Flying Without Wings

Along time ago when I was just a child, I wanted a BMX bike so bad! Santa never brought me one and birthdays came and went too. As a family we struggled financially so I had to make do with a second hand, re painted, black racer bicycle.

Please dont think I was ungrateful because that old black bike practically became my best friend and I loved it but I still looked on in awe at all the other BMX bikes. I did however at that point believe that if I had a BMX that I would be able to fly over the house and garden with it! I had E.T. to thank for that fallacy! Much jumping over houses on in videogames wasnt really the same thing.

BMX was pretty much brand new in those days and the streets were full of kids buzzing up and down and making makeshift ramps to fly (fall off the end) off! Christmas mornings reflected just how popular BMX was becoming. In fact it had become an overnight roaring success.

Despite thousands of valiant attempts, no one ever did manage to fly their BMX over the house, although crazy Billy from the next street has the scars to prove he gave it a really good try. We all concluded that E.T must have had some kind of magical powers!

Despite still not being able to fly (and no sign of it happening in the near future), the fortunes of BMX bikes go from strength to strength. In Beijing 2008, they were included for the very first time as an Olympic sport.

The only discipline at the Olympics this time was racing although Freestyle is also massive and with its ever growing success is only a matter of time before these disciplines are considered also.

People at the top of the BMX sport are extremely dedicated to perfecting their skills and what you see may look easy, but just try it yourself to find out otherwise. Flatland BMX, another discipline is particularly fascinating to watch!

With such a variety of styles it is not a surprise to find out just how many different models of BMX there are. Not only does each discipline generally require a different bike with regards to weight and structure but even within the disciplines themselves there are many different models and brands.

Along with the endorsements and sponsorships comes a public profile and fame and some of the top BMX riders can earn a good living just from their sport alone. When it first began, BMX could only have dreamed of such success!

With so much variety and choice out there, it shouldnt be a problem getting hold of the BMX bike you want, either for yourself or for a relative to unwrap on Christmas morning to once more go hurtling up the street, thrilled to bits with their new BMX.

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