BMX racer

BMX racing

A men's first round race of the 2005 European BMX Championships in Sainte-Maxime, France
Highest governing body	UCI
Characteristics
Contact	No, although bodies do touch
Team members	Individuals
Mixed gender	Yes, separate competitions
Type	Cycle sport
Equipment	BMX bike
Venue	BMX track
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	Yes, men's and women's since the 2008 Olympics
Paralympic	No

BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. The format of BMX was derived from . BMX bicycle races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap race tracks. The track usually consists of a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed, serpentine, dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers and a finish line. The course is usually flat, about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide and has large banked corners that help the riders maintain speed. The sport of BMX racing is facilitated by a number of regional and international sanctioning bodies. They provide rules for sanctioning the conduct of the flying, specify age group and skill-level classifications among the racers, and maintain some kind of points-accumulation system over the racing season. The sport is very family oriented and largely participant-driven, with riders ranging in age from 2 to 70, and over. Professional ranks exist for both men and women, where the age ranges from 18 to 40 years old.

There are two BMX racing bikes sizes. One is the 20" wheel bike. This bike is common with minors and is currently the most common class. The Cruiser bikes are any bikes with a 24" wheel. However, any bikes that have a wheel larger than 24" will still be considered Cruisers. Cruisers are more common with older racers and is rapidly growing. The cruiser style bike tends to be easier to jump and rolls better while the 20" is seemingly more agile.

While BMX racing is an individual sport, teams are often formed from racers in different classifications for camaraderie and often for business exposure of a sponsoring organization or company. BMX racing rewards strength, quickness, and bike handling. Many successful BMX racers have gone on to leverage their skills in other forms of bicycle and motorcycle competitions.

There are all types of BMX jumps, ranging from small rollers to massive step-up doubles. There are pro straights which are for junior and elite men. They are all doubles which range from about 6 m to 12 m, while "Class" straights have more flow and have many more range of jumps.

Starting hill

The Starting hill marks the start of the track. Most BMX Tracks have a gate. The starting hill will normally provide all the speed for the remainder of the race. Generally, the larger the hill, the faster, so pro hills are much larger than the amateur ones.

Step-up

A jump of which's landing is at a higher point than the jump itself

Berms

Turns are at an angle. Therefore, you can easily turn without having to brake.

Double

The double are two hills close to each other.