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Everything you
always wanted to know about BMX but were afraid to
ask...
What is
BMX?
Bicycle motocross (BMX)
is currently the fastest growing youth sport in North America AND is
the latest addition to the Olympics.
The sport of BMX was created by kids,
for kids. Back in the early 1970's, a group of young riders were
pretending to be their favorite motorcycle racing heroes by "racing"
around a vacant dirt lot, twisting the imaginary throttle while they
pedaled their bicycles. Thus, BMX was born.
That desire and vision has evolved into
a full-blown sport in which riders compete on established dirt
tracks elevating themselves to "hero" status. A typical race around
a BMX track will last about 50 seconds pitting a rider against up to
7 other riders all going for the gold. Races are organized according
to age group and skill levels, so everyone gets the opportunity to
compete on a fair level.
BMX offers every rider the ability to
participate at his or her own pace...NO ONE SITS ON THE BENCH! There
are no coaches deciding who gets to play everyone gets into the
action.
Low Cost Family
Entertainment
For many families, BMX
racing becomes a weekly ritual. Spectators are always FREE and
everyone is welcome to come and cheer on the racer (or racers) in
the family or other friends. It is also quite common to see mom,
dad, brother and sister ALL racing within their own
classes.
BMX is a true family-oriented sport
proving that you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy an activity
together.
Who Will I
Race?
One fundamental aspect of BMX racing is
that participants will compete with others their same age and skill
level. Unlike other sports, BMX offers three proficiencies per age:
Novice, Imtermediate and Expert. New riders are classified as Novice
and, as their ability increases, they will move through the skill
levels. This structure ensures that riders will consistently
encounter the fairest level of competition while always being
challenged.
It's Easy To Get
Involved!!!
ANY bike can be outfitted
to suit BMX. This includes the beginner bike with smaller wheels or
the mountain bike with gears. However, a few adjustments may be
required to make them a bit more safe. Each bike needs to have
padding on the handlebar crossbar, the stem and the top tube of the
frame. Also, the kickstand and any reflector brackets will need to
be removed, adding to that safety aspect. Riders are required to
wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, enclosed shoes and a helmet (no
fancy uniforms or special type of clothing is required). If you
don't have a helmet, the track will most likely have "loaners" for
you to use.
When all of the equipment is in place,
make your way to the track's registration area and get your free
1-Day membership. You are now ready to experience the thrills of
BMX.
Why BMX?
Self Esteem - Builds
confidence and teaches kids about setting and reaching
goals.
Physical Fitness - Developing strong
minds and bodies.
Discipline - Helps kids to focus energy
in a positive direction.
Click on the links below to
find out more about Bicycle Motocross (BMX):
Requirements
A few
things you will need for your body and your bike before getting
started:
| 1 |
Long sleeve shirt |
| 2 |
Long pants |
| 3 |
Helmet |
| 4 |
A bike |
| 5 |
Pads for the cross bar, stem and top
tubes |
| 6 |
Reflectors, kick stands, pegs and chain guards
removed |
| * |
Loaner helmets and pads are available at the
track for first
timers |
See more info on the ABA Web site
here
Trial
Membership
The ABA offers a
one-time-only 30 day trial membership for $25.00. This "get started"
membership assures the rider of being properly insured and allows
the racer to try BMX at a very low cost. (The trial membership can
be converted, before it expires, to an annual membership for an
additional $25.00.)
Full Annual
Membership
The annual fee for a full
membership is $45.00. As a full member, the ABA racer receives a
complete membership kit - including a number with complete racing
rules and assorted stickers. In addition, the racer recieves BMXer
magazine - a monthly publication packed with
news, current race coverage and rider interviews. It keeps every ABA rider up-to-date on all events, races and
member benefits. In each issue, listed under the
racer's district and name, will be his/her current points and
ranking. To top it all off, the rider is insured
with secondary medical insurance.
ABA BMX New
Rider's Manual
Check out the ABA New Rider's
Manual. It provides a good overview of what ABA BMX racing is all
about. It covers such things as bike & body check lists,
track obstacles, how to read the moto sheets, racing "How To's", the
stairway to success, BMX bike terminology, glossary, and a
whole lot more.
These are scanned images from
the manual so you'll have to click on the link for each individual
page below:
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