BMX Race Bikes

BMX race bikes are simple, strong, and light. They have only one gear, and only one brake (on the rear wheel). There is no suspension (it would soak up all your speed!). Frames are usually made from aluminium, but you will also see chromium-molybdenum steel (“cromoly”), and titanium. Carbon-fibre components including forks, handlebars, cranks, and seatposts are becoming increasingly common. Frames and components come in a wide range of sizes to suit all ages and sizes of rider.

There are two “classes” of BMX race bike:

20 inch BMX:

This is the “standard” BMX bike – the 20 inch refers to the diameter of the wheels. They are agile and quick-steering, and are raced by all ages of riders – race classes for 20 inch range from “6 and under” to “30+”.

 Cruiser BMX:

These have 24 inch diameter wheels. They are less agile, but more stable, than 20 inch bikes and are often favoured by physically larger riders or those from a mountain bike background (the standard mountain bike wheel is 26 inch diameter, so a cruiser feels like an agile mountain bike). Cruiser race classes range from “12 and under” to “40+”.

The two classes of bike do not usually race each other - the exceptions to this are “Open” race classes held at some of the larger race meetings, and “Formula” racing (such as that run by the East Anglia region for its winter race series) which groups riders solely into age bands regardless of bike class. Some racers compete in both 20 inch and cruiser classes – so they take two bikes to race meetings, and they need the fitness to do twice as much racing on the day!

BMX Cycling race takes place on designed paths. Cycling BMX is governed by International Cycling Union. BMX Cycling debuted in Olympics in 2008 Olympic Beijing. 2012 London Olympic will witness BMX Cycling being competed on 8th, 9th & 10th August at BMX Track, Olympic Park.
Olympic Cycling BMX Tickets can be purchased from Sport Ticket Exchange at nominal prices.

Olympics Cycling 2012 - BMX

Olympics cycling BMX 2012, will be held on a short outdoor track, with the riders starting on an 8m-high ramp across the way build up with jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners. Following individual time trial seeding rounds, eight riders compete in heats, with each race lasting around 40 seconds.

BMX bikes have only one gear and one brake. Most racing riders use wheels that are 20 inches in diameter, roughly two-thirds the size of wheels used on a standard road bike. Bikes need to be strong enough to endure the wear and tear from the jarring landings after jumps, yet light enough to remain fast and competitive.The men's and women's events at London 2012 will both start with a seeding phase: each rider runs the track once to determine the seedings, which ensures that the fastest riders don’t meet before the final. The men’s event continues with the quarter-finals, which are held over five races with groups of eight riders.

Points are awarded according to places, and the top two riders from the first three races in each quarter-final qualify for the semi-finals. The groups (now six riders in each) race twice more, and the top two riders from each group of six transfer to the semi-finals. From here, the semi-finals in both the men’s and women’s events follow a three-run format: the top four riders from each semi-final advance to the final run, when the medals are decided.

BMX Cycling race takes place on designed paths. Cycling BMX is governed by International Cycling Union. BMX Cycling debuted in Olympics in 2008 Olympic Beijing. 2012 London Olympic will witness BMX Cycling being competed on 8th, 9th & 10th August at BMX Track, Olympic Park.
Olympic Cycling BMX Tickets can be purchased from Sport Ticket Exchange at nominal prices.