It may come as a surprise to some.... but i still ride BMX. Thats me on the Bayswater half pipe.
Im creeping up on 50 years old and i know this love affair cant last forever - but its a deep connection that has been a constant in my life in some form or other during all of lifes stages. I know other sub-cultures like surf and skate feel the same - its a club without membership and annual fees - but you just know when you're in.
As a young boy on the outskirts of Melbourne in the 80s, we spent all our spare time on the street and in the creek. There was no mobile phones, no social media - walking or riding to your friends house was how we connected to each other. Riding was my choice. I would often ride 5kms just to be told 'Sorry, Rickys not home... im not sure where he is?'. So you rode on to the next house - no helmets of course (compulsory helmet laws didnt come in until the 90s)
The 80s was full of bright new things.... Yo-Yos, Star Wars, Breakdancing, Duran Duran, Transformers, Miami Vice and of course the Fashion. There was a lot to love.
A film came out in 1986 called RAD which redefined my world - i was 11 years old and already riding BMX daily - but this showed us all the new ways to ride a bike. The BMX world took off and i was hooked. I had several bikes growing up (most of them hand me downs), but my most memorable was my fully chrome HARO Master. For those who know, these bikes now fetch $2k plus..... ( Note: RAD is currently on SBS on Demand - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/rad/1978139715833 )
My first encounter with the BMX / Skate scene was when our local shopping centre was getting refubished and we decided to use the ply hoarding with pallets to make a half pipe out of these stolen materials. It was DIY, make do, dangerous and completely rebellious - and we all loved it.
People have asked me why i still ride. I havent given it deep enough thought until today - so here goes;
- BMX assists your social skills - Sometimes you dont ride. Sometimes you all park up at the top of the jump and chat. These chats can be deep.... but most of the time they are simple conversations. It doesnt matter.... like any club, its the connection with other humans that helps you realise you're not alone - its often the only reason why we turn up at the skatepark. Added to this - if you're a dickhead and have no social skills, then no one will talk to you. It helps dickheads realise they're dickheads and makes them lift their game.
- BMX is good for your mind - Riding requires focus and attention both mentally and physically. Simply put, hitting dirt jumps, half pipes or street obstacles requires your full attention...... theres no room for daily worries in your head when you're focused. There are days when you're mind-body connection is working so well that you almost feel like you're floating on your bike...... mmmm sweet fluffy clouds. Then there are days when the monkey mind takes over and you should stay home.
- BMX is good for your body - Daily movement is very much needed for young people - but especially young boys to expell all that built up energy. My advice, give your child a BMX and tell them dont come home until its dark. Sure, riding concrete parks and big dirt jumps is dangerous, but trust me - its much less dangerous than your child sitting on gaming consoles and getting fat.
- BMX improves your decision making - Riding requires very, very fast decisions to be made. You're moving fast on a bike and there are other people and objects in your trajectory. Sure you make many bad decisions and fail often. We all make mistakes and thats OK. But with repetition, you learn to make good decisions fast. Its a great skill to take into the real world as you get older.
- BMX teaches you balance, timing and rhythm - Riding requires a connection to a mechanical contraption which is not directly wired to the brain. It is this very thing that forces you to use balance, timing and rhythm to move as one. Hitting a jump with any of these in the wrong place can lead to disastrous results...... so you learn to refine these skills very early. I would suggest that the correct use of these three things are the basis of all success in life.
- BMX is good for your soul - Do you remember when you first rolled down a big hill, wind in your hair, tears in your eyes, silence in your ears and a smile of your face? Add to this some air time over a big jump..... well then you know how good riding is for your soul. Its true freedom.
In some way - BMX has saved my life - it gave me freedom to move around and helped me avoid suburbia boredom and inevitable pitfalls that come with youth growing up with nothing to do......
My son is 11 years old and already kicking my ass on the BMX - he recently won the WA Freestyle BMX bowl competition in Mandurah. But more importantly he has made new friends and to my suprise has learnt that he is not a dickhead.