BMX Racing E-Book

Tom Jeffries

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 205

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

For those new to BMX racing or improving their racing performance, BMX Racing provides a practical and comprehensive resource for this exciting sport. It guides the reader through all stages and levels of racing, from beginner and club to professional level. The book includes material on: Clothing and equipment for safe riding; Choosing your first BMX bike; Understanding the BMX track; Getting started in racing and competition structure through the national, international and Olympic levels; Practical instruction on techniques including balance, accelerating, cornering and jumping. A practical guide to this exciting sport. Essential reading for riders looking to improve their skills and others looking for guidance on progression in the sport. Gives top tips and clear, step-by-step technique instructions. Superbly illustrated with 140 colour photographs.Tom Jeffries is an ex-BMX racer with five years' experience and Ian Thewlis has been involved with BMX racing for over thirty years.

Leseprobe

BMX RACING

TOM JEFFRIES

WITH IAN THEWLIS

Copyright

First published in 2013 by The Crowood Press Ltd, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book edition first published in 2013

© Tom Jeffries and Ian Thewlis 2013

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

ISBN 978 1 84797 527 0

CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgements

1 What is BMX?

2 Safety Equipment

3 The BMX Bike

4 The BMX Track

5 The BMX Race and Starting Racing

6 Competition Structure

7 Learning to Race BMX and Techniques

8 Getting Involved

Further Information

Index

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my parents for getting up at silly hours on their days off to take me racing for five years. Without their continued support this wouldn’t have been possible, and I wouldn’t be where I am now.

To the Bradford BMX Bandits, their Secretary Jeremy Brown and all of their riders for the use of their track and help with providing images for the book.

To Ian Thewlis for providing the ‘Learning to Race’ chapter.

To Johnathan Hearn at Twenty24 magazine, Nikki Hawker and Roger Whilbraham for their help in getting me access to the Manchester indoor track for Round 3 of the National BMX Championships, and to Richard Robotham for showing me around the track.

To Martin Ogden and Identiti for the use of his bike and race kit for photographs.

CHAPTER 1

WHAT IS BMX?

‘BMX’ stands for ‘Bicycle Moto Cross’, a reference to the way in which the sport first started. In the late 1960s, kids who could not afford motorbikes (but who still wanted to emulate their motocross heroes) started riding their bikes on tracks they had made themselves. From these humble beginnings BMX grew exponentially, gaining more and more popularity as a more affordable version of motocross.

Over the years, the establishment of sanctioning bodies pushed BMX forwards and gave it the status of an ‘official’ sport. The first governing body for BMX was formed in the early 1970s, and since then multiple official organizations have been set up across the world. This development ultimately allowed the sport of BMX to rise to the highest level of competition possible – The Olympic Games. BMX racing is now an officially recognized sport in over forty countries, many of which compete at both international and Olympic level.

Whilst there are many different forms of BMX (freestyle, trails, flatland, and so on), this book will concentrate on racing alone, as this is the only form that is a recognized sport with well-established training methods and rules.

BMXers wait on a corner.

Readers of this book will have come to BMX via many different routes. They may have seen Olympic coverage, or footage on YouTube. They might have raced themselves ‘back in the day’ and be wondering what it is like now. Something will have got them interested. BMX is one of the most extreme forms of cycling, so what is it that drives people to go out into all weathers and ride a bike around a track?

BMX IN FILMS

Joe Kid on a Sting-Ray is a film about BMX, following its development from the first races to its meteoric rise, and featuring interviews with riders from the past and present.

For some it is the adrenaline. Pedalling as fast as possible at a jump, taking off and landing somewhere in the distance produces a big ‘rush’, and this is undeniably a significant motivation for many of the people who ride. But the sport is not just for adrenaline junkies. Some people ride BMX for the sense of community. Whether they are elite riders training for Olympic Gold, or novices practising for fun, they all share a common interest and hobby. Whilst it is an individual sport when the riders are out on the track in a race, outside of the racing they are all friends together. Racers help each other out at practice sessions – for example, offering new lines to take through straights – and there is generally a great atmosphere around the sport. The social side of BMX is a big part of its draw but the main reason people ride is just because it is fun.

There is always more than one way to get across a jump.

BMX racing can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of completing a goal through training hard. The goal may be a significant one, such as winning a first race, or something smaller, such as succeeding in setting off from the gate. Either way, BMX is a very rewarding sport, and once you are hooked you will find it hard to stop.

BMX riding and racing are sports in which anyone can participate, regardless of age, gender, ability or finances. One of the best things about BMX is its accessibility and this is also one of the reasons why it has gained so much popularity. All it takes is a bike, a helmet, a track and some motivation.

Cycling is an excellent form of exercise and BMX not only works the legs, but also the arms, stomach and chest, whilst at the same time providing plenty of fresh air too. On average a person weighing 150 pounds 70kg) could burn around 550 calories doing BMX for an hour, making it a good way not just to lose weight, but to build muscle mass too.

BMX provides a great alternative sport for those who want something a bit different from the norm, and this is another key factor in its popularity. This book aims to give the reader a comprehensive introduction to the sport, giving advice on the equipment necessary, the tracks, the racing and some coaching techniques to help give everyone the confidence to start racing.

INJURIES?

BMX racers are made of tough stuff! Professional BMX racer Corben Sharrah broke his femur whilst competing at the World Championships on 30 July 2011. It could have been a career-ending injury but, after surgery and the insertion of titanium parts, he trained solidly and was back to riding on Supercross tracks just two months later, on 30 September 2011.

Supercross riders at the start of a race.

CHAPTER 2

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

BMX racing is an extreme sport, and as such there is a certain degree of risk associated with it. To minimize this risk, the rules indicate that some forms of safety equipment must be worn whilst riding. A number of further precautions can also be taken to reduce the chance of injury.

While all riders obviously hope never to fall off when riding, crashing is an inevitable part of BMX. It is important always to buy the best safety equipment you can afford as, in the event of a crash, it will be the only thing between you and the track. There is nothing worse than the feeling of not being able to ride your bike, and this is only exacerbated by injury. It is vitally important that you always wear the correct safety equipment at all times. It also helps to prevent any further, serious injuries that could occur in a crash.

A BMX club can dictate what safety equipment must be worn by its riders – usually a full-face helmet, gloves, long sleeves and long pants – but in reality every individual is responsible for their own personal safety and for the precautions they take. At the very least a helmet should be worn at all times. Not wearing a helmet while riding a bike is like not wearing a seatbelt while travelling in a car – potentially very dangerous. Even at low speeds, there is a far higher chance of injury if a rider is not wearing the necessary equipment.

Compulsory Safety Equipment

The rules relating to National racing state that certain items of equipment must be worn while riding on a BMX track. At the minimum, the following items are required.

Full-Face Helmet

There are several different types of helmet, including normal cycling ones, ‘lid’ or dirt-style helmets, and full-face helmets. Due to the dangerous nature of the sport of BMX, protecting your most important asset – your head – is vital. A full-face helmet covers almost all of the head, with just enough of a gap at the front for a good view ahead and for ventilation. Full-face helmets tend to be used in other extreme sports such as motocross and most disciplines of mountain biking; in the event of a crash, they provide much more protection for the rider than any other kind of helmet.

A CHAMPION’S EQUIPMENT

Gold medallist in the 2008 Olympics, Maris Strombergs: THE helmet and UFO shorts, and a ONE Bicycles frame.

A BMX racing helmet. Helmets are vital in BMX.

The main difference between a full-face and any other type of helmet is the chin-piece. This is because the helmet goes around the front of the face, which not only protects the chin more but also prevents the face from hitting the ground in a crash.

The outer shell of most BMX helmets is made from either ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), a kind of thermoplastic, or carbon fibre. The main advantage of a carbon-fibre helmet is that it is much lighter than an ABS helmet. This means that it puts less strain on the rider’s neck while riding, making it more comfortable. However, it will be considerably more expensive than an ABS full-face helmet. The much more affordable ABS version will offer more than enough protection for BMX racing.

As well as the chin-piece, the helmet has a peak, to offer protection from the sun, and to prevent dirt, grit and water getting in to the rider’s eyes.

While riding, it is imperative for a helmet to be strapped on properly. If it is not strapped on, there is no guarantee that it will stay on in a crash, and thus there would be no point in wearing it. There are two types of helmet strap: with a traditional ‘D’ lock and with a clip attachment. A ‘D’ lock has two ‘D’-shaped rings on the strap on the left-hand side, and a long piece of fabric on the right-hand side. To fasten you put the long piece of fabric through both holes, then fold it around the second D, creating a loop, and put it back through the first one. This should create a tight lock, which can be adjusted to fit the head. The clip-in locks work in exactly the same way as the attachment on a car seatbelt. While this type of lock may be easier to use, it can be more temperamental, and in some extreme cases, the lock may break. Whilst this is unlikely for a novice, it is a point to be wary of when looking at helmets.

Gloves

Although they may seem much less important than a helmet when riding, gloves are required to protect the hands. Whilst riding a significant amount of strain is put through the rider’s hands and into the grips, and this can cause blisters on the fingers and palms. Gloves act as a barrier between the hands and the grips and will also, in the event of a crash, protect the hands from scraping directly across the ground.

Only a full glove will do. Although finger-less gloves would help prevent blisters, they would be useless in a crash as they would leave the fingers unprotected from scraping along the ground, so they are not allowed.

BMX racing gloves are typically made out of light, breathable materials such as nylon and polyester. The material needs to be breathable to allow cooler air into the glove and warmer air out of it, thus preventing the rider’s hands getting too hot. Both winter gloves and summer gloves are available – winter gloves have more padding and less breathability; summer gloves have less padding and more breathability – but realistically just one pair of gloves is enough.

Standard BMX racing gloves.

Jersey

The 2011 BMX rulebook states that a rider competing at National level must wear a jersey that has at least 3cm of excess material, and is not made of Lycra. However, while this type of jersey may be required at National level, the rule does not strictly apply to club events.

A BMX jersey.

Rather than insisting on a specific jersey, clubs usually ask only that riders wear a top with long sleeves at their practice sessions, in order to protect the arms. Long sleeves offer effective protection against ‘gravel rash’, which can occur in the event of a crash, when an arm/leg/other body part is scraped against the ground, taking the skin off. A long-sleeved top may not protect against broken bones, but it should minimize the damage done to the rider in terms of superficial injuries.

A rider with a Troy Lee Designs helmet.

Race Pants

Race pants are required when racing at National level and above; however, as is the case with jerseys, clubs are more than happy to let riders wear full-length trousers. Most riders wear an old pair of jeans.

Special race pants are made of tear-resistant, breathable materials, and generally have a leather patch on the inside of both knees. They are absolutely invaluable for the protection they offer, and will give a great deal more protection than jeans will against both contact with the ground and in the event of slipping a pedal. To increase the protection some, but not all, have removable padding around the hip and knee areas, to absorb more of the impact in a crash. However, they can be expensive, depending on the brand.

The vast majority of race pants available are designed for MX (motocross) racing. Whilst there are some companies that make pants specifically for BMX, there is really not much difference between the two. This is a positive, as pants that are designed to endure a crash from a motorbike are going to be more than suitable for crashes from a BMX bike, and so should last a long time.

Optional Safety Equipment

None of the mandatory items of equipment will offer anything more than limited protection against broken bones. They will offer some defence in the event of a crash, but not total safety. For those wanting more protection than is necessary, pad sets are available for almost every part of the body, to help prevent further injury in a big crash. Although such equipment is not required by the rulebook, and some riders will see no need for it (that is, until they are involved in a bad crash), many riders use at least one form of extra protection.

There are a number of reasons why some riders like to use extra safety equipment:

• It adds confidence. Wearing body armour or goggles can boost a rider’s confidence more quickly than practising can. If a rider feels safer wearing protection that will absorb more of the force from a potential crash, he or she is more likely to try new things. Body armour adds a new, harder layer between the rider and the ground, causing the rider to be less afraid of crashing.

• It is fashionable, or the top riders are doing it. This is one of the main reasons why people wear extra protection such as goggles or a neck brace. As soon as the top riders introduce something new – a new technique, riding a certain way, or wearing a certain item of clothing – they are followed by other riders. One of the most recent examples is the wearing of golf gloves in an attempt to copy the pros.

• They are well designed and look good. Depending on the company that makes it, most of the safety items are interesting to look at, with extravagant designs, bright colours and striking lines. The appearance alone, especially of certain helmets, jerseys and pants, can make a rider want to buy and wear them.

• It can put the rider in the right mindset. If a rider wears his or her normal clothes while BMX racing, then there is nothing to differentiate between everyday life and racing. This is why some riders wear a race kit, as it prepares them mentally for riding, much as putting on overalls and helmet prepares a Formula One driver for a race. Putting on race gear can help people ‘get into the zone’ – something that all athletes take very seriously.

• It gives an air of authority. On a track, the riders who are wearing a proper race kit look more experienced than those who are not. This can be enough for some riders, as it makes them look (and feel) like they know what they are doing. A British Cycling jersey might be enough to make you feel just the part, and benefit you by putting your fellow competitors into a negative mindset.

BMX racing pants. These can help save a rider from scrapes and bruises to the legs.

While some riders swear by the extra pieces of equipment, others choose not to wear it, for a number of different reasons:

Younger riders might benefit from wearing body armour to help increase their confidence.

• It can be expensive to buy. Inevitably, extra equipment costs extra money. Some riders choose not to wear items such as neck braces or body armour as these can be very costly, and at most levels are not needed.

• It can restrict movement. Some riders believe that wearing body armour or pads can prevent them being able to flow and move with the bike easily, which is a very important part of BMX. In reality it is not realistic and the technology is such that the safety equipment has evolved to be barely detectable when worn.

• Style. To some riders, how they look is as much a part of their riding as how they jump or manual, and they may see body armour as ‘uncool’. Although this is not the case, it is a reason some people cite as to why they choose not to wear much protection.

• Temperature. Wearing an extra layer of clothing can make all the difference in cold weather. Similarly, wearing one layer extra in hot weather can cause much discomfort. Wearing the greater protection of body armour or pads can raise the body temperature significantly, but increasingly more breathable and vented materials are being used, and protection is constantly being improved to make it cooler whilst riding.

• Extra weight and wind resistance. Even though the effects may seem trivial, some riders use this as a reason not to wear extra protection. It seems unreasonable, however, since protection is getting lighter; the rider might be better looking at losing weight him or herself to counterbalance any potential weight gain that comes from the pads.

The equipment listed below is not required by the rulebook, but most riders use at least one of the items as it increases their safety and decreases their chance of injury. It is the rider’s choice whether or not to wear any of the following items, and no one will be penalized for deciding to do so.

A rider wearing goggles.

Goggles

Race goggles are worn by the majority of top riders in the sport. Made from plastic and with padding around the edges to increase comfort, they can be used in both wet and dry conditions. They fit in the gap in the helmet, covering the eyes and part of the cheeks. Goggles will keep water, gravel and dust out of the eyes, ensuring that the rider’s vision is not affected by the elements, and will also protect the eyes in the event of a crash. Wearing goggles will certainly help to preserve one of the rider’s most precious assets, both on and off the track: his or her eyesight.

Neck Brace

Neck braces are very new to the sport, and arrived around the time that Supercross tracks became more dangerous. They fit tightly around the neck and go down the back slightly to stop the head moving violently in a crash. While they are available for those who want them, they are both very expensive and unnecessary for beginners, who will not be reaching the same speeds as a professional BMX racer.

Neck braces come in all sizes for all ages.

Body Armour

Some riders wear body armour underneath their jerseys to give them extra protection. There are many different brands offering many different levels of protection, but body armour (in its normal sense) is basically arm, back, shoulder and chest pads on one piece of clothing. Tight fitting, it usually consists of a breathable mesh top, with attached arm, elbow, chest, shoulder and back pads to increase the protection. Seen as superfluous by many, it can give extra safety (and confidence) to those worried about injury.

Body armour includes a substantial back protector.

Different companies have their own take on body armour, and designs differ slightly. For riders who are worried about it restricting movement, there is a t-shirt version and a vest version (which protects only the torso). These are suitable alternatives to the full version.

The front of the body armour shown above.

Body armour can be used to prevent gravel rash, as well as providing another barrier between rider and ground. Although it will not guarantee complete safety, it will offer more protection against broken bones than a jersey alone.

Arm Pads

Arm pads (also known as elbow guards) are strapped around the forearm to protect that part of the limb as well as the elbow. They are made of plastic and are attached to a soft, breathable pad to add comfort. Made by many different companies, they come in a range of colours, materials and prices, and are worn underneath the jersey. They can also be used as an alternative to long sleeves and most clubs will be happy to let someone ride in a short-sleeved t-shirt if they have arm pads on.

Arm pads are mainly used to prevent gravel rash, although they may also offer some protection against more serious injuries such as broken bones or sprains.

Wrist Guards

BMX racers use their wrists a lot, and in the event of a crash it is only natural to put the arms out to try to break a fall. This has led to the advent of wrist guards. They may not be the most popular item of protective gear, but they can help to prevent broken wrists; this is because they are made from a breathable material with a stiff support bar built in, which limits the movement. This restriction in movement is what makes them unpopular but, as with most items of protective clothing, a rider who has had a crash while wearing them rarely rides again without!

Wrist guards are more commonly used by riders at the lower end of the sport, or by people who have broken or sprained a wrist in the past, and want to protect themselves as much as possible from further injury.

Elbow guards can help cushion joints and stop further injury.

Race Shorts

It is becoming more commonplace to see riders wearing shorts and shin guards whilst racing BMX. This is because it can be more comfortable, as there is less material to restrict movement. Race shorts are also better ventilated and, therefore, cooler than race pants. Made from the same tear-resistant material as race pants, race shorts also have optional padding, to protect the hips.

Knee protectors can be bulky, but are worth it.

The rulebook allows the wearing of race shorts at a National event, as long as they are worn with knee and shin pads. The shorts and knee pads combination is becoming increasingly popular across all skills of riders, from people just starting out all the way up to seasoned professionals.

Knee Pads

Knee pads typically cover both the knee and the shin, and are perhaps the most popular type of protective clothing after helmets and gloves. They are made out of a range of materials, most commonly plastic mounted on foam, to provide strength and comfort. Knee pads offer similar protection to arm pads, but on the lower limbs.

A rider’s legs are one of the most important parts of his or her body for BMX racing, so protecting them from injury should be a main priority.