Get into... BMX
Love thrills, spills and a heavy dose of adrenalin? Then BMX is definitely for you.
With BMX tracks appearing all over the country, and spectator numbers on the up, it’s the perfect time to get involved and have some fun.
The equipment
The BMX bike is very simple compared to other bikes. The bike has only one gear, one brake and a wheel which is two-thirds the size of a standard road bike. If you want to look the part, get yourself some protective gear, especially a full-face helmet when taking on big jumps.
The course
BMX courses are built of jumps, berms (a kind-of raised shelf) and tightly banked corners. There are both long straights with jumps and bumpy sections. They're usually 300-400 metres long and riders start behind a gate at the top of a ramp. Competititive races normally include eight riders.
How to get involved
As you don’t need too much equipment BMX is really easy to get involved with, and with tracks popping all over the country it’s easy to start. If you fancy having a go at racing then there are opportunities for all age ranges and abilities.
Click to find a BMX track near you.
The stars
Shanaze Reade: Shanaze first rode on a BMX track aged ten and was competing at her first World BMX Championships by the time she was 13, an event she’s gone on to win four times at senior level. Now at only 23, and with huge support, she goes into the London Olympics with a real chance at gold.
Liam Phillips: Liam started riding at five and won his first European title aged ten. His biggest success came at the 2010 BMX World Cup where he won a silver medal. Having spent time on the Velodrome track he’s now back on his BMX and is as focused as ever to win a place on Team GB.
2012 UCI BMX World Championships Birmingham
The World Championships are the last chance for our stars to lay down a marker to the rest of the world before the Olympics. They take place on 24-27 May at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena on a track created specially for the occasion. With over 4,000 people cheering on over 2,000 riders, it’s certain to be an exciting competition.
Find out more and get tickets.
