Archives
The History of Bicycle Motocross A short history of BMX racing and freestyle. From motocross-inspired dirt racing to big tricks on the vert. How BMX evolved and found its place among extreme sports.
In 1971 the motocross documentary, On Any Sunday opened. The opening scenes captured kids on their bicycles, riding hand-made dirt tracks and imitating motocross riders. These kids weren't just "pretending". They had pie-plate numbers attached to their bikes and handled their Schwinn Sting-Rays as if they were Steve McQueen himself. Suddenly, there was recognition for a new sport that was spreading across the US.
First, there was the Sting-Ray...Although bicycles had been around for a century already, they were predominantly used as a means of transportation. With little exception the bicycles being manufactured were of identical designs and intended purpose. In 1963, Schwinn released the Sting-Ray to tap into the growing interest in customized motorbikes and muscle cars. Adults thought the bikes were ugly but the kids loved them and Schwinn sold over 40,000 Sting-Rays in 1963 alone. Within five years, 70% of all bikes sold in the U.S. were Sting-Rays or copies of them. (source: extremesports.suite101.com)
In 1971 the motocross documentary, On Any Sunday opened. The opening scenes captured kids on their bicycles, riding hand-made dirt tracks and imitating motocross riders. These kids weren't just "pretending". They had pie-plate numbers attached to their bikes and handled their Schwinn Sting-Rays as if they were Steve McQueen himself. Suddenly, there was recognition for a new sport that was spreading across the US.
First, there was the Sting-Ray...Although bicycles had been around for a century already, they were predominantly used as a means of transportation. With little exception the bicycles being manufactured were of identical designs and intended purpose. In 1963, Schwinn released the Sting-Ray to tap into the growing interest in customized motorbikes and muscle cars. Adults thought the bikes were ugly but the kids loved them and Schwinn sold over 40,000 Sting-Rays in 1963 alone. Within five years, 70% of all bikes sold in the U.S. were Sting-Rays or copies of them. (source: extremesports.suite101.com)