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Ivanhoe Cycles - 1300 906 196
1079 Heidelberg Rd.
Ivanhoe Victoria 3079

BMX BIKE.

BMX bikes sell so well throughout the year, probably because they are just so versatile for the regular riding most kids do. They are pretty tough, so don't require as much care and attention as some bikes and are relatively cheap for the amount of use they get.

BMX bikes evolved out of the sport of motocross where riders using motorcycles perform stunts in the air and race on rough dirt tracks. The evolution of BMX bikes began back in the 1970s with converted bikes and a few specialist manufacturers. As the sport grew more and more manufacturers realized the growing potential and today the world sees BMX bikes as a viable genre of bikes, and BMX competition recognised as an Olympic sport.

BMX is a heavily overused term, encompassing the 5 BMX disciplines : Street, Park (or skatepark), Vert (or ramp), Trails, Flatland. BMX riding styles have evolved due to the creativity of riders which never ceases. Over the years, BMX riders took their standard bikes and performed different styles and tricks which led to a new discipline which in turn led bicycle companies to realize the potential and begin building specific bikes for each BMX discipline. These have evolved and morphed into the the 3 main bike types we have today.

1. Racing BMX bike (fast and lighter weight bike for racing)
2. Freestyle BMX bike (built for street or skate park riding)
3. Dirt Jumper BMX bike (built for big air and messy landings).

BMX bikes do not have gears. Absolutely none. The only thing that influences the gearing is the number of teeth of the front and rear sprockets.

Their frames are very small and are usually made from steel or in some cases, aluminium. Strong and lightweight is the name of the game when it comes to BMX frames. But even so, many heavier riders can still ride BMX bikes.

BMX bikes come with 2 hnd brakes (front and rear). There are 2 types of brakes; the U-brake (common in BMX) and linear-pull brake. U-brakes have better application in BMX because they fit more easily and do not tangle. Linear-pull brakes are stronger but are more likely to get in the bike's way when performing tricks and so aren't usually fitted to freestyle bikes.

BMX handle bars are shaped like a U and are higher than the seat by around 8 inches.

Riding a BMX involves standing on the pedals 80% of the time as the seat is set very low to aid manouverability. The seats are much lower than the handle bar grips with the nose of BMX seats generally slanted slightly upwards. The angle of upwards tilting depend of individual rider's taste.

Tyre treads and patterns depend heavily on the discipline. For example, dirt bikes have the most knobby-looking tyres because they need maximum traction, where race bikes have very narrow high pressure tyres.

Pedals for BMX bikes are always open-faced flat pedals usually with grippy spikes so that shoes don't slide off mid jump.

You will find pegs to be most common in flatland bikes, where BMX tricks are performed. However, there are no pegs for dirt jumping or race BMX bikes to keep weight to the minimum and speed to the maximum.

 Younger kids and teenagers really love the freedom of being out on the bike and most BMX's are durable enough to last many years of use and abuse. In recent years the price of quality BMX bikes has come down considerably, meaning most parents are more than happy to buy from a bike shop rather than the drama filled "bike in a box" scenario from a supermarket. Not all BMX bikes are created equal thogh and some models are built for the rigours of skate parks while others are more at home on dirt tracks or around the local streets.

Really, a BMX bike has 20" wheels, but most of the smaller kids 16" and 12" bikes are styled along the same lines. For the "bigger kid" (and dads) bikes such as the Giant STP or Giant Brass or the GT Chucker are also great for jumping and "stunt" riding.