What are BMX bikes?

BMX (Bicycle Moto-cross(X)) is a form of cyclingbased on the rotor of a helicopter, which requires
on specially designed bicycles which usually haveblade adjustments while maintaining a steady
20-inch wheels (smaller than the 26-inch wheelsspeed of rotation.
found on mountain bikes and the 700C or 27-inchThe explosion of BMX created many startup
wheels found on more conventional road racingcompanies, and lured many known manufacturers
bicycles). The sport includes races on sandy andinto the market. In addition to the above
hilly tracks—BMX racing—asmentioned, other notable companies include GT,
well as the performances of tricks on flat ground,Haro, FMF, Fit Bike Co, S&M, Schwinn, Eastern
wooden ramps, trails (jumps made of dirt) orBikes, Diamondback, Hoffman Bikes, Volume bike
obstacles found on the streets—BMXco, Poverty, Cook Brothers, CW, Free Agent,
freestyle. Recently, the sport's internationalFBM, The Take, Fly Bikes, Bandito, Twenty,
governing body—Union CyclisteSuperstar, Sputnic, Dragonfly, Primo, Odyssey,
Internationale (UCI)—began sponsoringSkyway, Mosh Bikes, WTP, Kuwahara, DK, Huffy,
the UCI BMX World Championships.Murray, Federal, Hutch, SE Racing, JMC Bicycles,
BMX originated in the state of California, UnitedSpecialized, Rockmachine and many more.
States in the late 1960s, when teenagers imitatedMany manufacturers also produce 24" wheel
their motocross heroes (most notably Steveversions of their BMX bikes called Cruisers, that
McQueen) on their bicycles. Scot Breithaupt isrun in their own classes.
credited as the founder of BMX. The 1971In the late 1990's, largely due to popular video
motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sundayparts by riders like Ron Wilkerson, Eddie Roman
is generally credited with inspiring the movementand Mat Hoffman, BMX 'street' riding has become
nationally. In the opening scene, kids are shownhugely popular and caused quite a change in the
riding their Schwinns off-road. It wasn't until theway BMX bikes are designed and built. The
middle of that decade that the sport achievedstresses from impacts and hard landings on
critical mass, and manufacturers began creatingcement, often times from height, has brought
bicycles designed specially for the sport. In theabout the introduction of high quality CroMoly steel
case of Freestyle BMX, it wouldn't be what it istubesets into BMX frame manufacturing. It has
today without Bob Haro's contribution. He brilliantlybecome common to find frames constructed of
merged skateboarding tricks with freestyle BMXReynolds 853 steel tubing, Japanese Sanko Steel
which led to the current-day style of thisTubing, and unbranded but high quality aircraft
extreme sport.grade 4130 CroMoly steel. Advances in tubing
In the beginning of the BMX movement kidshave allowed the creation of BMX frames that
would strip down their Schwinn Sting Ray bicyclesare both stronger and lighter than what has been
and add knobby tires and perhaps motorcyclemanufactured previously in the sports history. The
handlebars, and in time modify the frames forweight of newest frames averages around 5 to 6
performance, strength or personal preference.pounds, and these frames can withstand copious
Early BMX bicycle manufacturers, such as R&Ramounts of abuse.
Racing Products, Mongoose, Webco and RedLine,Street riding has also introduced the concept of
eventually created bicycles expressly for the'micro-gearing' into BMX. Riders found that if they
sport. Mongoose can be credited with building thewere not racing, or using their BMX bike for travel
quintessential early BMX bike, featuring apurposes, that they were carrying around 'too
straight-tubed, gusseted frame; reinforcedmuch' gearing, and chainrings have shrunk from
handlebars; Motomag wheels and long crankarms.44 teeth, all the way down to 23 teeth in some
The initial construction emphasis was on durability,cases. These smaller gear setups further reduce
but weight became a consideration as racingthe weight of the bike by using lighter chainrings,
gained popularity. R&R Racing Products, noted forsmaller rear drivers on cassette hubs, and shorter
introducing the first 3 pound frame, forged thechain legths. Many companies, such as Odyssey
path for light weight, yet strong BMX bikesand Profile Racing, have taken race equipment,
designed specifically for racing. Othersuch as cassette hubs, and strengthened them to
manufacturers soon followed using lighterwithstand the abuse of street riding. Cassette
materials like aluminum and chromiumhubs allow the use of smaller rear drivers, down
molybdenum (CrMo, chromoly) for frames; steelto 8 teeth, which allow the gear ratio to remain
rims, mag wheels and coaster brakes wereconstant with smaller chainrings.
replaced by aluminum rims with freewheels andThe second wave of street riding innovation,
caliper brakes. Once BMX racing became apioneered by New York City BMX'ers, has seen
professional activity, racing bikes became asthe advent of a riding style that emphasises
specialized as in all other forms of cyclinggrinding and peg tricks on rails, ledges, and found
competition.urban objects. This riding style has influenced bike
The next wave of innovation came with thesetups immensely, and New York street riding
advent of freestyle BMX. Freestyle bikes lookhas become synonymous with a bike that has no
much like BMX racing bikes, but they have extramechanical brake and 4 pegs. Brakeless riders
places to position the feet while performing tricksmaintain that without brakes, a rider develop
and are much stronger. Many freestyle bike alsosuperior bike control and balance, as well as
feature a detangler, a device located by thekeeping the bike light, durable and simple. By using
headtube that allows the handlebars to be spun4 pegs, riders are able to attack urban objects
360 or more degrees without tangling the brakefrom both sides creating the opportunity for a
cables. A detangler is often known by specificgreater variety of tricks on a wider array of
brand names, such as the ACS 'Rotor' or theterrain.
Odyssey 'Gyro'. The design of the Gyro was