1978 * 2022 Bicross Book

Sep 19, 2023

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 3207 times

It takes someone to do it. It took Alain Massabova a year to do it. Some things are easier said then done. "You should write a book about the history of BMX!" Alain took on the challenge and pulled it off, and in a great way. 300 pages of French BMX history, from the early days to 2022. From racing to freestyle. Jams to competitions. Road trips to photo shoots. France has some rich history in BMX and flipping through the book you will face familiar names. Some you've forgotten. Some are still ripping. In 35 years a lot has happened in BMX and seeing everything together in one thick book is great. Collecting the photos alone must have been a challenge. Back in the day nothing was digital so that scanner must have made some overtime scanning all the early photos. Then archiving them first, putting them in the right order before making a selection. Which ones to use?

It only works when eveyone pitches in, and lots of them did. This makes the book something special for everyone. The book starts off with the 1978-1988 oldschool phase. How it started, the pioneers,

Bicross in the early days, the rise of BMX Freestyle, the teams, the first brands, the history of BMX magazines in France, the role of Bercy, the look of BMX, race vs freestyle and one of France's best Philippe Pereira (RIP) gets remembered.

The evolution continued going from the big craze into the Underground years of 1989-1997 when riders started taking things into their own hands. The Underground chapter of the book hits the evolution of the tricks, the 'zines that popped up when the magazines disappeared, the survivors, the riders for riders mentality, the Mexicos group, riding breakless, the start of FISE, the race structure of that time frame and the Dirt and Trails scene in France.

The third chapter of the French BMX History book is called Renaissance. It hits the start of SOUL magazine, explains CREAM magazine and Maxime Charveron and Justin Fouque wrote an article about Street and Park. Olivier Morineau explains the Events happening then and BB writes about BMX Action Sport. ACC is the first female to win an Olympic gold BMX medal and writes about her experience. If you did not know, the book is in French so be ready to get some transpation done if you do not speak the language. Fred King's article is called Le Choc. Skateparks are looked at by Nicolas Dechamps and Steve Magro and on page 188 you find the Pro Shop article. Vivre Du BMX wraps up chapter 3.

The final chapter of the 300-page book starts with the year 2009 and goes until 2022. Changes in the sport are mentioned from page 200 - 224 through talks with Patrick Guimez, Anthony Jeanjean, Sylvain André and others. It's back to the F.F.C., the Olympics BMX for everyone, and training camps. BMX is expanding because of it together with the Big Shows, prodigy Matthias Dandois, pump tracks everywhere and BMX schools. But BMX also remains a lifestyle with a do it yourself attitude, an artform and a community that has no limits.

To wrap it up Thomas Caillard (RIP) gets some recognition that he deserves. He sure was part of the French BMX Freestyle scene too.

Christian van Hanja took the covershot of Patrick Guimez riding in Marseille. Bicross, l'Histoire du BMX Freestyle was printed in France in January of 2023 and can be ordered through ISBN number : 979-10-415-0840-2

Insta: @creamBMXmag

-BdJ