Part III:  Featured Article

Improve Your BMX Riding

Improve Your BMX Riding   by Robert Ryles

The sheer skill of BMX riding can leave you in awe of the participants as they perform what seem like almost impossible feats. This is without mentioning the aspect of courage and bravery invoved in this special sport.

During the late 1960s, BMX riding found a home within California, where the teenage population emulated motocross icons with their bikes. It is believed that the actual sport of BMX was the brainchild of Scot Breithaupt, who actively participated from 1970 to 1977. It is also believed that a motorcycle racing film called On Any Sunday, captured the public's imagination. Soon after, the middle of the decade saw a skyrocketed interest of the sport.

Before long, BMX catapulted into the mainstream, as more and more notable characters made a name for themselves. Television appearances also followed, as did ESPN coverage and a host of video games focusing on the sport. The popularity of BMX is so glaring that riders can now earn medals at the upcoming Summer Olympics held in 2008 at Beijing.

How to Improve Your BMX Skills

As with most sports - practice does make perfect. The off-road adventure that BMX has become allows riders to showcase freestyle skills or sprint about single lap racetracks. When it comes to racing, a starting gate greets up to eight eager riders who are ready to rip and roar banked and flat obstacles, perform jumps, and cross the finish line. In order to get to the point where maneuvering a bike is second nature, riders must train to prepare their body, mind, and skill.

Getting used to the bike used for BMX riding is a challenge for some because they tend to display durable and quick-handling characteristics. The bikes are also lightweight. When it comes to BMX, many riders enter races to test their skills and improve through experience. Riders from the age of 8 to late adulthood may enter training plans aimed at strengthening the body and skill level about 12 weeks before a competition. Development is one of the most important aspects for excelling in the world of BMX.

The age level of a rider usually determines the intensity and basic requirements needed to improve in BMX riding. Youth riders should approach sprint training to enhance their track speed endurance, power, strength, and maximum leg speed. Younger riders are still growing; meaning careful attention is needed during training to make sure all muscle groups are conditioned while exercising sensitivity for joint development. Athletes should set aside 30 to 60 minutes per day for training for the majority of the week.

Teenage riders should concentrate on improving overall riding strength though weight training. Circuit training has a role to play in the physical aspect otf the sport. Track racing and extra work goes a long way, where proper warm up and cool down exercises help with daily training. More experienced riders will benefit from 30 to 120 minutes of training throughout the week.

As you enter BMX riding, there are a few basic details to learn, which will make your experience and training much easier. A working knowledge of bicycle parts, maintenance, fundamental riding techniques, and what to expect for the first time are just some of the things that place you on the path towards improvement. A wide variety of skills makes up the complete locker of a BMX rider. Overall improvement will come with a working knwledge of all aspects of the mechanics of the sport:

Body Positioning: BMX riders must be able to explode at the beginning of a race in order to gain that initial advantage. This is in addition to being abole to perform high level riding skills to get through the course. Knowing when to sit and stand is also important. If you do not master body positioning, you could fall of a bike, collide with another, or become injured.

Jumping: Many individuals get into BMX because they are intrigued about the aspect of jumping. Learning how to correct mid-air mistakes and improve your jumping skills is necessary to enhance both freestyle and racing skills. Pushing yourself to reach higher and farther goals in jumping also improves an individual's overall BMX skill.

Cornering: A rider needs to learn when, where, and how to properly corner since a wide-range of factors affect BMX. This includes knowing when to stick the leg out, brake, accelerate, or lean into the bike.

Braking: Participants will also beneifit from learning to skillfully utilize tha braking mechanisms on their bikes to enhance their performance of many skills.

Additional training exercises to consider include passing, peddle control, advanced jumping techniques, and stunts, such as backflips. Overall, BMX is a challenging sport that permits one to test the strength and agility of the mind and muscles.
 

About the Author

Rob is a successful International Chartered Physical Therapist. He has

been a lecturer, researcher and therapist for over two decades. His rich

experience of International and Premiership Football underpins his

specialist knowledge of sports medicine. There is a wealth of insight and

experience on all such matters on his website at

http://www.the-rehabilitation-room.com