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Patrick G. Cain
Lerner Publications Company Minneapolis
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Copyright 2013 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except
for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Lerner Publications Company
A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
241 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.
Website address: www.lernerbooks.com
Content Consultant: Cody York, professional BMX photographer
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cain, Patrick G
BMX street / by Patrick G. Cain
p. cm. (Extreme summer sports zone)
Includes index.
ISBN 9781467707510 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)
ISBN 9781512417548 (Audisee ISBN)
1. Bicycle motocrossJuvenile literature. I. Title.
GV1049.3.C347 2013
796.622dc23
2012020762
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 PP 12/31/12
Photo credits: The images in this book are used with the permission of: Backgrounds: Cody York/
(top), (bottom); Mary Evans/Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment/Ronald Grant/Everett
Collection, ; George Olsson/
iStockphoto, ; Bernard Girardin/
Fotolia, ;
Peter Kim/Fotolia,
Front cover: Michael Sharkey/Stone/Getty Images (main); RTimages/Shutterstock.com
(background).
Main body text set in Folio Std Light 11/17.
Typeface provided by Adobe Systems.
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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
]
CHAPTER FOUR
WHAT IS BMX STREET RIDING?
BMX STREETS BEGINNINGS
THE BRANDS, EQUIPMENT,
AND MOVES
BECOMING A BMX CHAMPION
The Breakdown of a BMX Bike
Glossary
For More Information
Index
About the Author
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CHAPTER
ONE
WH AT IS
B MX
STR EET
RID ING?
I n the late 1980s, BMX rider Craig Grasso was a king among kings.
He was a BMX vert rider. Vert riders use giant ramps called half
pipes.
They race up the ramps and catch air (make a jump) to do
tricks. However, Grasso paved the way for a new style of BMX: street
riding.
In 1987 Grasso had a famous run that captured the pure rebellion
of BMX riding. At the 2HIP King of Vert competition in California,
Grasso did a run completely naked. It was a sign of BMX street ridings
future. Street riders still have similar rebellious attitudes when they
invent tricks and ride.
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SAFETY FIRST
In professional street events, many
riders dont wear pads or helmets. But
when they practice, they usually wear
safety gear. By the time most BMX street
riders compete, they have perfected
every move. But mistakes still happen.
In 2011 pro rider Van Homan fractured
his skull during the X Games. After his
injury, many events began requiring
helmets. Accidents are dangerous. They
can also cost a rider his or her career.
If a pro cant ride because of an injury,
that rider may lose sponsors
and not make money.
Van Homan is
one of the best
BMX street riders
around. But even
he takes hard falls
sometimes.
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BMX street riders use
everyday objects, such as
empty swimming pools, to
create awesome tricks.
Street riding is one of the newest types of BMX riding. It didnt
become widely known until the 1990s. Street riding is similar to vert
riding, but street riders dont use half pipes or jumps. Instead, street