Styles of BMX Riding

In order to select the best cheap bmx bike for yourself you first have to choose what style of riding you are most likely to do.

Dirt

If you are new to BMX then dirt riding is a great way to start out as you can select the level of difficulty you want and ride those specific types of trails. It is great to build confidence without the pressure of other people watching, on the other hand you may not progress as quickly as there are less people around to give you the tips and tricks of the trade.

For dirt riding you are looking for a bike with a longer top tube, a relatively lightweight frame, a solid back break and knobby tires.

Park/Freestyle

Park riding can be dependant on where you live, not all cities have good parks. Some BMX parks may have obstacles that are too difficult for you while other parks may have such easy obstacles that you get bored. Not having a good park is not the end all be all though, take to the streets and each object is a possibility for 100 different tricks.

One of the best aspects about parks is the fact that there are other riders there to hep you progress, share their knowledge and push you to become a better rider.

For street/park riding you want a bike that has a very sturdy frame, tires that grip well to pavement, cable detangling headset and pegs.

Flatland/Street

Flatland BMXing is all about the tricks that you can perform on your bike while staying on the ground, it has to do with great balance and spinning. All you need is a wide open space such as a parking lot to practice so if there are no parks around, then this style of riding may be your best option.

For flatland riding you want a bike similar to the street/park bike, however, most of the time true flatland bikes do not have any brakes at all.

Racing

If you plan on racing you are going to have to focus on physical fitness as this type of BMXing is all about speed. Being first to the finish line requires a lot of hard work, training, determination and patience.

For racing you are going to want to look for a lightweight aluminum bike with a high gear ratio to be able to get going fast.