subject: How To Choose The Right Bmx Bike In A Complex Market [print this page] Those looking to buy a BMX bike are often surprised at how complex and variegated the market really is. For a start, BMX is not a single, unified sport, but is broken down into disciplines; the two main disciplines being racing BMX and freestyle BMX. Racing BMX is a competitive track speed event along the lines of motorcycle moto cross. Freestyle BMX on the other hand involves a demonstration of individual skill and agility.
The situation is further complicated by freestyle BMX being broken down into sub-genres, namely: street BMX, in which the rider negotiates narrow ledges and other street features; park BMX whereby leaps and jumps are carried out in a designated concrete BMX park; dirt BMX, which involves performing similar tricks to park BMX but on a specially built, more rugged, mud trail instead; and, flatland BMX whereby the rider shows off balancing and gymnastic skills on a flat surface.
Each type of BMX riding cannot be performed either safely or fully effectively, without a BMX bike that has been designed to meet the needs of a specific discipline or sub-genre.
A racing BMX bike, for example, is built for speed rather than strength and may therefore be too flimsy to withstand the stresses and knocks of dirt BMX. On the other hand a street BMX bike may be too bulky to make serious headway during a BMX race, and its tyres may well lack sufficient traction to avoid skidding.
The situation is made more confusing by individual manufacturers' take on what makes a good BMX bike. Some BMX companies may, for example, produce racing BMX bikes with small wheels, which should in theory cover less ground than larger-wheeled models, yet which remain popular purchases for other design reasons.
At our online BMX shop, bmx.co.uk, our experts can help the buyer negotiate the complexities of the BMX market.
