How to play a game of B.I.K.E

One thing in the bike world I have been doing more and more often is playing games of B.I.K.E. This game is pretty simple, but it has a set of rules. If played right, you can have a blast while learning new tricks on the bike.

What is a game of B.I.K.E?

This game originated from the game "H.O.R.S.E.", played by basketball players for years. If you don't know the game "H.O.R.S.E.", its played like this. Two players or more can play, each of them ro-sham-bo to see the order of who goes first. The player who wins the ro-sham-bo gets to go first, he can try to make a shot into the hoop from anywhere on the court. If he doesn't make the shot, then its the next person try to shoot form wherever they choose. But if the first player makes the shot, all the other people playing the game have to make the same shot from the same spot, or else they get a letter. Getting a letter means they get one letter of the word "horse", the more letters you get, the worse off you are. If you get the whole word, you're out.

So as you probably are expecting, a game of B.I.K.E. goes pretty much the exact same way. instead of taking shots from specific parts of the court, you ride your bike in a specific way, doing specific tricks. If you can't do the same trick as the trick setter, you get a letter from the word "bike". There are some differences though between the two games....

Mulligans
In games of B.I.K.E, you can get a mulligan, which is a chance to retry somebody's trick. You can choose which trick you want your mulligan on as well. For example; If someone does a backflip and lands it, the trick set is a backflip. If you try a flip and don't land it, you can either choose to take a letter, or use your mulligan and try it again. If you get the trick using your mulligan, no letter will be given to you, but if you fail again, you will receive a letter. You only get one mulligan during each game.

Trick Setters
Also in games of B.I.K.E, the trick setter determines if his opponents execute the trick to their standards.

Last trick tries
When you are on your last legs and have a B.I.K. and your opponent throws down a trick that you proceed to fail on, you have a B.I.K.E, meaning you have lost. But for the last trick, you get two tries instead of one.

Most of these features of the game that make it easier make the game last longer, longer games are more fun and exciting.

Bikes and Locations
Most games of B.I.K.E. are played on jumps, or in a skatepark because the options of tricks you can do are bigger, making the game more fun. If you are more experienced, you can play in a parking lot. It won't be as fun, but it's a way to kill time.

The bikes used for these games are either BMX bikes, or Dirt jumper bikes. This is because there is more opportunities for tricks when you have a smaller bike. I have played this game on mountain bikes, but look forward to trying it on a BMX.

Above, Brandon Begin and Adam LZ face off in a game of B.I.K.E.

Competition

Usually, games of B.I.K.E. are friendly and for fun. Playing these games can make you a better rider because when people force you to try tricks you don't normally do, you improve. Sometimes riders use these games to settle beef, there is a lot of talking shit on the streets, and sometimes games need to be played in order to sort things out.

Here's a link to the latest and most popular game of B.I.K.E on the web. So many people wanted these two to face off. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYrQaTJ7cGA