Most of us get involved in riding a BMX because it is enjoyable and thrilling, rather than to get exercise, but this is a very welcome side effect of being on your bike. It’s not quite the same as taking up a sport such as soccer where you get good cardio exercise – BMX is great for building upper body strength and getting other types of exercise.
A Dangerous Sport?
Before we start we should note that there will always be some critics who argue that BMX riding isn’t good exercise because it is too dangerous. They point to how common it is for riders to break bones or that helmets might protect your head but do nothing to keep your neck safe. There might be some truth to this but Americans have never really had a problem with a sport being dangerous. Take football as the most obvious example. Players are constantly at risk for concussions and we are only just beginning to understand the dangers of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Despite this we see millions of parents cheering their kids on in high school and college football and the NFL is America’s favorite sports league. The number of people checking and placing bets on NFL gameday odds shows even more clearly how popular the sport is despite the danger. All this to say that a sport having a bit of risk associated with it isn’t a good enough reason to stop doing it. BMX might be a bit more dangerous than some other activities but the fun and great exercise is worth the risk.
Why BMX makes such great exercise
Let’s look at the reasons why riding a BMX, learning tricks and getting good at bike riding can be really great for your body (and your mind). It also doesn’t matter if you’re 10 (like this incredible young rider) or 40 when you get started.
Burning calories
Often, BMX can be really intense exercise, allowing some people to burn up to 450 calories in around 30 minutes, which is much quicker than a lot of other methods of exercise. This helps to burn calories but also, over time, lowers the levels of fat that reside in your body. The intensity can vary and different people have different ways of riding. If you’re just riding from one place to another then the intensity might not be so high, but if you are going to take on ramps and learn tricks then the intensity is much harder.
Building muscle
If you see someone who has a lot of skill on a BMX, there is every chance you’ll also notice their muscles. Cycling works so many of your muscles, including your hamstrings, calves and quads, and you can grow your upper body strength using your back and your abdominal muscles. These are benefits of any type of cycling, but BMX allows you to cycle in different ways and head to the park and use your handlebars for tricks and maneuvers, which means you are also working your shoulders, chest and your arms.
Building muscles is great for increasing your strength but can also make you generally healthier and aid with weight loss. While it is a myth that you can turn fat into muscle, muscular frames do require more calories and this can mean it is easier to create a calorie deficit and lose weight.
Better heart health
It makes sense when you think about the nature of the exercise, and there have been studies from the Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences to back up the fact that riding can lower your chances of getting heart disease. BMX gives you short bursts of intensive exercise, which means that your heart will become healthier and this can even help to lower your blood pressure. When you start out on a BMX, you might not be thinking about your heart health too much, but over time, you may start to realize what a big benefit this is. It’s also an argument for starting later in life, as you can improve your fitness even as you get older.
Improves your balance and body coordination
You have to be pretty coordinated to be able to ride a bike and stay upright – your body is constantly being tested for balance and you will improve while riding your BMX. Okay, you’re likely to have a few falls if you are just getting started, but generally, BMX will improve your coordination and help you in other areas of your life. Balance is really important for other sports, too. We’ve already mentioned American football in this guide, and it is easy to see why aspiring NFL players and young athletes might use BMX to get fitter and improve other physical attributes in the process. BMX is also relatively low impact when you want it to be, and you don’t have to risk loads of injuries to get some decent exercise, especially if you wear the correct protective equipment to ensure you don’t get lots of cuts, scrapes or worse.
No time to lose riders coming to FISE events this season! After the huge comeback of FISE Montpellier earlier in May, then FISE Xperience Reims the last weekend, it's now time for Canet-en-Roussillon to host a stop on the Urban Sports French Tour.
FISE XPERIENCE CANET-EN-ROUSSILLON : BMX SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 18
09:30 - 10:00 BMX FREESTYLE PARK U13 MEN QUALIFICATION
FISE XPERIENCE SERIES This weekend in Reims: IT'S ON! BMX UCI C1 Event & FFC Coupe de France
On June 10, 11 and 12, BMX, Roller and Scooter competitions will follow on a Park specially built on the Porte de Mars esplanade in Reims. Right in the city center, top European riders will be meeting again crowds only two weeks after FISE Montpellier. If the title of winner of the FISE Xperience Reims 2022 is at stake for the three sports represented, the BMX Freestyle Park is also certified Coupe de France FFC and C1 by the UCI, allowing to get point counting for the world ranking.
This opportunity attracts an exceptional line-up of female BMX Freestyle Park athletes, the first of all the FISE Xperience Series tours to be so international. Among them, the French Team member Laury Perez will share the Park with the E-FISE 2020 BMX Street winner Anhi Molina (Ecuador) and the
We are super happy to announce a record number of TV broadcasters for Simple Session 22 – four global partners (Fuel TV, Edge TV, Insight TV, and Extreme Channel/Unreel), regional MCS Extreme in France, and DROM-COM regions, and local Postimees, TVnet and 15Min. A total of 10 hours of the live program over two days will be available in four languages – English, French, Portuguese and Estonian.
Contest will be live streamed on our webpage session.ee/live and on our YouTube channel.
Schedule
(GMT+3, Tallinn, Estonian timezone)
Saturday, June 11
17:00-19:45 BMX Street qualifiers
Sunday, June 12
19:30-22:00 BMX Street finals
SS x StonedStreet x FTL BMX Street Jam
When it comes to forks, whether you like them steep, mellow or invest cast, United Bike Co have them! From the Dinero V2 Fork to the line of Supreme forks they've got something for everyone. United even have forks for the smaller 16" and 18" riders out there.
Updated version of the popular Supreme Forks, now with a choice of offsets. The Supreme V2 forks meet the needs of today’s rider in a strong and cost effective package. Clearance for 2.4 tyres is covered (a must on any fork right now), option of 18mm, 28mm, and 32mm offset, custom fluted, butted and tapered seamless 4130 cromo legs with 100% post weld heat treating. Curved fork legs improve the clearance for the larger diameter plastic pegs, along with a subtle engraved United logo and Black colourway.
-M24 threading for top cap further improving strength
-Clearance on inside for all front hub/hub guard set ups
-Improved fit for up to 44mm OD pegs
-100% post weld heat treated seamless 4130 cromo
-Internal and externally machined 1pc steerer tube with integrated bearing race
Make way for a certified punk rock icon! Monster Energy is proud to welcome BMX pioneer and punk rock legend Rick Thorne on Episode 32 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny. Released today across Monster Energy’s social media channels, this latest one-hour episode features the lifestyle icon also known as ‘The Biker in Black’. Recorded inside Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California, the podcast gets into the unique career of the 52-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, who’s seen the evolution of freestyle BMX first-hand as one its trailblazers and style icons.
“I was the first bike rider in BMX to be tattooed, to wear all black, to have that look. I wanted to create
Simple Session 2022 kicks off in a week! Super excited to welcome everyone back in Tallinn on June 8-13, together with the best BMX athletes and skateboarders worldwide. The Festival stays loyal to its last year’s new spot, taking place in the Põhjala district, an old rubber factory turned into a cultural hub. And not to mention street jams in the city center, legendary parties and many more. See the full program on our website simple.session.ee.
“We’re glad to be back at the Põhjala district that welcomes everyone with its cozy summer vibe. More intimate and closer to public venue proved itself well last year for both riders and audience, and we received great feedback, so we decided to continue with our third decade of Simple Session here,” says Risto Kalmre, the founder of Estonia’s biggest and world-renowned action sports event which takes place since 2000.
Where were you Saturday night? We've all heard this jealous question before, when our phone is left on airplane mode in the pocket. There are times at a festival where you let it go, where you no longer try to find your lost friends, where you forget to eat but not necessarily to drink, where you simply enjoy the present moment. At FISE we know that it takes place once a year on the town hall plaza, in this mysterious place where batman is probably hanging around, where we only go for administrative matters, at worst for a French tacos, best for a dip in the pool at the Marriott. But most of all it’s this place where Thomas Debatisse and Catfish pump up a crowd of festival-goers who are only waiting for one thing: to hallucinate, in all legality.
Introducing Vans BMX Style 114 by Kevin Peraza: Born From BMX and Built for Progression
Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, proudly unveils the all-new BMX Style 114, a performance-driven silhouette designed specifically for BMX featuring a colorway in collaboration with Vans athlete Kevin Peraza. Inspired by his childhood growing up immersed in BMX, and with aesthetic nods to his home state of Arizona, the BMX Style 114 delivers durability, support, and impact protection that are born from BMX. The latest addition to Vans long BMX history, the BMX Style 114 builds on the progression of Vans BMX WaffleCup technology and was designed to help riders like Peraza push themselves further. Intentionally departing from the black hues usually seen in BMX footwear and apparel, Peraza took a fresh direction with the BMX Style 114 by tapping into a
Prepare for an adventurous and carefree summer with a pair of bold slippers / sandals that are created just for you! The rubber sole is lined with a soft fabric to make sure you feel comfortable wherever your day takes you.
Features:
• Rubber sole
• Customizable 100% polyester fabric lining
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.