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BMX TO THE MAX
By: Robert Ryles

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With dust forming at the heels of participants surrounded by flashes of red, blue, and metal, BMX riding is a form of cycling that involves twists, turns, and smart maneuvering. A different kind of bike is used to perform the tricks and moves associated with the sport, such as 20-inch wheels. BMX stands for Bicycle Moto-cross (X) and utilizes tracks fashioned from earth and dirt. While some enjoy the aspect of performing BMX tricks, others simply favor the racing aspect of the sport.

During the late 1960s, BMX riding found a home within California, where the teenage population emulated motocross icons with their bikes. It is believed that the actual sport of BMX was the brainchild of Scot Breithaupt, who actively participated from 1970 to 1977. Others claim that the biking craze captured the attention of the younger generation when the opening scene of a motorcycle-racing documentary called On Any Sunday, showcased kids navigating their Schwinns off-road. Soon after, the middle of the decade saw a skyrocketed interest of the sport.

Before long, BMX catapulted into the mainstream, as more and more notable characters made a name for themselves. Television appearances also followed, as did ESPN coverage and a host of video games focusing on the sport. The popularity of BMX is so glaring that riders can now earn medals at the upcoming Summer Olympics held in 2008 at Beijing.

How to Improve Your BMX Skills

As with most sports – practice does make perfect. The off-road adventure that BMX has become allows riders to showcase freestyle skills or sprint about single lap racetracks. When it comes to racing, a starting gate greets up to eight eager riders who are ready to rip and roar banked and flat obstacles, perform jumps, and cross the finish line. In order to get to the point where maneuvering a bike is second nature, riders must train to prepare their body, mind, and skill.

Getting used to the bike used for BMX riding is a challenge for some because they tend to display durable and quick-handling characteristics. The bikes are also lightweight. When it comes to BMX, many riders enter races to test their skills and improve through experience. Riders from the age of 8 to late adulthood may enter training plans aimed at strengthening the body and skill level about 12 weeks before a competition. Development is one of the most important aspects for excelling in the world of BMX.

The age level of a rider usually determines the intensity and basic requirements needed to improve in BMX riding. Youth riders should approach sprint training to enhance their track speed endurance, power, strength, and maximum leg speed. Youngsters are going through phases of growth; meaning care is essetial in practice to ensure all round muscle development at a controlled rate. Athletes should set aside 30 to 60 minutes per day for training for the majority of the week.

Teenage riders should concentrate on improving overall riding strength though weight training. Some individuals have made great strides when following a circuit training method. Track racing and extra work goes a long way, where proper warm up and cool down exercises help with daily training. More experienced riders will benefit from 30 to 120 minutes of training throughout the week.

As you enter BMX riding, there are a few basic details to learn, which will make your experience and training much easier. A working knowledge of bicycle parts, maintenance, fundamental riding techniques, and what to expect for the first time are just some of the things that place you on the path towards improvement. A wide variety of skills makes up the complete locker of a BMX rider. Overall improvement will come with a working knwledge of all aspects of the mechanics of the sport:

Body Positioning: BMX riders must be able to explode at the beginning of a race in order to gain that initial advantage. This is in addition to being abole to perform high level riding skills to get through the course. Knowing when to sit and stand is also important. If you do not master body positioning, you could fall of a bike, collide with another, or become injured.

Jumping: Many individuals get into BMX because they are intrigued about the aspect of jumping. Learning how to correct mid-air mistakes and improve your jumping skills is necessary to enhance both freestyle and racing skills. Pushing yourself to reach higher and farther goals in jumping also improves an individual's overall BMX skill.

Cornering: A rider needs to learn when, where, and how to properly corner since a wide-range of factors affect BMX. This will include the skill to use bodyparts as well as parts of the bike.

Braking: Participants will also beneifit from learning to skillfully utilize tha braking mechanisms on their bikes to enhance their performance of many skills.

Additional training exercises to consider include passing, peddle control, advanced jumping techniques, and stunts, such as backflips. Overall, BMX is a challenging sport that permits one to test the strength and agility of the mind and muscles.

Article Source: http://www.depositarticles.com

Robert Ryles is a Chartered Physical Therapist. He has worked extensively in orthopedic and sports medicine fields and in both International and Premiership football. He is also a lecturer, researcher and author in his expert field. His current work a self help guide to the successful resolution of back pain is available at: www.solveyourbackpain.com

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