BMX was started in the early 70's. Kids were trying to be like their
motorcross heros. This was happening all across the country. As the sport
grew local and state organizations were being formed to manage events. The
National Bicycle League was formed in 1974 to unify local and state organizations
across the country. It has gained alot of recognition and may even be featured as
an exihibition sport in the 2,000 Olympic Games.
BMX was a very popular sport in the mid 80's but it was overshadowed
by the growing popularity of mountain biking. But BMX is now growing more
than ever. All the major bicycle manufactures are producing a line of BMX bikes.
(email from Donahoe Terry NBL@mailbox.Iwaynet.net sent to
harrisp@planetc.com)
"THE TRACK"
The BMX track is made of dirt. The Capital City Track in Raleigh, N.C.
was completely reworked for the '96 race season. It took 300 tons of dirt, a few
backhoes, some four-wheelers, and lots of rakes and shovels to make the best
track on the East Coast.
A BMX track is composed of hills, jumps, and banked turns. The different
kinds of jumps in a BMX track are defined below. The step-up jump is
a series of two jumps in which the first is smaller than the second. The reason
for this is to jump the first one and land on the other side of the second one.
The triple jump is a series of three jumps all being the same size. The double jump
is a series of two jumps the same size. A table top is one jump with a wide flat
space on top. A rhythm section is a series of several jumps which do require
a good deal of skill to maintain speedon. (email from Donaho
Terry
NBL@mailbox
iwaynet.net sent to harrisp@planetc.com)
The average track is 800 to 1,300 feet in length in and on average of 10 to 20
feet in width. There is a maximum of eight racers on the track at one time. One
complete race equals one lap. Usually the starting hill is about ten feet high and at
a 30 degree slope. The starting gate is two feet tall,and the front tire rest against it
so all eight riders leave at the same time. It is held up by magnets and controlled
by voice commands and lights. The normal lap time is 40 to 75 seconds. People
are usually very tired. To give an example of how much space a track takes up
the Sooner Pearl Track in Oklahoma consists of seven acres of land. (Sooner Pearl
Track webpage,www.soonerpearl.com)
"WHAT YOU NEED"
It's easy to get started racing BMX. The two most important things you need
is a bike and a track. To find the location of your nearest track you can call your
local bike shop or go to the NBL or the ABA on the internet at www.NBL. org.com,
www.ABABMX.com. When you find out where your local track is you need to
call and ask four important questions:
I. How do I get to your track?
II. What times are your sign-ups and practices?
III. What time do you begin racing?
IV. How much will it cost to begin racing?
After you know where to go to begin racing and you have your
bike, there
are a few things you need to know so your bike is safe. You need
to make sure
all your bolts are tight, all reflectors need to be taken off because someone can get
stabbed by them in a fall. The kickstand should be taken off also because it adds
extra weight and it can cut people if they have a spill. You also need to have the
following pads on your bike before you can race: one covering the crossbar of
the handlebars, covering the stem, and on the top tube of the frame. You need
a number plate too,your number will be given to you when you sign up.
You also need to wear certain articles of clothing,you don't need any kind of
fancy uniform. All you need is a long sleeve shirt and jeans. Any kind of enclosed
tennis shoe will be fine. You must have a helment before you can race on any
track, whether it be NBL or ABA. Most tracks have helmets they will loan to
you for a day. (ABA webpage,www.ABABMX.com)
"TRAINING"
There are many forms of training. Some people do sprints,
weight training, or just riding their bike a whole lot. Sometimes people do all
of these by doing one one a day and the other the next.
Sprinting is when you do the distance from the starting gate to the first
turn of your local track. Some of the top pros do three sessions a week if they
have the weekend off, if not they do only one. They do this because the most
important part of a race is coming out of the starting and getting to the first
turn first. When you do a session you should go from the gate to the first
turn, then to the first jump, then just keep doing longer and longer ones. Your
last one should be your longest.
Sprints should be done on flat ground. This way you are building up
your leg muscles, and also helping to develop your form as far a taking off from
a dead stop.
If you want to work on your power, you should do some sprints uphill.
But only one session because your need to go back to flat ground immediately.
You'll loose your spin if you do them uphill all the time. This happens because
when your coming out of the gate its downhill, and since you have been going
uphill you will start chopping when your going downhill. Chopping is when
your pedaling strokes have no even circular rytham. But when you start doing this
you have to do it every week, you can't skip a week or you'll never gain any
strength. You will be working out, but it won't do anything for you because
you didn't do it on a consecutive schedule. One other way you can do sprints
is in the grass,it's a good resistance exercise. One of the most important
things you can work on is your speed. But you want to do this all safely.
When you first start out all you want to do is ride your bike, then turn to different
methods later on. ("SPRINT TRAINING WITH JOHN PURSE" pages 62-69,
BMX PLUS September 1996).
"CAMPS"
There are many camps across the country. But one of the best is Woodward
and it is one of the most expensive. It cost $525.00 for one week and $125.00 in
registration fees. They also have one of the largest facilities in the world, with
an indoor riding space of 40,000 square feet. Not to mention the outdoor area.
There is a Taj designed dirt jumping area along with the Freestyle area called The
Cage. Both these areas were designed by the pros to make the best terrain
anywhere. And incase anyone needs parts or repairs, there is a bike shop that
carries a complete inventory with a mechanic on duty daily. (Pamplet: Woodward
X Camp, ordered off internet:BMX,1997)
"NBL"
The NBL was founded and incorporated in 1974 by George E. Esser as
a non-profit bicycle motorcross sanctioning organization. He got this idea because
of his two sons. His two sons raced motorcycles for many years, but they also
loved riding and racing bicycles with friends. Their interest and the fact that there
wasn't a BMX organization in the East made him decide to start the NBL in Florida.
Soon a board of directors and officers were appointed. It was all setup
to belong to the membership. As all of this got larger and expanded, race
commissioners needed to be appointed, and they were. A national race series
was organized in 1977. This included eleven races held in seven states. A
national team was made this year. This team went to all national events to run
the races and train the volunteers.
And in 1981 the NBL and the National Bicycle Motorcross Association
(NBMXA) both came together to make the first BMX governing body to be all over
the continent. By agreeing to take over all licensing and points accumulation for
the NBMXA, it became the oldest BMX sacntioning body.
In 1981 the International BMX Federation (IBMXF) was co-founded by
George E. Esser and six other people from Japan, Holland, Canada, Venezuala,
Columbia, and Panama. This organization sanctioned international races, and
World Championships throughout the world in conjunction with other countries.
The Union Cycliste International (UCI) and the IBMXF merged in 1993. The
NBL and NORBA also have a working agreement. The NBL has relocated many
times but is now located in Hillard, Ohio.
The NBL continues to build tracks all over the U.S.A. The primary reason
this corporations was founded was to give the people a chance to participate in
BMX. This would inspire them with some of the highest ideals of charactor,
conduct and sportsmanship so they may become happy and resourceful citizens.
This also enables the NBL to sanction and supervise the events.
The NBL sanctions this sport in both the United States and Canada,
and there are over 26,000 members from age three through 65. Males and females
are both eligible to compete in this sport.
There are many types of BMX races held. Races are held weekly on local
tracks on 90% public owned land. Series races are held each year to find the best
racers in each age group of each NBL affiliated state. The National and Regional
races are followed by the NBL Grand National Event that is the championship.
The National Bicycle League is the only organization of its kind to be
affiliated with the Union Cyclist Internationale. Participants come from all across
the country to compete in the UCI World Championships. All of the NBL's
licensed members are allowed to compete in 24 countries throughout the world.
There are many companies that sponsor riders, but only two different
levels of sponsorship, local and national. The local level is made of merchants,
bike shops, and fast food chains. On the National level there is the national
companies such as GT Bicycles, Schwinn, and Vans.
The one monthly magazine that is delivered to many homes in the world,
and is devoted to BMX is BMXPLUS. It is also in many newsstands across
the country. The NBL publishes a monthly tabloid that is sent to all members.
(Letter from Donaho, Terry to Michael Harrison 3-5-97, History of NBL. NBL).