BMX Bike Racing Clips

BMX Bikes racing has as evidenced by the bmx bike racing in the Bejing summer Olympics. Get off the couch and onto and into a new bmx bike.

Beginner's Guide to BMX Bikes

Because people often throw around the "BMX" term generically, it's important to also understand that there are three different types of BMX bikes: the true BMX bike, the freestyle bike and the dirt jumper or just "jump" bike.

What's the difference between all these different types of BMX bikes? That's what we're here to explain. Nothing beats checking out these great bikes in person, too. After you've read this article, consider going to a shop and checking them out.

BMX: True BMX bikes started it all, back in the late sixties. They were knockoffs of motocross motorcycles and were designed for racing over jumps and around berms in the dirt. Pretty soon kids everywhere had them, racers or not. BMX bikes are still designed for racing, although you don't have to race to enjoy the light weight, speed and dirt worthiness of these machines. They usually have 20-inch wheels (24-inch-wheel "cruisers" are the exception), knobby tires, upright handlebars with crossbars, small saddles, long cranks and rear hand brakes. The frames are light and sturdy, and the higher the price, the lighter they get.

BMX bikes are generally made of chromoly steel or aluminum. Chromoly frames are a bit heavier and more economical. Aluminum frames are lighter and are often made of oversize or exotically shaped tubing. Besides weighing less, aluminum is also rustproof. So, if you scratch your frame, there's no need to rush to touch it up.

BMX bikes also come in different frame sizes. Make sure you choose a size that you feel comfortable with.

Freestyle: These entered the scene shortly after BMX bikes. Rather than racing, the freestyle bike's ideal use is for flatland tricks, aggressive street riding and getting vertical at skateparks. It's also a great bike for riding to school, the store and the pool. Super-sturdy construction is a higher priority than light weight. The wheels are usually either "mag" wheels made of sturdy nylon (far left in the photo below), or heavy-duty models with 48 wire spokes. The tires are 20 x 2.125 or wider, with fairly smooth treads, because they're predominantly pavement pounders. Axle pegs are often included (riders stand on them for stunts), although some manufacturers leave them off so you can choose your own. Freestyle bikes come with front and rear brakes. The front cable is routed through a "rotor" or "detangler," which allows the handlebars to be spun completely around without tangling the brake cable.

Dirt Jumper: As the name implies, dirt jumpers (also known as jumpers) are designed for taking flight. They also bridge the wide gap between BMX bikes and freestylers (beefier than the former; lighter than the latter). They usually don't have front brakes and their brawny wheels normally feature 36 rugged 13-gauge spokes, rather than resorting to 48 spokes the way freestyle bikes do. They are occasionally equipped with 24-inch wheels, which are a great choice for larger riders. The tires are the most heavily treaded of any of the BMX types.

Equipment Choices

There are some important parts choices to make when purchasing a BMX bike:

Wheels: It's crucial that the wheels meet your needs. Because accelerating out of starting gates is important in BMX, the wheels are much lighter than those found on freestyle or jump bikes. However, that 32-spoke light aluminum wheelset designed for BMX racing won't hold up to dirt jumping or ramping. So, freestyle bikes come almost exclusively with 48-spoke or mag wheels. This makes them ultra-beefy for maximum rim protection. Dirt jumper's wheels tend to be a bit more varied. Some dirt jumpers are equipped with just 36 super-meaty 13-gauge spokes. Others come with 48 spokes like freestyle bikes, depending on whether the bike is geared more for jumping or dirt riding. It's also important to note that the skinnier BMX tire and rim sizes (20 x 1 1/8-3/8 and 24 x 1 1/8-3/8) are not interchangeable with each other or with the 20 x 1.5 or 1.75 tire and rims.

Tires: BMX tires straddle the line between pavement and dirt designs. Although they're used mostly off road, the tracks are often hard-packed dirt where low rolling resistance is important. The tread has to provide optimum speed and traction and grip when you're cornering and accelerating. Freestyle tires are designed for pavement and indoor surfaces. Premium tires often inflate to higher pressures as well, lowering rolling resistance, increasing rim protection and decreasing tire deflection when the sidewalls are placed under high loads such as during landings. Dirt jumpers are usually designed for maximum traction. Since speed isn't important and the conditions aren't as controlled, their lugs are a bit beefier.

Handlebars: Beside weight and strength differences, there is also a subtle difference in handlebar shape between the BMX bar and the others. Freestyle and jump bars tend to rise steeper from the clamping area to give the rider better freedom of movement while performing flatland and airborne maneuvers. Also, bars found on 24-inch BMX and jumpers will be slightly shorter in rise than those found on 20-inch bikes.

Brakes: Freestyle bikes come with front and rear brakes. BMX and jump bikes usually sport only rear brakes. Brake type is also important. BMXers require pure stopping power so they prefer linear-pull brakes, which offers the ultimate grip. Freestylers are more interested in control than grip and they prefer U-brakes front and rear. Although U-brakes don't offer the stopping power of linear pulls, they offer better modulation, so they work like dimmer switches, where linear pulls are more like on/off switches.

We hope this overview helps you pick out a great new bike. Happy shopping!

BMX Bikes Equipment Reviews - Stolen Heater Bikes

BMX Bikes 365 will be reviewing some of the top bmx bikes on the market. The first up on the list is from the manufacturer Stolen Heater.

When it comes to finding a BMX bike that will hold up to all the abuse you dish out, it’s wise to go with the equipment the top pros use like the Stolen Heater. This “Best Of” BMX bike was created in England in 2001 by former European BMX champion Anthony Revell and refined with input from seasoned pro John Jennings who heads up the Stolen BMX team. Stolen’s top-of-the-line is chock full of high-end components. A great double-butted frame made of heat-treated 4130 chromoly combines with Shadow 1-pound bars, attack stem and finger banger grips. Designed to be ridden by a pro right out of the box, the Stolen Heater also features Stolen Team cranks and an alloy sprocket micro drivetrain 25 x 9T with 1-piece driver cassette hub. This John Jennings signature bike has earned its reputation as one of the top BMX bikes on the market.

FEATURES

Team series John Jennings signature bike
100% coromoly frame with double butted seat tube
Integrated FSA headset, removable gyro tabs and micro drop outs
Sealed Spanish bottom bracket
Stolen Team cranks
Shadow 1 pound bars, Attack stem, Finger banger grips
Alloy sprocket micro drivetrain 25 x 9T with 1-piece driver cassette hub

Here is a list of the larger dealers (with state and phone #'s) who will be receiving some of the complete 2008 Stolen Heater BMX Bikes.
Good luck in getting one - they're incredible.
50/50 BMX (UT) - (877) 751-5050 * Apple Valley BMX (CA) - (760) 946-2224 * Andy’s Cycle Center (NJ) - (908) 486-3032 * Xtreme Bikes and Boards (NJ) - (609) 607-5997 * Bicycle Peddler LLC (MI) - (734) 697-8899 * Bike Den (AZ) - (602) 938-0989 * Bike Discounters (NY) - (631) 209-0825 * Bike Trail (NV) - (702) 656-2026 * Bike World Inc. (NV) - (702) 735-7551 * Bucks County Bikes (PA) - (215) 946-7090 * Cranford Bikes (NJ) - (908) 272-0184 * Dan’s Competition (IN) - (888) 888-DANS * DFC Cycle and Fitness (TX) - (806) 796-2453 * Eastern Border (MA) - (978) 425-6318 * Ed’s Bike Shop (NJ) - (856) 691-5757 * Efinger Sporting Goods (NJ) - (732) 356-0604 * Elite Bicycles (CA) - (916) 728-2812 * Epic BMX (CA) - (714) 848-0888 * Fullerton Bicycles (CA) - (714) 879-8310 * Hi Desert Bikes (CA) - (760) 947-3199 * Hooligans Bike & Board (TX) - (254) 220-9681 * Jamestown Cycle Shop (NY) - (716) 664-4112 * Nault’s Cycling (NH) - (603) 669-7993 * Outlaw Boards (NY) - (585) 394-3730 * Pats 605 Cyclery (CA) - (562) 864-0740 * Ramp Rats Skate Park (CA) - (707) 766-7267 * Sayville Bike Works (NY) - (631) 589-0009 * Simi Bike Works (CA) - (805) 583-2124 * Ski Market (MA) - (781) 890-1212 * Staff BMX (NJ) - (732) 370-6882 * Stoney Creek Cycling (MI) - (586) 781-4451 * Sunshine Bicycles (CA) - (408) 842-4889 * T-Rix Mountain Bikes & Specialities (NV) - (775) 777-8804 * Twins Bike Shop (CA) - (310) 257-1350 * Two By Four Store (NJ) - (856) 678-1200 * Union Cycle (MA) - (508) 226-4726

BMX Bikes Extreme Chris Hoy Shows Off Medals Fueled By Red Bull

BMX Bikes Extreme News. Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy has revealed his secret weapon – a stomach-churning mix of haggis and Red Bull.

The sprint bmx cyclist, who became the first Brit for a century to win three golds at one games at the Beijing velodrome, swears by the tasty combination to keep him on track.

Chris, who also won gold in Athens four years ago, sometimes adds vodka to the Red Bull to give himself an extra kick.

Hoy, who was inspired to ride a bike as a kid by the movie E.T., said: “When it comes to what I put in my body I believe in balance.

“If I do want something really strongly like some junk food then it has never been anything that I have been too concerned about afterwards.

“Haggis and a Red Bull and vodka is fine by me though – a great Scottish meal.”

And he added: “Red Bull is something I have always used to give myself a bit of a lift, particularly straight after training.”

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Star Sunday, Chris, 32, revealed he’s also been banned from wearing his medals in bed.

The cycling ace, from Edinburgh, has been dating lawyer Sarra Kemp, 28, for the past two years – and he calls her his “lucky charm”.

Asked whether he charms Sarra by wearing his three golds in bed, he laughed: “No. Especially as it’s actually quite difficult to wear three gold medals around your neck at the same time.”

“I have to employ someone now just for the sole purpose of arranging the gold medals around my neck. Not really, just joking.”

Chris, who is hoping to enjoy a holiday to Thailand with Sarra in November, wants to pick up more golds at London 2012.

He has been riding a bike since he was six when hit movie E.T. hit our screens.

Chris said: “From that moment on I just wanted to be part of that new sport which involved BMX bikes. I was inspired and then the whole BMX thing took off and it spiralled from there.”

But Chris reckons he might be outdone at the London 2012 Games – by a woman.

The Scot is tipping BMX rider Shanaze Reade, 19, who missed out on a medal in Beijing after crashing in the final, to be a sprint cycling sensation.

He said: “I’m more than confident she will bounce back, not just on the BMX, but also to rival myself on the track in the events that I won gold.

“She’s an incredibly sexy girl as well, with incredible talent on that bike and with an amazing future ahead of her.”

BMX Bikes Strong Debut in Bejing Olympics

BMX Bikes Olympic news. Amecican racers Mike Day and Kyle Bennett gave the fans a great introduction to bmx bike racing in the Bejing Olympics. Day won the time trial and each of his three quarterfinal heats and Bennett advanced although he dislocated his shoulder in a wreck on his final bmx bikes heat.
Top ranked Donny Robinson also moved on, as did American bmx olympic racer Jill Kitner from Seattle. Kitner is the lone American women in the womens 16 bmx olympic racing field despite riding on a shredded knee ligement.
"You can't get much more rad than this" Donny Robinson said.
Heavy rain postponed the medal rounds.

Other quotes from the bmx bike racers in Bejing.

“The Olympics are the biggest thing we’ll ever do,” the American rider Mike Day said.

He skipped every race that was not related to the Olympics, even the world championships. And when he showed up Wednesday, Day turned in the fastest qualifying time and won three quarterfinal heats to advance to the semifinals. He went so fast, in fact, he never saw the back of another bike.

“He had the track dialed,” said Steve Day, Mike’s dad, while sipping a beer. “This whole experience is just surreal. I’m at a loss for words. To have your kid compete in the Olympics is just an unbelievable feeling.”

Day called the prospect of potential growth “overwhelming.” He wanted to concentrate on the course he could ride blindfolded, on the prospect of winning the first gold medal in his sport’s long and gnarly history.

“Just the whole experience has been crazy,” Day said. “Eating in the dining hall, sleeping in the village, getting police escorts. It’s the coolest thing ever.”

Like Day, Kintner tried to soak in the experience. “Wow,” she said to herself. “I really am in China. BMX really is in the Olympics.”

Added her brother, Paul, who builds BMX bike courses for a living: “Her chase of this Olympic medal has taken a lot. To see her here, I can’t even explain it. We’ve made it. Her, the sport, we’ve made it now.”

Dennis Robinson, Donny’s father, felt the same way. He traveled with his family from California, and they all wore matching maroon T-shirts. He watched as one rider crashed after another, as one lonely bike even went tumbling down the hill without its occupant.

For years, he hoped BMX would get its due. He never expected it would be here, in China, at the Olympics.

“The impact is going to be enormous,” Dennis Robinson said. “It’s got to. Or, if nothing else, we had our few seconds of fame. I just hope it brings out more people".