Getting Off to a Good Start in BMX Racing

BMX racing, which is short for Bicycle Motocross racing, got its first shot of fame in the 1982 Steven Spielberg hit movie ET, which featured BMX bikes by Kuwahara. In fact, the KZ-2.5 model, like the character Elliot's bike in the movie, eventually became Kuwahara's most famous model.

If you fast forward a little more than a quarter century, BMX bikes again surged in popularity after being added as an Olympic sport in the 2008 Beijing Games. While BMX racing was the only BMX sport in the 2008 Olympics, BMX fanatics are hoping that other BMX sports will be made into Olympic sports someday. Two popular BMX sports are Freestyle and Flatland BMX riding. Rumors are already swirling about the possibility of Freestyle BMX making it into the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

So, if your child is interested in taking up the exciting sport of BMX racing, where is the best place to begin?

For children, the typical BMX bike should have 20-inch wheels. Very young children, under age 6, can sometimes participate with bikes with 12-inch wheels. In fact, there have been known to be tracks specially made for Big Wheel races!

As for adults and older kids, you should ask your local BMX track operator what kinds of bikes are allowed. Some tracks allow cruiser or mountain bikes with 24 or 26-inch wheels, but some don't.

Make sure that whatever bike is going to be used in BMX racing has the following modifications:

1. Kickstand should be removed

2. Chain guard should be removed

3. Pads go on top tube, stem, and crossbar

Some bikes already come with padding, but if yours doesn't, the proper padding can be had for under $10. Additionally, the bike should have at least one working brake, which can be a coaster brake. The bike doesn't have to be new, but it should be in safe operating condition.

You will also need the following protective equipment:

1. A full-face helmet or one with a mouth guard (Ask the track operator.)

2. Long pants or jeans

3. Long-sleeved shirt

4. Sturdy boots or shoes

5. Gloves that fit well and allow hands to maneuver

Bring a set of bike tools and an air pump to the track with you, in case you need to make repairs. At BMX races for children, each child will need to have parental permission and a birth certificate as proof of age. Tracks generally charge a fee of around $20 to $25 for a one-year racing license at that track. Entry fees for races are generally under $10.

Before the races begin, you and your child will have the opportunity to walk the race course and your child will be able to practice. It is fine to go slow during the practice in order to learn the feel of the course. Depending on the racing system your local track uses, your child may participate in three or four races.

There are two major sanctioning bodies of BMX racing: the American Bicycle Association and the National Bicycle League.

The ABA came along in the late 1970s to promote organized BMX racing. It developed a qualifying system, and later a transfer system, where winners of each moto advance to the next round. The ABA is the largest sanctioning body, and it implemented advances such as starting lights, automatic gates, computerized points system, and an interactive website at http://www.ababmx.com.

The NBL has tracks all over the United States, and is affiliated with USA Cycling, which is a cycling federation under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale, or UCI, which is the governing body that worked with the International Olympic Committee to bring BMX riders from all over the world to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The NBL's website is http://www.nbl.org.

When you're cheering everyone on at an exciting BMX event, remember, winners receive trophies, but the exhilaration of BMX racing belongs to everyone!