BMX riding is divided into several major styles. When making dirt jumps, it can race speed and competition to the thrill of big air. You can benefit from a bike optimized for that type of riding, depending on the type of riding you want to do.
BMX Racing That’s where it all began. Superfast sprint races with jumps, berms and corners around a dirt track. BMX racing is again growing in popularity in Ontario, including races on Orangeville’s indoor track and Milton’s Track 2000. Check with your local bicycle organization or local bike shops to see where the BMX race is in your city. BMX racing is a great way to get into children’s racing fast, fun and easy to get into.
BMX race bikes are quick and light. Frames are usually made with light parts of aluminum or light cromoly steel. We stand up to the jumps on the race track but are not meant for dirt jumping or park riding violence.
Flatland BMX As close as you reach the ballet of your bicycle. To see these artists in action, do a YouTube search for flatland BMX. As the name suggests, you’re doing flatland like a parking lot on an open level area. You only need the room without running into anything to manage your bike around.
Flatland BMX bicycles are much like a park freestyle ride, but with a slightly different configuration, they tend to be smaller. They’re going to have pegs to balance on and typically lockable brakes so you can get your hands off the pole. You will use Flatland Bikes built from aluminum as well as BMX biking to save weight.
Dirt Jumping BMX This is one of the most out-there DIY games. All you need is some empty space, a shovel, and jumps can be made. While it has now evolved to the level that dirt jumping parks such as bicycle parks are popping up, dirt jumping has begun in empty lots and forest trails. Only landing a jump was the goal in the beginning, but now tricks such as backflips and 360s are seen even on a local level.
Dirt jump BMX bikes are built tough, with more aggressive tires than the street and park riding tires you would use. Pieces are beefy and typically have only one rear brake and no pegs.
Urban / Park / Vert BMX Halfpipes, bowls, and rails. The stunt for this type of riding is just about everything. Start a staircase and land with your pegs on the handrail to grind down the style of X-games. Ride the half-pipe and turn the ring. The trademark of street and park cycling is a blend of wide air and fashion lines. Skateboarding’s cycling counterpart, the whole urban landscape, is a park. Combine this with the skate parks around like Cambridge, and your oyster is the world.
This style of riding is breathtaking, as well as rough. If you watch a good rider hit the path of the vert ramp or field, they make moves that seem to transcend nature while appearing effortless at the same time. BMX bikes from the street and park are built tough. Although the low ends are thinner, the name of the game is beefy. The most popular configuration is cromoly three-piece steel cranks, 48 spoked wheels, rotating rotors and flat, high-pressure tires.
Overview You can do different riding styles on any bike, but you need to get the right machine for the job if you want to specialize. A decent all-round bicycle would be a dirt jumper as you can cycle around, park, and even go through a few heads. A bonus for all forms of BMX cycling is that there is no need for spandex. Either in baggy jeans, you push it or you feel like a moto.