Mike Spiess at 507-317-1275

The sport of bicycle motocross began in the early 1970's in southern California. A handful of riders started riding their stingray type bikes off road in vacant lots and fields. Not much competition but a lot of fun.

Today the sport of bicycles motocross is sweeping the country and the world. There are over 150,000 riders of all ages racing in organized races at permanent tracks across America. BMX racing is clean exciting fun whole families can get involved in whether as a racer, spectator, pit crew or track volunteer.

BMX has something to offer everyone. Races are organized according to age group and skill level so everyone gets to compete on a fair and competitive basis. Even beginner riders have a chance to race safely with other new riders.

All rider compete for awards and ABA points. The ABA points system determines a riders annual ranking within that riders district. (Our district is MN02 and consists of the New Ulm, Mankato, and Faribault tracks) Points are published in the BMXer magazine which each rider receives monthly. There a rider can check and compare his or her point standings with other riders in their own district and across the country.

Who can Race? Racers are organized into separate girls and boys classes then subdivided into age groups and skill levels. The age groups range from 5 and under to 51 and over classes. Within these age groups are three skill levels. Novice, Intermediate and Expert. All rider start as novices and work their way up to more advanced level by winning races.

What kind of bike do I need? BMX racing does not require a lot of expensive equipment. Most racers start with their 20" street bike by removing the chain guard, kickstand and pegs.

What other equipment do I need? First, a helmet is required and Mankato Area BMX recommends a full face bicycles specific helmet. You will also need to wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and enclosed shoes. Loaner helmets are available on a first come first serve basis at Mankato Area BMX.

Where can I race? The ABA has over 250 tracks nationwide! Minnesota has 13 tracks. (only second to California) A person living in or near Mankato can race can race 4 nights a week! New Ulm races Monday nights, Glencoe Tuesday nights, Mankato Wednesday nights, and Faribault Thursday nights. Most weekends in the summer have some sort of multi-point race.

How much does it cost to race? The ABA offers a 30 day trial membership for $25. This entitles you to race and provides you with medical insurance coverage.  A one year membership costs only $45 and allows you to race on ABA tracks nationwide. With the full membership you will also receive the BMXer, the monthly magazine with current point standings and nationwide race coverage.

Once you have become an ABA member, the only other cost will be the race day entry fee. (typically $10 per rider, and volunteer or family discounts may apply). The entry fee entitles you to participate in the days action. A typical BMX race includes a 2 or 3 qualifying motos along with a main event. In the main event, you race for awards determined by your finish, along with the precious ABA points.

How can I get started? Simply visit our track during a practice or event and ask for a membership application or information. You can watch the races, talk to other BMX families, or give it a try yourself! To find out more you can call Mike Spiess at 507-317-1275.

So now that you have the general rundown of BMX, lets get into the specifics!

So you have been to the track, and you see the kids racing on bikes with skinny tires. What is up with that?

Although just about any BMX style of bike will do, at some point you will want to get into a race specific bike. These bikes can be purchased locally at Sheels.We encourage you to buy local!

You can buy a decent brand new BMX race bike for $400 or less. Your best bet on a budget is to buy a used bike. They can be found at Scheels, on Craig's List or EBay for usually $200 or less. In the summer any weekend race will have used bikes galore. You can race that used bike for a couple of years and resell it for almost what you paid. The bike must be well cared for and maintained to get your money back. Buying used makes BMX very affordable! My older son raced on a used $160 junior for three seasons on a bike from  EBay and was resold on EBay for $125. We paid about $50 to maintain the bike over the three seasons. Do the math.  That is about $28 per season! There are several different sizes and we will break that down for you.

Micro mini. These are best suited for kids 2-5 years old. (yes there are two year olds racing BMX!) The two most popular micro mini BMX bikes are sold by Haro and Redline. These bikes often times have 18" wheels. When you got a real little one shredding the track, these bikes are still a little big. You can go with a custom frame, or buy what is called a "zero stem" made by Rhythm

Mini. These are best suited for kids 5-7 years old. They always contain 1 1/8" wide 20" tires. There are several bike companies making minis.

Junior. These bikes are best suited for the 6-9 year olds. They still have 1 1/8" tires, but larger frames and handlebars then the minis.

Expert. These bikes are best suited for the 9-15 year old kids. There is a pretty wide range of expert size bikes. These are generally broken down into 1 3/8" tires and 1.50" tires. The later being best suited for the 12-15 year olds.

Pro. These bikes have the traditional 1.75" tires and are best suited for kids aged 14 up to full grown adults.

Cruiser. These bikes have 24" tall wheels and can be purchased in junior up to pro size. There is a whole separate class for the cruiser racers. These bikes are most common for the adults, but there are many kids 8 years old racing cruiser!

As you can see the ages for bike sizes overlap and this is because it really depends on size and weight. There are also several sizes of frames, cranks and bars for each size of bike. It is best to have a bike shop or an experienced BMX parent help you get fitted to the right sized bike for you. Mankato Area BMX can help fit your child to the right size bike, just give us a call or stop down to the track during a race or practice.

The kids racing are wearing some pretty fancy swag. Where can I get the gear??

The retailers listed above can hook you up with the latest BMX fashion. You can race in jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt if you wish. No one will give you a hard time. If you want to look like a pro on the track but keep things on a budget, visit the Dennis Kirk outlet store web site. I know, I know, Dennis Kirk is for motorcycles gear, but guess what? There is really no difference between motocross and BMX pants and jerseys. You can get hooked up for less than $100, and sometimes less than $50 from Dennis Kirk. The best part about them, is you get your order shipped to your door next day for standard shipping. I have ordered at 7:00PM on Tuesday and had it delivered in time to race Wednesday in Mankato!

How do I protect my melon?

This is the most important part of racing BMX. You must protect your head! There is a lot of controversy over what type of helmet is best suited for BMX racing. Our opinion is that a BMX specific full face helmet is your best bet for BMX racing. Otherwise I recommend picking a DOT motocross helmet. The SNELL rated helmets are tested for a higher crash impact at highway speeds and may have too stiff of padding for a BMX racing type impact.  The same retailers for the bikes can hook you up with the helmet, or if you want to go with a DOT helmet, Dennis Kirk or other dirt bike retailers can get you what you need.

I see some kids are attaching their feet to the pedals. Does my kid need that?

That type of pedal is called "clipless". Some people believe it gives you a competitive edge. It is generally best to hold off as long as possible to go clipless with you child. The kids are better off waiting to gain most BMX skills and move up to the expert class before going clipless. Crashes are generally less severe when a kid is not physically attached to the bike.

What is the best gear ratio for my kid?

The most common mistake a parent makes when starting out is getting a kid on the wrong gear. For the most part, you just need to pick a gear and stick to it! You want to be in the lowest gear possible without spinning out on the first straight. Pick too big a gear, and you have slow gates. Too small a gear and you will be spinning out before the first turn. It is best to start out with the stock ratio, or a 53.6" Ratio. To calculate your ratio, go here:

http://www.bmxultra.com/downloads/flash/gearchart.htm

Mankato Area BMX can help you pick the right gear for your child. This is best done on Tuesday night practice where we can really observe your child's first straight and make a recommendation.

How does my new BMXer learn the skills to race BMX?

Mankato Area BMX puts on several classes a year tailored towards beginners. These classes will help teach basic skills such as balancing at the gate, jumping, taking turns and pumping. There are also camps and clinics throughout the summer at different tracks. Including a Stile Industries Camp here in Mankato.