FUN IN OKLAHOMA
MADDOG BICYCLEs
300 S. Ranchwood Blvd.
Yukon, Oklahoma
405-577-6999
ABA Membership
To race at an ABA sanctioned track, you'll first need to become a member of the American Bicycle Association. To try BMX, there are three ways. There is a One Day Membership, a Trial Membership and a Full Membership. The One Day Membership is a totally FREE way to try BMX for one day. Come to the track, sign a membership, bring your bike, long sleeve shirt, long pants and 3 pad set for your bike and you can race. The second way is a Trial Membership. This is a trial period of 30 days to race BMX. If after 30 days of "trying out" BMX, you find that you've fallen helmet-over-heels in love with this exciting sport, that Temporary Membership can easily be converted to a Full Membership. There are many benefits of becoming a "Full" ABA Member. For starters, you'll get a ABA membership card in the mail with your official ABA serial number. It won't take long for you to realize that your 8-digit serial number is very important. The first four characters tell you your district and the last four digits are your assigned number that can stick with you for a lifetime as long as your ABA membership remains current. In your first year of racing, the last three digits in your serial number will be the ones you run on your number plate until you earn a ranking at the start of the new year. As a full member, you'll begin earning points for every race you compete in. The better you finish and the more often you race equals more points you earn. These points are tallied up throughout the year and , at the end of the season, you'll ear a ranking according to how you finished. This ranking will proudly be displayed as your bike number the following season. Of course, it is everyone's goal to be ranked #1. Your ABA membership will include 10 issues of the BMXer Magazine. The ABA's exclusive membership publication. It it, you can look up your name in the point standings and find out how you are ranked against all of the racers in your area. The magazine also keeps you up-to-date on all the BMX happenings, gives you coverage of every ABA national event, and has interviews, stories and profiles on all of the superstars in BMX racing.
NEW RIDER'S MANUAL
Bike Check List
To begin racing BMX, you don't need a whole lot of equipment. Basically, you'll need a BMX bike (20" or 24" cruiser) with just a couple of required safety features. Three pads (crossbar, stem and frame top tube) are a must. If your bike has a kickstand, chain guard or reflector brackets, they will need to be removed for on track safety purposes.
Many ABA sanctioned tracks make it as easy as possible for a beginner rider by having all required items, such a "loaner helmets", number plates and pad sets, available at sign ups.
Your bike should pass "Bike Inspection" before going on the track. Make sure all bolts are tight, as well as your chain. Remove any reflector brackets and/or kickstand if it has one. Also check your grips and make sure that the handlebar ends (bar ends) are covered.
You'll also needs the required pads on your bike; covering the crossbar of your handlebar (if you have a crossbar), stem and the frame top tube.
To Race, you'll also need a number plate which can range from a paper plate, to the ABA number you get when you join the ABA.
Body Check List
- Long Sleeve Shirt - You can get away with wearing a short sleeve shirt with elbow pads, but most BMX racers prefers long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts
- Long Pants - A must! You cannot race BMX in shorts and kneepads. Jeans or racing pants are required. To acquires a racing uniforms, first check out your local bike or motorcycle shop. A lot of times, you can pick up barely used but quickly out-grown uniforms for a nice price at the track.
- Shoes - Any type of soft sole, gym shoes will do. Boots are not recommended.
- Helmet - Any half - shell, open face or full face helmet will do. But obviously you will want a quality skidlid to protect the most important part of your body - your brain.
ABA Membership - Your ABA Card ,,,, Don't Leave Home Without It
To race at an ABA sanctioned track, you'll first need to become a member of the American Bicycle Association. And to make it easy on your wallet, the ABA provides an inexpensive "Temporary Membership" that is good for a trail period of 30 days. If after 30 days of "trying out" BMX, you find that you've fallen helmet-over-heels in love with this exciting sport, that Temporary Membership can easily be converted to a Full Membership
There are many benefits of become a "Full" ABA member. For starters, you'll get a ABA membership card in the mail with your official ABA serial number. It won't take long for you to realize that your 8-digit serial number is very important. The first four characters tell you your district [example: CA01, means you are in the California 01 district] and the last four digits are your assigned number that can stick with you for a lifetime as long as your ABA membership remains current. In your first years of racing, the last three digits in your serial number will be the ones you run on your number plate ( example: AZ8216 means you'll run #216 on our bike until you earn a ranking.
As a full member, you'll begin earning points for every race you compete in. The better you finish and the more often you race equals more points you earn. These points are tallied up through out the year and, at the end of the season, you'll earn a ranking according to how your finished. This ranking will proudly be displayed as your bike number the following season. Of course, it is everyone's goal to be ranked # 1.
Age Classification
Climbing the ranks - Novice, Intermediate, Expert and Pro. - One more thing that makes BMX so great is the wide range of ages and skill levels available. In ABA BMX racing, there are three amateur skills levels and over 60 age classes designed to make racing as fair and competitive as possible. When you first try BMX, you will be placed in the "Novice" class. This class is designed for beginners just like YOU. After eight first place trophies, you'll be ready to move up to "Intermediate". It will then take twenty-five wins in the "Inter" class to move you up to the fastest amateur ranking of them all - "Expert".
Novice - This is the class everyone starts in, for beginner only.
Intermediate - The mid-level in BMX, is also the place where riders develop the skills that will carry them into the Expert Class.
Expert: The ultimate amateur ranking is Expert. If you're an Expert, you are one of the fastest riders around.
Keep in mind; ABA BX is a sport for the whole family. It's not just a "boys sport" like many people perceive. There are age classes and skill levels for girls, as well as for moms and dads. Girl BMX racers, when they first start out, have the option to race in the "Novice" division. Most often, girl and boy. Novice are pretty equal when they first try it. Once a girl Novice rider earns her 8th win, she will advance into "Girls" class.
In the 24" Cruiser classes, ages go all the way to 56 & over for the dads and 46 & over for the moms Even the grandparents are doing it. It's very common these days to see original BMX racers from the 70's bringing their families to the races to enjoy the same sport they did as a kid. And, after watching their son or daughter race, it doesn't take long before the parents "get the itch" to try BMX racing again
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RACING - COME TO THE TRACK - WATCH A RACE OR TRY OUR ONE DAY MEMBERSHIP TRIAL.