If Your Grom is Interested in BMX, Make Them Read Scott Dick's BMX

More often than not, when youngsters start to develop an interest in cycling, it's the discipline of BMX (short for Bicycle Moto Cross) that grabs their attention, and rightfully so. It's fun and exciting - you get to jump and ride wheelies and grind curbs and rails and race and do all sorts of nifty things that we stodgy adults no longer do. It's a sport that encourages interaction with others, and both boys and girls do it. If your kid is showing an interest in BMX, Scott Dick's 2003 book BMX is a good resource for them to utilize.

In BMX, Dick takes the reader though the history of the sport - it started in California back in the 1970's - as well as the various sub-disciplines that fall under the BMX umbrella. Racing, which takes place on a track; Freestyle, which is also known as dirt jumping - you know, those big air contests you see during the X Games; Street riding, which you see kids everywhere doing. Those are the kids that have pegs on their wheels and they grind and stall on top of ramps and curbs; Vert, which is riding on ramps - again, you see it during the X Games; and Flatland, which has riders doing tricks and stunts on flat pavement.

In cycling, proper bike fit is of utmost importance, and BMX bikes are no different. Dick explains proper fit to the kids, and even offers a tip about a common mistake - "Do not choose your bike based on the color or the stickers. Choose your bike wisely." Dick also explains that it's important for the rider to know what style of riding they wish to do, as not all BMX bikes are the same. A colorful photo of a BMX bike is provided, with the various features broken down into easy-to-understand terms, so that the would-be Dave Mirra's of the world will know how and why their bikes perform the way they do.

Safety is stressed throughout the book, but Dick does break down the crucial safety equipment and clothing worn by BMX'ers, and why it's necessary. Proper use of helmets, gloves, shoes, and padding is covered, emphasized by demonstrative photos. There is also a section on proper bike maintenance, and proper stretching and nutrition, all included with safety in mind.

Ah, yes, but your grom wants action. Enough of this grown up rules stuff! Let's have some fun! And fun your grom shall have, as Dick gives the kids the fundamentals of basic BMX skills needed to master the sport. Wheelies and manuals - a manual is a sort of wheelie ridden over a bump or whoop-de-do so as not to lose speed (which I'm still trying to master on my mountain bike.) - bunny hops and jumping, they are all explained so that the youthful reader can practice safely. If your kid is planning on racing, Dick explains the different techniques for taking on a berm - for the uninitiated, it's a banked turn. BMX races are usually won or lost at the start, so Dick covers different techniques for starting a race, and also explains the rules so that your child doesn't show up to the track unaware of the basics.

And in case your kid shows aptitude for the sport and wants to take it to the next level, Dick provides helpful hints on how to progress upward through various clubs and organizations, from the national to the international scenes.

About the only downfall to BMX is that it's aimed mainly at the kid that wants to race. Other than explaining what disciplines such as Street or Vert or Freestyle are, there's really nothing in the book to encourage a child that's interested in doing any of those - and there are lots of contests out there for those aspects of the sport, it isn't just racing anymore. Still, BMX is full of useful information, and if you have a kid that's interested in the sport, it's a good book to have them read.