Ailsa Harvey
BMX is an abbreviation for bicycle motocross. There are two forms of competitive BMX; racing and freestyle.
BMX races are off-road sprint races which take place on single-lap tracks. The extreme sport is highly dangerous as riders travel at around 30 mph and collisions with other racers are far from uncommon. Contact in the sport is legal but not recommended.
The bikes are smaller in size than regular bikes and are built to enable riders to stay upright during technical stunts.
Did you know….
– A typical BMX race only lasts between 25 and 40 seconds.
– BMX was first introduced to the Olympics in the Beijing Games (2008).
– BMX emerged in 1960 after young cyclists in southern California decided to adapt their bicycles to make them lighter and more versatile for urban and dirt tracks.
– One of the oldest BMX racers is from the US. 70 year old Kittie Weston-Knauer started competing in the 1980s and at the beginning was often the only woman on the track. She has sustained many injuries in her time but not even breaking her neck could hold her back!
They say you never forget how to ride a bike; so whether you’re 17 or 70 why not give it a try?
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