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Article #1: What are BMX bikes?

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BMX (Bicycle Moto-cross(X)) is a form of rotor of a helicopter, which requires
cycling on specially designed bicycles blade adjustments while maintaining a
which usually have 20-inch wheels steady speed of rotation.
(smaller than the 26-inch wheels found on The explosion of BMX created many startup
mountain bikes and the 700C or 27-inch companies, and lured many known
wheels found on more conventional road manufacturers into the market. In
racing bicycles). The sport includes addition to the above mentioned, other
races on sandy and hilly tracks—BMX notable companies include GT, Haro, FMF,
racing—as well as the performances of Fit Bike Co, S&M, Schwinn, Eastern Bikes,
tricks on flat ground, wooden ramps, Diamondback, Hoffman Bikes, Volume bike
trails (jumps made of dirt) or obstacles co, Poverty, Cook Brothers, CW, Free
found on the streets—BMX freestyle. Agent, FBM, The Take, Fly Bikes, Bandito,
Recently, the sport's international Twenty, Superstar, Sputnic, Dragonfly,
governing body—Union Cycliste Primo, Odyssey, Skyway, Mosh Bikes, WTP,
Internationale (UCI)—began sponsoring Kuwahara, DK, Huffy, Murray, Federal,
the UCI BMX World Championships. Hutch, SE Racing, JMC Bicycles,
BMX originated in the state of Specialized, Rockmachine and many more.
California, United States in the late Many manufacturers also produce 24" wheel
1960s, when teenagers imitated their versions of their BMX bikes called
motocross heroes (most notably Steve Cruisers, that run in their own classes.
McQueen) on their bicycles. Scot In the late 1990's, largely due to
Breithaupt is credited as the founder of popular video parts by riders like Ron
BMX. The 1971 motorcycle racing Wilkerson, Eddie Roman and Mat Hoffman,
documentary On Any Sunday is generally BMX 'street' riding has become hugely
credited with inspiring the movement popular and caused quite a change in the
nationally. In the opening scene, kids way BMX bikes are designed and built. The
are shown riding their Schwinns off-road. stresses from impacts and hard landings
It wasn't until the middle of that decade on cement, often times from height, has
that the sport achieved critical mass, brought about the introduction of high
and manufacturers began creating bicycles quality CroMoly steel tubesets into BMX
designed specially for the sport. In the frame manufacturing. It has become common
case of Freestyle BMX, it wouldn't be to find frames constructed of Reynolds
what it is today without Bob Haro's 853 steel tubing, Japanese Sanko Steel
contribution. He brilliantly merged Tubing, and unbranded but high quality
skateboarding tricks with freestyle BMX aircraft grade 4130 CroMoly steel.
which led to the current-day style of Advances in tubing have allowed the
this extreme sport. creation of BMX frames that are both
In the beginning of the BMX movement kids stronger and lighter than what has been
would strip down their Schwinn Sting Ray manufactured previously in the sports
bicycles and add knobby tires and perhaps history. The weight of newest frames
motorcycle handlebars, and in time modify averages around 5 to 6 pounds, and these
the frames for performance, strength or frames can withstand copious amounts of
personal preference. Early BMX bicycle abuse.
manufacturers, such as R&R Racing Street riding has also introduced the
Products, Mongoose, Webco and RedLine, concept of 'micro-gearing' into BMX.
eventually created bicycles expressly for Riders found that if they were not
the sport. Mongoose can be credited with racing, or using their BMX bike for
building the quintessential early BMX travel purposes, that they were carrying
bike, featuring a straight-tubed, around 'too much' gearing, and chainrings
gusseted frame; reinforced handlebars; have shrunk from 44 teeth, all the way
Motomag wheels and long crankarms. The down to 23 teeth in some cases. These
initial construction emphasis was on smaller gear setups further reduce the
durability, but weight became a weight of the bike by using lighter
consideration as racing gained chainrings, smaller rear drivers on
popularity. R&R Racing Products, noted cassette hubs, and shorter chain legths.
for introducing the first 3 pound frame, Many companies, such as Odyssey and
forged the path for light weight, yet Profile Racing, have taken race
strong BMX bikes designed specifically equipment, such as cassette hubs, and
for racing. Other manufacturers soon strengthened them to withstand the abuse
followed using lighter materials like of street riding. Cassette hubs allow the
aluminum and chromium molybdenum (CrMo, use of smaller rear drivers, down to 8
chromoly) for frames; steel rims, mag teeth, which allow the gear ratio to
wheels and coaster brakes were replaced remain constant with smaller chainrings.
by aluminum rims with freewheels and The second wave of street riding
caliper brakes. Once BMX racing became a innovation, pioneered by New York City
professional activity, racing bikes BMX'ers, has seen the advent of a riding
became as specialized as in all other style that emphasises grinding and peg
forms of cycling competition. tricks on rails, ledges, and found urban
The next wave of innovation came with the objects. This riding style has influenced
advent of freestyle BMX. Freestyle bikes bike setups immensely, and New York
look much like BMX racing bikes, but they street riding has become synonymous with
have extra places to position the feet a bike that has no mechanical brake and 4
while performing tricks and are much pegs. Brakeless riders maintain that
stronger. Many freestyle bike also without brakes, a rider develop superior
feature a detangler, a device located by bike control and balance, as well as
the headtube that allows the handlebars keeping the bike light, durable and
to be spun 360 or more degrees without simple. By using 4 pegs, riders are able
tangling the brake cables. A detangler is to attack urban objects from both sides
often known by specific brand names, such creating the opportunity for a greater
as the ACS 'Rotor' or the Odyssey 'Gyro'. variety of tricks on a wider array of
The design of the Gyro was based on the terrain.






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