Since its inception in the early 1970s, BMX riding has evolved into several different modes mainly because of the “freestyling” skills of its pioneers. This aspect of continuous innovation has endeared the sport to many. But just like any creative sport with its own sanctioning body, such as diving, figure skating, gymnastics, or slam dunk competitions, categories have to be set and guidelines implemented while creativity is still encouraged and perfect execution targeted.
Thus, freestyle BMX or stunt riding now consists of five disciplines: street, park, vert, trails/dirt jump and flatland.
Flatland BMX is a riding style executed on smooth flat surfaces sans the ramps, jumps or grind rails. A neat phrase to put it would be “a form of artistic cycling with a blend of breakdancing and encompassing certain aspects of martial arts and Zen meditation as a discipline.”
Most flatlanders would tend to be very devoted to perfecting their flatland techniques, unlike the riders of other disciplines who can move from street to part to dirt jump and vert at any given time. One of the main reasons for this is the reduced stability of handling shorter bikes on ramps, dirt and street; yet the shorter wheelbase makes it easier for them to spin or stand the bike on one wheel.
Their tricks are performed by balancing and spinning on the bike in an assortment of unexpected positions, using four of either knurled/grip taped aluminum or plastic pegs—one on the end of each wheel hub or axle—to stand on and maneuver it to even more innovative acts.
Depending on their style and preference, flatlanders would also opt for a front brake, a dual front brake with two levers and one brake cable, front and rear brakes, or no brakes at all. The flatland bike would also have specialized frames with geometry suited to the users’ needs, in terms of head tube angle, top tube length, and all that jazz.
Other features unique to the flatland bike would be the pegs that are bolt-on for both the front and the back, a hollow compression bolt on the forks (for the frontage brake cable) and a “gyro” or cable “detangler” (for the rear brake cable). This allows the handlebar and front wheel assembly to rotate incessantly without twisting or jamming the cables. And finally, a “freecoaster” or a hub mechanism that allows the rear wheel to roll backwards without engaging the sprocket-chain and crank assembly.
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