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Just got a brand new BMX bike? If you can’t wait to try out that shiny new Hoffman, or that bright new Ruption, here are some easy tricks to get you started. First, remember these safety considerations. Always wear a helmet. A BMX specific helmet is preferable. You should also wear elbow and knee pads, and a chest protector is not a bad idea. Next, consider learning on an official BMX course with instructors. There’s no exception for professional teachers and the safety tips and expertise they have to offer.
Now for some tricks. You need to start simple. No one ever accomplished complicated, dangerous derring-do in a day. The bunny hop is a great place to start. This is a simple jump, and it’s not that hard. All you need to do is lift the handle bars into the air while you are riding, and then move your body weight forward on the bike so that the back wheel also lifts into the air. Practice this until you perfect it. You will use the bunny hop in more advanced BMX tricks.
Another simple trick is to learn to ride your bike with no hands. You can start off easily by learning to balance with only one hand, until you are comfortable enough to ride with no hands. You can also ride with both hands, let go with both hands for a split second, and then quickly grasp the handlebars again. While these two tricks may seem very simple, they are essential to gaining confidence, learning balance, and getting you started toward more complicated tricks. Good luck.
Two Easy BMX Bike Tricks
September 6th, 2010BMX Bike Safety
September 4th, 2010So you’ve just brought home your shiny, new Subrosa, or your snazzy Barracuda and you want to get started on some racing, jumps, or tricks straight away. But before you get on that BMX bike, here are some safety tips to keep in mind. First and foremost, you need safety gear. You must wear a helmet. A reguar bike helmet will provide some protection, but a BMX helmet is preferable as it provides more coverage, and is specifically designed to take the impact of falls associated with BMX jumps and tricks. Always wear your helmet when jumping, trick riding, and racing.
Next you need elbow and knee pads. These are invaluable because when you take a hard fall, if you seriously injure your knees or elbows, it’s going to be a long time before you are back on your bike. Another useful piece of safety gear is a chest protector. This will protect your ribcage, and internal organs, and is very helpful should you ever take a very hard fall or be hit by another vehicle.
You should also wear gloves. Gloves protect your hands both from injury in an accident, and from blistering and callusing, and burning on a hot day. Choose gloves with good grips and ventilation. Finally, use common sense. If you know you’re going to be jumping, racing, or doing tricks, always put on your full gear. If you are unsure, it’s always better to wear too much, or to carry extra with you in case you need it. Never leave safety up to chance.
How to Choose a BMX Bike
September 2nd, 2010BMX bikes are growing more popular, but with so many choices available, choosing the bmx bike that’s right for you might be a bit of challenge. Here are some guidelines to help you choose. A lot depends on what you intend to use your bike for. Racing, jumping, and freestyle are three different uses of this kind of bike. You may also want to use your bike for everyday use, like riding it on the road to a shop, or going on dirt trails while you are camping.
If you want to use your bike for tricks, or ride it on paved roads and in parks, your best bet is the freestyle BMX. If you want a classic bike for racing, or for everyday use, the classic BMX, or true bmx, is your choice. And if you want something in between, for jumps and ramping, you should choose the jump BMX.
You should also decide what material you want your bike to be made of. Classic bmx bikes are made of aluminium, which is lightweight, but more expensive. The Freestyle bikes and the jump bikes are usually made of steel frames, or mixed metal, and are heavier than the classic bikes, but also more sturdy and cost effective. Something else to consider is the type of rims on your bike. Classic bikes usually have lightweight, aluminium rims which makes them faster. Freestyle bikes have mag rims, and jump bikes have 48-spoke rims or other strong, sturdy rims to support the impact of jumps and tricks.
Deciding on a BMX Bike
September 1st, 2010BMX bikes came onto the scene in the 1960’s. They were a takeoff on the motocross motorcycles, and became very popular with kids who admired these and wanted to learn some bike tricks of their own. The classic BMX was the first BMX bike, and is still very popular today. However, you should consider what you want to use your bmx bike for.
If you want a bike for jumping, you may not want a classic bmx. The classic bmx can’t support a lot of high jumps and hard landings. The frame is lightweight, which means it will jump easily, but also means that it won’t land so well. You need a sturdier frame for jumps, so you should choose a jump model such as a Barracuda BMX Grind.
If you want a bike for tricks, but you also intend to use it on flat roads and pavement, you’ll want a freestyle bmx. These are heavier, steel frames, but they can take a lot of impact, and they are sturdy and reliable. For a good freestyle bike, try a MirraCo. If you do want a classic BMX, or true BMX, there are many choices. These bikes were built for racing, and the light aluminium frame makes for smooth, fast riding. A Redline is a good classic BMX choice. There are many different styles and brands of BMX bike, but deciding what you want to use your bike for is the best way to figure out which bike is best for you.
Do I need a chromoly BMX frame?
August 30th, 2010Many riders new to BMX will often hear or read about the importance of chromoly in BMX bike construction, particularly with regard to the various types of BMX frame on the market. What is chromoly and how significant is it?
Chromoly is a steel alloy that makes use of two strength-inducing elements, chromium and molybdenum. Compared with normal high-tensile steel, chromoly has over 50% extra strength. The advantage of using chromoly in a bike’s construction is that the strength of high-tensile steel can be matched using lighter tubing; a factor that can help when performing high energy, strength-sapping freestyle tricks.
A BMX frame made from chromoly will usually tend to be more expensive than the equivalent high-tensile steel version, and this will also tend to be reflected in the price of any bike that contains a chromoly frame.
For the less experienced rider, however, a lightweight frame or bike may not necessarily be essential, particularly as the more complex, gravity-defying tricks can only be performed properly with a great deal of practice. Whilst easier manoeuvrability of a BMX bike may be a pleasant additional touch, the bike’s strength should be given more focus when choosing a complete model or when looking for a replacement frame.
Moreover, advancements in frame construction technology have led to other modifications like smaller drop outs (the parts of the frame that connect to the back wheel hub) also contributing to a reduction in overall bike weight.
At bmx.co.uk we can advise on the most appropriate, and affordable, quality BMX bikes and parts for any rider.
