The BMX start is one of the most important aspects of BMX racing and has been deemed by coaches as one of the strongest determining factors of finish line placing. The present study analysed the correlation between elite BMX riders and their relative position at the start of a BMX race in relation to finish line placing. Data from 348 riders results in 175 elite races in the four 2012 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) world cup events were analysed. Time gates were placed in four positions around each BMX track and the data sets were analysed using Kendall’s tau-b bivariante correlation. A strong correlation was established at the second time gate for both males (t=0.581, P<0.01) and females (t=0.571, P<0.01). The correlation between riders’ final placing was greater in positions 1^st to 3rd (t=0.586, P <0.01. 4th to 8th t=0.249, P <0.01) compared to riders placed 4th to 8^th (t=0.519, P <0.01. 4^th to 8th t=0.372, P <0.01.) for both male and female riders respectively. In conclusion, a strong correlation exists between riders position 8-10 s into a race. Therefore, focusing on a riders’ ability to gain placings at the start of a race will have an effect on their finish line position.

Rylands, LP, Roberts, SJ, and Hurst, HT. Variability in laboratory vs. field testing of peak power, torque, and time of peak power production among elite bicycle motocross cyclists. J Strength Cond Res 29(9): 2635–2640, 2015—The aim of this study was to ascertain the variation in elite male bicycle motocross (BMX) cyclists' peak power, torque, and time of power production during laboratory and field-based testing. Eight elite male BMX riders volunteered for the study, and each rider completed 3 maximal sprints using both a Schoberer Rad Messtechnik (SRM) ergometer in the laboratory and a portable SRM power meter on an Olympic standard indoor BMX track. The results revealed a significantly higher peak power (p ≤ 0.001, 34 ± 9%) and reduced time of power production (p ≤ 0.001, 105 ± 24%) in the field tests when compared with laboratory-derived values. Torque was also reported to be lower in the laboratory tests but not to an accepted level of significance (p = 0.182, 6 ± 8%). These results suggest that field-based testing may be a more effective and accurate measure of a BMX rider's peak power, torque, and time of power production.

The aims of this study were to analyse the optimal cadence for peak power production and time to peak power in bicycle motocross (BMX) riders. Six male elite BMX riders volunteered for the study. Each rider completed 3 maximal sprints at a cadence of 80, 100, 120 and 140 revs · min⁻¹ on a laboratory Schoberer Rad Messtechnik (SRM) cycle ergometer in isokinetic mode. The riders’ mean values for peak power and time of power production in all 3 tests were recorded. The BMX riders produced peak power (1105 ± 139 W) at 100 revs · min⁻¹ with lower peak power produced at 80 revs · min⁻¹ (1060 ± 69 W, (F(2,15) = 3.162; P = .266; η² = 0.960), 120 revs · min⁻¹ (1077 ± 141 W, (F(2,15) = 4.348; P = .203; η² = 0.970) and 140 revs · min⁻¹ (1046 ± 175 W, (F(2,15) = 12.350; P = 0.077; η² = 0.989). The shortest time to power production was attained at 120 revs · min⁻¹ in 2.5 ± 1.07 s. Whilst a cadence of 80 revs · min⁻¹ (3.5 ± 0.8 s, (F(2,15) = 2.667; P = .284; η² = 0.800) 100 revs · min⁻¹ (3.00 ± 1.13 s, (F(2,15) = 24.832; P = .039; η² = 0.974) and 140 revs · min⁻¹ (3.50 ± 0.88 s, (F(2,15) = 44.167; P = .006; η² = 0.967)) all recorded a longer time to peak power production. The results indicate that the optimal cadence for producing peak power output and reducing the time to peak power output are attained at comparatively low cadences for sprint cycling events. These findings could potentially inform strength and conditioning training to maximise dynamic force production and enable coaches to select optimal gear ratios.

Performance characteristics across a number of cycle sports have been investigated for decades. However, evidence suggests little is known about the performance characteristics in BMX cycling. As a result, a scoping review was undertaken to explore the quantity and themes of research in this area. After adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRIMSA) guidelines 104 studies were identified in the initial search and post screening 17 studies were identified as relevant. These studies were categorised into two sub categories; physical and technical characteristics. The first category, physical performance characteristics included ten studies that analysed torque, cadence, and peak power in relation to velocity and time to peak power. The remaining 7 studies related to technical attributes and focused on the development of an effective gate start technique or analysed techniques deemed important during a BMX race. In addition to the categories, 9 of the 17 studies identified in this review reported reliability issues in collecting performance characteristic data, as well as issues surrounding transference of data from the laboratory to the BMX track. Future research should consider intervention studies examining how time to peak power could be developed and the effect this would have on the start of a BMX race. Future studies may also consider using equipment with higher levels of reliability and testing riders in the track environment. Moreover, this scoping review could serve as a starting point for a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to ascertain if gear ratio selection would have an effect on peak power and time to peak power production in elite Bicycle Motocross (BMX) cyclists. Eight male elite BMX riders volunteered for the study. Each rider performed three, 10-s maximal sprints on an Olympic standard indoor BMX track. The riders’ bicycles were fitted with a portable SRM power meter. Each rider performed the three sprints using gear ratios of 41/16, 43/16 and 45/16 tooth. The results from the 41/16 and 45/16 gear ratios were compared to the current standard 43/16 gear ratio. Statistically, significant differences were found between the gear ratios for peak power (F(2,14) = 6.448; p = .010) and peak torque (F(2,14) = 4.777; p = .026), but no significant difference was found for time to peak power (F(2,14) = 0.200; p = .821). When comparing gear ratios, the results showed a 45/16 gear ratio elicited the highest peak power,1658 ± 221 W, compared to 1436 ± 129 W and 1380 ± 56 W, for the 43/16 and 41/16 ratios, respectively. The time to peak power showed a 41/16 tooth gear ratio attained peak power in −0.01 s and a 45/16 in 0.22 s compared to the 43/16. The findings of this study suggest that gear ratio choice has a significant effect on peak power production, though time to peak power output is not significantly affected. Therefore, selecting a higher gear ratio results in riders attaining higher power outputs without reducing their start time.

Rylands, LP, Hurst, HT, Roberts, SJ, and Graydon, RW. The effect of “pumping” and “nonpumping” techniques on velocity production and muscle activity during field-based BMX cycling. J Strength Cond Res 31(2): 445–450, 2017—The aim of the current study was to determine if a technique called “pumping” had a significant effect on velocity production in Bicycle Motocross (BMX) cycling. Ten National standard male BMX riders fitted with surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors completed a timed lap of an indoor BMX track using the technique of pumping, and a lap without pumping. The lap times were recorded for both trials and their surface sEMG was recorded to ascertain any variation in muscle activation of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and medial gastrocnemius. The findings revealed no significant differences between any of muscle groups (p > 0.05). However, significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between the pumping and nonpumping trials for both mean lap velocity (42 ± 1.8 km·h⁻¹, 33 ± 2.9 km·h⁻¹, respectively) and lap times (43.3 ± 3.1 seconds, 34.7 ± 1.49 seconds, respectively). The lap times recorded for the pumping trials were 19.50 ± 4.25% lower than the nonpumping, whereas velocity production was 21.81 ± 5.31% greater in the pumping trial compared with the nonpumping trial. The technique of pumping contributed significantly to velocity production, although not at the cost of additional muscle activity. From a physiological and technical perspective, coaches and riders should prioritize this technique when devising training regimes.