDERATION WAS CREATED
AND A YEAR LATER IT WAS ALREADY BEING CARRIED OUT. HELD
THE FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

HOW TO PRACTICE BMX

THIS SPORT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO MODALITIES: RACE AND

FREESTYLE. THE RACE DISCIPLINE IS CHARACTERIZED BY BEING
PRACTICED ON A TRACK SIMILAR TO THOSE OF RACES (FROM 350 TO
500 METERS), BUT CHANGING ASPHALT FOR LAND. JUMPS ARE MADE
WITH BICYCLES THAT HAVE A RIM DIAMETER OF 20″ (NORMAL) OR
24″ (CRUISER). ON THE OTHER HAND, FREESTYLE COVERS FIVE
CATEGORIES THAT WE WILL DETAIL AFTER THE IMAGE.