{"id":136953,"date":"2016-03-17T15:35:41","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T13:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/?p=136953"},"modified":"2016-04-21T10:36:09","modified_gmt":"2016-04-21T10:36:09","slug":"basic-buyers-guide-for-bmx-newcomers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2016\/03\/17\/basic-buyers-guide-for-bmx-newcomers\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Buyers Guide for BMX Newcomers"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can get a great bike at a decent price with some real quality parts on it directly out of a box. But you have to know what you are looking for. Here we are with some useful tips from experienced BMX flatland rider and We Love Cycling\u00a0ambassador Martin Dra\u017eil.<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

1. Know Your Intentions<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"All<\/a><\/p>\n

All BMX bikes are not the same. There are bikes designed specifically for certain types of riding, so knowing what you will use the bike for is very important when selecting a complete. Will your playground be the local skate park, BMX track or your buddy’s backyard ramps? If you aren\u2019t sure which bike is right for which type of riding, then ask your friends who <\/span>already know their stuff<\/span>. They may tell you more or even borrow you their own bike so you can find out if you like that particular style or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

Freestyle\/Street:<\/b> This is perhaps the most common form of BMX riding today. Freestyle riding mainly revolves around riding in skate parks or <\/span>i<\/span>n the street<\/span>,<\/span> and involves tackling ramps and street obstacles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dirt Jump:<\/b> Other forms of freestyle BMX including riding bikes over jumps of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. This style evolved directly from BMX track racing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Racing:<\/b> BMX race bikes are built for courses that contain jumps, banked corners and rollers. You need lot<\/span>s<\/span> of speed, power, <\/span>workout<\/span> and sports drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flatland:<\/b> My favorite. It’s the waltz of the BMX world and built around balance and control. For this reason, flatland bikes are built geometrically different<\/span>ly<\/span> to others, for slow<\/span>–<\/span>speed tricks on smooth terrain. Prepare for riding in circles in a parking lot for hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Make It <\/b>f<\/b>rom <\/b>t<\/b>he Box<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Most<\/a><\/p>\n

Most <\/span>first-time<\/span> buyers in the BMX market will opt to buy a complete BMX bike \u2013 a bike that\u2019s already fully built and ready to ride, with all BMX parts included. You can also buil<\/span>d<\/span> your own bike from scratch<\/span>,<\/span> but th<\/span>at<\/span> will be much more expensive and as <\/span>an<\/span> i<\/span>nexperienced <\/span>beginner<\/span> you probably won’t know what parts to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Pick <\/b>t<\/b>he Proper Size<\/b><\/h2>\n

Small differences in size seem insignificant, but can actually change the feeling of a bike totally. You can find a proper frame for any rider \u2013 big or small. If you have the luxury of going to a shop to buy your bike, test out the bike in the street and make sure you feel comfortable on it. It’s better to try <\/span>out<\/span> more models to become sure <\/span>of<\/span> what you prefer than later regret your hasty choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Components Are Important<\/b><\/h2>\n

The parts o<\/span>f<\/span> a bike can make the complete really good, or really bad. It can also make the bike really expensive, or really cheap. So check out all the parts o<\/span>f<\/span> the bike to see what kind of quality you are getting. Here are some parts you should <\/span>be<\/span> look<\/span>ing<\/span> at:<\/span><\/p>\n

Small <\/b>S<\/b>procket<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Look<\/a><\/p>\n

Look for a small sprocket in the front, around 25-30t. <\/span>With a<\/span>nything much bigger than that<\/span>, <\/span>there\u2019s a good chance the bike will be heavy, difficult to trick<\/span>, <\/span>and outdated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brakes<\/b><\/p>\n

Many BMX bikes don\u2019t come with brakes at all, but we recommend riding with at least a back brake if you\u2019re just getting involved.<\/p>\n

Heavy <\/b>D<\/b>uty <\/b>R<\/b>ims<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Double<\/a><\/p>\n

Double wall rims, on the outside of the wheel, are a lot more durable than single, and as such will last a lot longer. Single walls dent easily. Doubles don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sealed <\/b>B<\/b>earings<\/b><\/p>\n

Unsealed bearings can become loose, <\/span>which<\/span> mean<\/span>s<\/span> your bike could need a lot more work over time to keep it running smooth<\/span>ly<\/span>. If you look for sealed bearings in <\/span>the<\/span> front and rear hub, bottom bracket and headset, you\u2019ll be riding clean for much longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pegs<\/b><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

A peg is a tube from steel<\/span>,<\/span> one on the end of each wheel axle. For flatland rid<\/span>ing,<\/span> use four knurled aluminum pegs to stand on to manipulate the bike into even stranger positions. In Freestyle BMX<\/span>,<\/span> pegs are used for grinding on obstacles. In dirt jump or race<\/span>,<\/span> there’s no need for pegs.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Look <\/b>f<\/b>or Weight<\/b><\/h2>\n

A<\/span> lightweight complete bike usually means it has some good parts on it, and is made from good materials. But in the beginning you don’t need to be afraid of <\/span>a<\/span> little heavier bikes. You still have to learn a lot before you can benefit from light bike<\/span>s<\/span>. But if you start riding frequently, a lighter bike will help you keep <\/span>better<\/span> control over it, and will allow you to ride longer without getting <\/span>much<\/span> tired.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Get <\/b>i<\/b>n Love <\/b>w<\/b>ith It<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"You<\/a><\/p>\n

You shouldn\u2019t buy a bike solely <\/span>because of its<\/span> color scheme. However<\/span>,<\/span> it’s good if you like how it looks because you’re going to spend a lot of time on it, aren’t you?<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Buy <\/b>I<\/b>t in a <\/b>S<\/b>hop<\/b><\/h2>\n

In online stores you can find great prices. But usually there’s nobody to ask if the bike fits you better than the other. Very often the bikes are out of date. You also have no chance to test them. Another issue is that the shops normally guarantee service maintenance within some period. By bringing in your bike for some routine maintenance, you\u2019ll keep it running smooth<\/span>ly<\/span>, and you may even learn some tips on how to work on your bike yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You can get a great bike at a decent price with some real quality parts on it directly out of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328,334,330],"tags":[],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-136953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-mountain","category-socialising-and-culture","category-urban-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nBasic Buyers Guide for BMX Newcomers - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can get a great bike at a decent price with some real quality parts on it directly out of a box. 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