Evolution of BMX

Right after you hear the tragic words that your life might come to an end quicker than you anticipated, you soon realize how many things you wish you could have done. For this man, he was [501 pounds or 227 kilos], and was willing to do anything when he found out his health was no longer going to keep him up and alive for much longer.

“The news was not good. The doctor gave him six months to live without bariatric surgery. With it, the doctor said, Cutshall had a 50 percent chance of making it out of the operating room.”

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            If you ever doubt life or doubt that you can overcome a fear- think again. There are thousands if not millions of inspirational people in the word that overcome huge downfalls like Cutshall. When I felt down about life and felt uninspired, biking really came to my rescue, and it does for a lot of people. Bicycling has changed the world of many different things from health to transportation. So if you feel in need of some sort of thing to overcome an obstacle, grab a bike, take up a sport, or just get involved, because you never know when it will save your life.

        When looking for the right bike it can be tough. Either if it’s for your son, daughter, grandma, or even yourself- it’s hard to decide what type of bike you should get. You might be thinking. “Only if there was something to guide me through this mess!” Well, this is going to be your guide to escape the “oops” moment when giving your son the wrong type of BMX bike.
     

First Step- Choosing what type of BMX bike you want.
 -Yes, there is more then one type of BMX bike, and it matters which one you choose. The last thing you want to do is buy a “Flatland bike” for someone that was looking to hit some dirt jumps. Choosing the right bike is the key element for safety and fun. There are four main types of BMX bikes: Flatland, Freestyle, Racing, and Dirt.

• DIRT- If you are looking to ride mostly dirt then this is the bike for you. Dirt BMX bikes usually have around the same dimensioned frames as a street BMX bike, but with the use of bigger/wider tires and strong rear brakes- it sets itself apart from the other bikes. The tires are also more rough and treaded to maneuver in dirt.
• STREET- If your looking to BMX more in the streets with some use of park riding, then this is the bike for you. Street BMX bikes are similar dirt BMX bikes except the use of brakes and rough tires. You’re probably wondering why would I ever buy a bike without brakes? Well, its the new style and trend for BMX bikes. With the use of smooth tires and no brakes it makes it easier to maneuver without getting tangled up. This is my favorite type of BMX bike in my opinion but probably not the safest. But it doesn’t mean you can’t install brakes onto these bad boys.
• RACING- If you are looking to only race your bike, then please don’t buy any other BMX bike but the Racing style BMX bike. These bikes are design specifically for racing and are modified completely different then all the other bikes. The frames are stronger in certain spots and weaker in other spots, but this is why these bikes are featherweights and are meant for racing. The tires are usually thinner and most of the bike is made out of Aluminum instead of reinforced steel or a stronger chromoly (lightweight, strong, expensive steel).
• FLATLAND- If you don’t know what flatland BMX means, then you might want to search for some videos to get a better understanding of what it is. It’s a type of freestyle biking that consists of doing stunts and tricks in one spot on flat ground (seen a lot in the 70’s-80’s). These bikes are deigned for riders to maneuver there legs and arms while doing stunts. This isn’t the typically bike you would look for but for some people it is.

Step Two- Choosing the right size bike
- When you finally find the right type of BMX bike you want the next step is getting the right size. Depending on your height, there are different sized bikes that are meant to fit most people. The last thing you want to happen is for your knees to hit the handle bars while riding. Do your research to get the proper bike that fits you, trust me.

When measuring your height you should:

• Remove your shoes.
• Stand with your back against the wall, feet just less than shoulder width apart.
• Have someone measure from the ground to the top of your head.
• Jot down your height in inches or centimeters (cm).

After you measure your proper height you should follow this link to estimate the proper size bike for you. BMX Bike Size Calculator

Last Step- Deciding if the bike you choose is the one for you

• Make sure you are buying the right style bike for your use. This chose weighs out your safety and riding fun. Say if you bought a racing bike and thought it was cool to do some tricks like a street bike would do, then you might be in some trouble when your frame cracks coming down off a 4ft ledge. Also, it’s tough to keep up with racing bikes when your riding a flatland bike, its not the same nor as fun.
• It’s expensive! A [good] BMX bike can range anywhere from $275-UP. So don’t waste you money because you didn’t do your research!
• Keep in mind that all these bikes can be modified for your use. So if you think that the bike will be use for some street, dirt, and park use, then you might want to lean more towards a street or dirt BMX bike. If you don’t want certain parts on it, you can always buy part that fits your use- with a price of course. 

There are many people in world that are faced with difficulties that have changed their lives for the worst, but have found a path to escape it all. Some people are surrounded by negative influences growing up like myself, and some people just ended up going down the wrong path. But in the run of the game, there are many people that have found their missing pieces to solve their falling puzzle, and for most people those pieces were found by taking up a hobby. This hobby is [Bicycling], and I’m going to revise a toughing story in which Bicycling has changed this man life for the better.

       Real Story:  “My name is Adam. I started racing BMX in 1983 in Queensland, Australia. I raced off and on until I was 13 years old, then moved to the gold coast to live with my father. I also took up surfing. I was very competitive and became a professional at the age of 18. By the age of 24, I had started taking drugs on a regular basis- my life went downhill quick. A mental condition of bi-polar soon followed, and I was in a hole for a long dark period. At the age of 31, I found this site and then found a link to an Aussie BMX site. At the this time, the site was starting a retro BMX race series. I took some interest and restored a Redline St-20. That is when everything turned around for the better. I won the retro series and started racing at a new school again. I have met some great friends and reunited with some old ones too. My life couldn’t be better! I stopped taking drugs after my first old school race and never touched it again. I even gave up alcohol. I’m now 34 years old, have a very beautiful wife, and a stunning daughter of 6 months. My business is thriving and I couldn’t be happier.

It’s all because of BMX…it saved my life.”

          BMXing will always have a special meaning to me because it has influenced me to be the person that I am today. If you want to read my story, here’s a link to why BMXing has influenced my with life for the better -» LIFE CHANGER

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This is the guide to why BMX benefits riders and non-riders.
          If you’re a BMX rider or are looking into it, these are some fun facts how BMX can benefit you.

• Personal Benefits:
  • A huge factor is that it’s a great way to [exercise and to stay fit]. I know some smaller guys that started biking and after a few years they were almost unnoticeable because  of how fit they have become.
  • Because it’s [fun and entertaining]. I personally feel like there are always new and fun goals to achieve. You’re riding canvas is different everywhere you go.
  • You [learn a new skill] and grow from it. Now you can say you’re a badass BMX rider.
  • BMXing can be extremely [relaxing] when you are stressed out. There were moments when I couldn’t stand to be around anyone and just went out on long rides to take my mind all off the negativity around me.

  Social Benefits:

  

• • It’s a great source in [getting to know people]. I met most of my friends through biking and they still remain as some of the closest friends I have.
  • People love to bike in [groups]! This is a great way to find a group of people that draw the same interest as you. People love riding with other people for the most part.
  • If you want to meet more than just people in your age group, BMXing is a great sport to have [interaction with adults and kids]. I see a lot of times when adults are helping kids and vice versa.
  • You always have people watching out for you. Because you belong to a community now you have that [community awareness] watching your back. I remember when I was in a bad situation and people noticed me because I BMX. They ran out to help me in any way possible.
  • Lots of [team spirit]! It doesn’t mean you necessarily have to join competitions to have team spirit. Team spirit comes out in a variety of ways. Our group showed team spirit by playing a game of BIKE with our people.
    
    

Benefits for non-BMX riders:
   

• It’s a great sport to [keep kids occupied] and busy. It’s a sport that you can always build and improved on.
• It can be [entertaining] to watch and feels good to see people getting involved.
• [Exercise, fitness & conditioning] It’s a great way to to stay fit! Even if you’re not looking to bike, it can transform a couch potato into a cardio machine.
• The pleasure in seeing [enjoyment]. If you’re like me then you love to see people happy in something they enjoy doing.
• It allows who ever it may be to have [something to do]. So you don’t have to have that person bothering you if they are.
  
  

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Stay tuned for tomorrows post about why BMX is good for you and how it has changed the lives of individuals.

BMX CRAZE, DAYS & people getting LAID. After the mid-70’s the sport of [BMX was booming!] Anywhere and everywhere BMX was the sport that was rising to the top.  Parents and children were picking up their rusty bikes and cleaning them off, to join the number one sport during the 70’s.  Around the same time technology was rising as well, and videos, commercials, magazines, and pictures were capturing every moment of the rise of BMX. Because of this rise, BMX provided a new area for stars, jobs, and companies. [BMX pro’s] were becoming more [desirable] and [groupies were starting to form.]  

          I believe the era of the BMX boom bettered the world in several ways. One, it provided more jobs to society and opened new markets. Second, it gave children and adults a new sport to draw interest in and  compete in. Third, BMX is extremely healthy and provides another opportunity to stay healthy and fit. Last, it gave people like myself something to look forward to everyday.

This advertisement for BMX was first broadcast on Australian television in the year 1981. You can see from this clip being a BMX star means that [you get the ladies], and at the time.. you did.

The quintessential BMX related commercial from the 80’s features Ron Wilkerson, RL Osborn, Eddie Fiola and Pat Romano. BMX-ing was so popular that it aired in a large variety of commercials such as this Mountain Dew commercial.

1) 1963 Schwinn Stingrays were first introduced and changed the world of bike forever. By 1968 70% of all bicycles sold in the United States were Schwinn Stingrays or copies of them.
       Before this bicycle was in stores, people were removing parts off their bicycles to create a more motocross feel. When this bike hit the market, it was targeted at those people and fueled the newly arising sport of BMX.

2) 1970 Scott Breithaupt was one of the first to be noticed racing BMX in Long Beach, California. Around the same time Palm Park running BMX races in Santa Monica, California.
      He was one of the first well know riders that was noticed at the time when BMX was brand new. Because Breithaupt was one of the first to be noticed biking, he remains to be one of the original bikers that was there from the start.

3) 1974 A point in BMX evolution where bikes started becoming stronger race specific.
      At this point in the 70’s, manufacturers started catching onto the trend, and began making stronger bike for racing. By this point a large majority of bikes being assembled were designed for BMX racing. This was the race for who had better equipped bikes in store.

4) 1976 BicycleMotocross Action Magazine (BMXA) founded by, Bob Osborn, which, rose to the top as the main voice for BMX for about three decades.
      This was the first magazine specified for BMX only. BMXA was the first to provide monthly information on nearly all the news about BMX. Because of this magazine, it established BMX  as a sport and garnered the interest of several other BMX affiliated magazines.

5) 1977 BMX Freestyle artist, Bob Haro was recognized for doing funny looking tricks on his BMX bike. Beginning of “trick riding”.
         He was the man that let his actions speak for him. His actions were his “funny looking stunts” and these stunts lead to a whole new area for BMX to branch off to. This branch is what we call today: “Flatland BMX-ing”. He was the one of the first of his kind to invent this style of riding.

6) 1984 Freestyle BMX became an official sport after BMX star Bob Morales formed the American Freestyle Association.
       AFA was the first governing body for BMX freestyle and started out promoting events at skateboard parks. The AFA was so popular that virtually every state throughout the country held local events.

7) 1988 Freestyle BMX started downsizing and branched of into other subcategories such as street, vert, flatland, dirt, and park.
      All these bikes are designed specifically for the division that its categorized in. From different sized tires and frames to having only front, rear or no brakes, these bikes handled differently according to its use.

8) 1992 The revival of Freestyle BMX by the insane riding and bicycle stunts of BMX idol, Mat Hoffman.
       At this point, the hype of the BMX era was dying and less people were getting involved. Because of Hoffman, he sparked peoples interest once again to revitalize BMX. Hoffman brought the sport to new heights never thought possible, inventing the majority of the Vert tricks today.

Source

(Source: 23mag.com)

Stayed tuned for next weeks post for the answer and the breakdown of the era that started the trend of BMX.

               Ever since Middle School I found myself playing on the streets of Desert Hot Springs, California. My brother and I always looked for something for fun to do, and because I lived in a household where both parents occupied two jobs and the fact that there wasn’t much recreational support in my area, our fun usually consisted of activities that crossed the lines of the law.  We found ourselves in midst of trouble about every few nights. The thrill of adrenaline pumping through our veins was now a necessity to our daily lives. Because we weren’t old enough to drive besides for the few exceptions of our parents needing one of us to grab the wheel during an emergency, we experimented on a variety of forms of transportation. The phases of scootering to skateboarding, from cheap mopeds to running, never really seemed to suit us. Until one day walking to school, we stumbled upon a variety of different unwanted BMX parts. We had no real idea how to assemble a bicycle together until we eventually learned after fiddling with the parts for a few times. Before we knew it, we found enough parts to throw together four bicycles that we built in our garage. From that day, we thought it was a good idea to get a small group of friends together to stroll around with on our bikes rather then walking. We went everywhere and anywhere that we could bike to; because of this, we all became better friends each day.

              As Christmas day came around, and the desert sun came out, we woke up to yet another empty household because of the conflicting job schedule my mother had. So we did pretty much was the only thing we knew how to do, and that was biking. Because my parents weren’t home on the day of Christmas, it led my brother and I to a friend that really changed our lives forever. It was the only kid on the empty streets biking around on Christmas day just like us. When we first rode over to go talk to him, we clicked right away; knowing that he had a similar interest and same status at home, we became best friends. From then on, our lives transformed from ordinary biking and evolved to the world of BMX.

             After a few years pasted, they built a BMX park near my home. This began my new ground of living; I spent more time at the bike park then I did being at home, eating, watching tv, using the computer, and seeing my mother all combined. BMX in the long run has kept me away from trouble and has kept me off the streets. From today, I will always mark the day I got into BMXing for which it has changed my life forever. Because BMX found me, I wouldn’t be the same person that I have evolved to today. For my old close friends that choose to do other things in life and took a few wrongs turns, lead them to prison. BMX has saved my life from preventing the same mistakes that I could of made if I were still on the streets.

We might not think the [evolution of BMX] has an impact on society, but the sport  has a [altered] the [lives of thousands] in a [positive way], and I’ll explain to you how. Within the lines of the sport, BMX has drawn a variety of individuals from all around the world that all share a common interest: “freestyle biking.” No matter what the person might look like, act like, or what associations that person might belong to, all bikers have their stories how they first got started, and some stories have save lives of many. With this blog I hope to seek out the interests of many on how this sport has started from the beginning and how it changed the lives of thousands, which, might alter the way in which you think about the sport of BMX.