BMX

BMX (an acronym for Bicycle Motocross) is a form of cycling on specially designed bicycles which usually have 18 to 24-inch wheels (the norm being the 20-inch wheel). The sport includes racing on earthen tracks, known as BMX racing, as well as the performance of tricks on the bikes, called BMX freestyle.

Freestyle BMX has grown to include five distinct disciplines. These are Street, Park, Vert, Dirt, and Flatland. These usually involve technical movements of the bike in different ways over varied terrain. There are also three disciplines which are participated in mainly by riders who are not affiliated with the major BMX organizations or sponsored events. These are High Jump, Leap Of Faith and Drag.
Recently, BMX racing's international governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), began sponsoring the UCI BMX World Championships. In 2008, BMX racing will enter the Olympics for the first time in Beijing, China.

As BMX matured from its early roots in the 1970s and 80s, it has become increasingly part of modern popular culture. In the same way that skateboarding entered the mainstream with Tony Hawk lending his name to the immensely popular video game franchise, BMX has produced its own household name – Mat Hoffman.

Australian band Revolver have a song titled "Dippers" on their 2006 album "In Absinthia". The song is about BMX riding.

Over the last decade, the popularity of BMX has grown immensely. It is now one of the staple events at the annual X Games competition held largely on the Western seaboard of the United States.