George E. Esser founded and incorporated the National Bicycle League as a non-profit bicycle motocross sanctioning organization in 1974. For many years, George and his wife, Mary, sanctioned motorcycle races with the AMA. Their two sons, Greg and Brian, raced motorcycles, but also enjoyed riding and racing bicycles with their friends. His sons’ interest and the fact that there was no BMX organization in the East prompted George to start the NBL in Florida.

With the incorporation of the National Bicycle League as a non-profit organization, a board of directors and officers were appointed, and by-laws were established. The NBL was set up to belong to the membership.

As the NBL expanded, race commissioners were appointed in each state. In 1977, a national race series was organized and named the War of the Stars. The series included, 11 national races held in seven states. This year also marked the development of the National Team. This team of individuals traveled to all national events in order to run the race and train volunteers.

BMX TODAY, a monthly magazine promoting the National Bicycle League and its races began in 1977. The magazine covers all national and regional NBL events, schedules of NBL-affiliated tracks, the national series schedule, members point standings, new BMX products and more. Today, BMX TODAY is sent to 40,000 members, bike shops, schools, libraries and companies around the world.

In February 1981, the National Bicycle League and the National Bicycle Motocross Association, one of the most respected sanctioning bodies in the sport, merged to create the first BMX governing body to span the continent. When the NBL agreed to take over all licensing and points accumulation for the NBMXA, it became, in effect, the oldest sanctioning body in the sport of BMX.

The International BMX Federation (IBMXF) was co-founded by George Esser and six other persons from Japan, Holland, Canada, Venezuela, Columbia and Panama in 1981. The IBMXF sanctioned international races, series races and a world championship throughout the world in conjunction with affiliated countries. In 1993, the IBMXF merged with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the largest cycling organization in the world. The National Bicycle League is the only BMX sanctioning organization in the United States affiliated with the UCI. The NBL also has a working agreement with NORBA and the United States Cycling Federation.

In 1983, the NBL office relocated to Flemington, New Jersey, with Bob Tedesco as president. Five years later the NBL headquarters moved to a more central location in Dublin, Ohio. Today the NBL is in Hilliard, Ohio, a neighboring community of Dublin.

Effective in March, 1997, NBL became a member association of USA Cycling, Inc., the United States cycling connection to international cycling and the Olympic Games.

The NBL continues to build tracks around the country and ensures its members that the quality and prestige of the National Bicycle League will always be available to them.