How to Ride Freestyle BMX

BMX freestylers attempt to do anything they want on a bike. There are no rules.

Freestyle BMX cycling came out of the BMX racing craze that got its start in the 1970s. Freestyle BMX means doing whatever you like on the bike, with no clock or finish line involved. It is a test of skill, strength and creativity. With a good BMX bike, there are no limits to the jumps, flips, spins and acrobatic stunts you can do.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• BMX bike, with back and/or front pegs for most styles
• Helmet
• Knee and elbow pads

BMX Free Stylin'

1. Find a sturdy BMX bike that you can easily handle. The bike should have slick tires for good traction, stunt pegs on the back wheel (optional for the front), and an upper frame tube that is wide enough to balance on. The brake cables must be threaded through the tubes, and not dangling on the outside, so the bike can be spun on its front wheel axis.

2. Practice riding the bike on a flat surface, such as a parking lot or basketball court. Pay attention to how the bike starts and stops. Get a feel for your balance over the handlebars. Try a few simple tricks, such as the bunnyhop, the wheelie, or the manual, in which you balance the bike on the rear wheel while moving it ahead without pedaling. Try a no-hander--pedaling forward without holding the handlebars.

3. Move to street riding. Test the bike over curbs and up down steps. Use the pegs to ride and balance on rails and ledges. Avoid crowded streets and sidewalks and anywhere that BMX or bicycles are prohibited.

4. Once you have a great feel for the bike, and total control, take it out to a half-pipe for some vertical riding. Check BMX websites for videos and photos of the easiest vert stunts. Try a 180 on the lower half of the pipe before you move all the way up to the edge. The idea is to move up and down the wall in an easy, flowing manner, throwing in some stunts on the lip when you're ready.

Tips & Warnings

• Rent or buy some BMX videos to get some ideas.

• Watch experienced freestylers and ask for tips on practicing.

• Try a new stunt on grass or dirt before doing it on asphalt or concrete.

• Don't ride or do stunts in public areas where people are walking around, jogging or recreational biking.

• Don't ride on private property.

• Don't ride without a helmet or pads.

References

• Angelfire.com: BD's BMX Freestyle Zone
• ExtremeSports.com: BMX Bikes for Freestyle and Jump
• JEBikes.com: BMX Guide

Resources

• VitalBMX.com: Videos