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BMX racing is probably one of the most entertaining individual-effort sports out there. Parents, big brothers and sisters, the riders themselves, grandparents, and even family friends get involved with this sport.
If you're totally unfamiliar with this sport, here's a quick rundown:
You get a twenty-inch bicycle (preferably one specifically designed for BMX racing) and the appropriate safety gear. Appropriate safety gear would include a SNELL-approved bicycle helmet, long pants (no shorts please) a long shirt (or elbow pads if you prefer a short-sleeved shirt) and a padset on the crossbars and head stem of your bicycle. These are requirements of the American Bicycle Association (the world's largest BMX sanctioning body) and are meant to keep everyone safe.
Also, you need an annual membership with the BMX affiliation closest to you. For example, since we're an ABA-sanctioned track, you'll need an ABA membership. This costs thirty-five dollars annually for the first rider, with discounts for any additional BMXers. You get the membership (which allows you to race at any ABA track in the world), a monthly magazine, points that count toward the advancement of your place in your district, and - of course - bragging rights. You also get trophies or other awards for placing first, second, or third overall. I recommend Saver Stamps - they're almost identical to cash, save for the fact that they're only accepted by bike shops and a couple of specialty stores (such as Best) - by winning races, you get the Stamps, which can be redeemed for bike parts to make for a faster, smoother ride.
Why should you take your children out to the local BMX track so they can check it out?
BMX promotes individual achievements. Team sports such as baseball are wonderful for promoting teamwork, but many believe that a balance of non-team activities makes for a fairly well-rounded lifestyle. Sometimes it's nice to know that your accomplishments don't affect anyone else - in other words, eight other children aren't going to suffer because you're having a bad day.
Bicycle racing also promotes fitness, exercise, mental stimulation (trying to learn how to get the right start off the gate, clear an obstacle, or the like definitely challenges a lot of young minds), so forth and so on. It isn't just about hopping on a bicycle and pedaling away - it's about getting exercise, being outdoors with family or friends, and learning something new about a sport that you love.
This is not the most expensive sport out there. Many people have found great used bicycles at speciality shops for as little as fifty dollars. That, plus the membership, means it takes less than a hundred dollars to start - this isn't bad at all, considering that the membership is good for a full year, the bike can be upgraded if necessary, and most BMX tracks only charge ten dollars per race. That doesn't add up to an overwhelming amount. Yes, it costs some money to participate, but the rewards make it worth considering.
I suggest taking your children to the track and letting them watch the other riders the first time. Allow them to get the "feel" for it - the atmosphere, the activity, the people - and then let them make their own decisions as to whether or not they wish to get into the sport. If they want to race, then by all means allow them that. Very few sports will provide the exercise, social interaction, friendly competition, and personal achievement opportunities that BMX does.
Finally, please don't forget that some parents are riders as well. For all you know you could be racing against half the local PTA! Please remember to have fun, be safe on those bicycles, and ride hard.
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