In the late 1970s, BMX originated in the state of California, United States, when teenagers imitated their motocross heroes on their bicycles. However early at 1958, similar movements were gaining momentum in Europe. Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in the Netherlands. The 1971 motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sunday is generally credited with inspiring the movement nationally in the US. In the opening scene, kids are shown riding their Schwinn Stingrays off-road. It was not until the middle of that decade that the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed specially for the sport. BMX bikes has grown very popular with youth and has been known to be practical as it is rather small and easy to move. There are also BMX Style Helmets which are made especially for the sport.
By 1977, the American Bicycle Association (ABA) was organized as a national sanctioning body for the growing sport. BMX was introduced in Europe in 1978. In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first world championships were held in 1982. Since January 1993 BMX has been integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Over the last decade, the popularity of BMX has grown immensely. It is now one of the staple events at the annual Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition held largely on the Western seaboard of the United States.
