Ride BMX Magazine

Summary

Ride bmx is a magazine dedicated to the sport of bmx bike riding, racing, and stunts. The table of contents includes a Q&A with a professional rider and articles reporting and critiquing new products and parts for bikes, and soft goods, which is clothing. A Pro Shop is featured; in the December 2011 issue it is Ramp Rats in Northern California. The Diversions section features a Compare & Contrast article, which analyzes two people who do the same thing. In this issue, Miles Rogoish and James Cox are two filmers being compared and contrasted. There are three highlighted feature articles and in this issue, they are the 2011 NORA Cup awards, Nonfiction Freestyle, and Fly in California. The NORA Cup awards article includes a double spread full of multi-sized color photographs and then an interview of each winner. Next, Nonfiction Freestyle describes the true life stories from five people who became professional bikers.

Critical Evaluation

The nonfiction life stories are interesting autobiographical accounts of five BMX’ers and how they got to be where they are. These stories have the potential to instill hope and goals in amateur bikers as they see if these guys can do it, so can they. Readers will connect with the similar growing-up moments the professionals experienced. The lingo of the sport runs throughout the magazine. I am currently wondering what “steezy” means. California is referred to as Cali. And, what is a 180-to-fakie cannonball? This magazine seems to be focused on California since all the photographs and articles are set there; readers in other parts of the country might feel excluded. There are more photographs than text, but that suits the subject matter. The color photography is stunning. Photographers who understand shutter speed have taken action-stop pictures of bikes mid-air. Bikes and riders are forever frozen hovering above ramps and railings, perpendicular to the ground. These pictures are cause for wonder and inspiration as they show would-be professionals and casual readers what they can do with a stairwell or drained pool. Full color, double spread layouts create pictures worthy of pinning up to readers’ walls. This vibrant, entertaining magazine represents BMX riding well.

Why did I include this magazine?

I had never looked at a BMX magazine before. I really don’t know anything about BMX riding. This magazine introduced me to what goes on with this sport beyond what I see on the streets. There is an entire culture with BMX riding, and I was happy to learn more about it. It’s not just riding bikes around the neighborhood!