BMX Bikes

How to choose your BMX?

Are you planning to start riding BMX and are looking for a suitable model? Or is your child dreaming of doing tricks and you'd like to help them find a BMX bike? Find out all our tips on how to choose the right freestyle BMX bike.

The history of BMX

BMX (bicycle motocross) originated in California skateparks in 1968 when motocross was rapidly becoming a popular sport in the United States. The motorised version of the sport is the inspiration for BMX.

After a decline in the 1990s, the sport has been reborn as an extreme sport since the beginning of the 21st century. Today, BMX Freestyle Park is an Olympic event and was included in the programme of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2017.

BMX is the practice of performing tricks on a bike with a special geometry compared to a conventional bike. BMX is more manoeuvrable and a little smaller than a mountain bike and a city bike. BMX is not a bike that you sit on and pedal. In the case of BMX, the seat is more of a decorative element and is mainly used for tricks. The BMX handlebars are not straight and flat, they are a bit taller and wider than the classic handlebars. The frame of a BMX handlebar is much more compact to offer more manoeuvrability and to make it easier to perform tricks.

BMX wheels are mainly 20 inches for "standard" bikes, but 21, 24 and 26 inches are also available. The 16 and 18 inch wheels are reserved for smaller BMX bikes. The wheels on complete bikes are double-walled and cross-spoked, which allows for more pressure, weight and strength. Compared to more conventional shelving, cross-shelving makes the wheels more resistant.

It should be noted that on a BMX all parts are universal and changeable. Thus, everything that is mounted on a complete bike can be modified with the parts available at Nomadeshop.

The different practices of BMX

Among the different BMX practices, we find the skatepark with tricks such as "airs" (big jumps) and ramp exits. Then there is BMX street where you ride in a city with urban furniture using everything around you to perform tricks.

Another discipline is flat biking, which is practised on a horizontal plane (flat), most often in a square where there is enough space to move around. In flatlanding, you balance on the front and back wheel. By using pegs and toeholds one can perform acrobatic tricks and rotations.

Choose your BMX according to your size and preferences

You choose your BMX according to its size. The bike should be neither too long nor too short, so that the rider can ride his BMX without being disturbed. All other criteria are more a matter of personal preference: some riders prefer to have a stem that is clamped forward, while others prefer a stem that is clamped on top, which changes the height of the handlebars.

The size of the handlebars is also a criterion to be taken into account: you choose your BMX handlebars according to the way you ride. The bigger the handlebars, the easier it is to handle the bike but the more complicated it is to do tricks. Conversely, the more compact the handlebars, the more difficult it is to handle the bike, but the easier it is to perform tricks.

Safety in BMX

It is important to protect yourself when riding a BMX bike. The first type of protection you should think about is a helmet. As BMX riders get a lot of knocks on their ankles and shins, you should think about malleolar, knee and shin protectors. You can also opt for a crash pad, a kind of shorts that protect the coccyx, hips and pelvis. Elbow pads and a pair of gloves could possibly complete your protection kit.

Customised BMXs

Nomadeshop is a BMX Shop that offers you a unique possibility in Paris to customize your BMX if the complete BMX does not meet your expectations and yet quality like the SUBROSA BMX. From a bike frame or even a complete bike you can change all the parts: a handlebar, a stem, a headset, a whole fork, a pair of wheels, tyres, pedals, everything is changeable!

You can mix parts from Fitbikeco with those from United or Cult. On the other hand, it is important to check certain sizes, such as the seatpost, whose diameter may be different for certain brands. It should also be noted that there are different standards for the bottom bracket: the bottom bracket axle can be 19, 22 or 24 millimetres. These are different diameters that are not compatible with all cranksets.

You will find all the BMX models and all our advice on the site and in our shop in Paris.