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Crazy pump track idea

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
So, I've ridden a few pump tracks in my day. They all seem to be really made for bmx bikes, but plenty rideable on mtb hardtails, and at best, slightly painful on a DH bike. I'm thinking, why not build a pump track DESIGNED for DH bikes (or big MTB's at the very least) on my yard. Bigger features, larger radius berms, and most of all, rocks. Rocks on the rollers, rocks in the berms, etc. Anyone every built/seen something like this? The closest thing I've ever seen to a mtb pump track is Weir's. Ray's ain't bad, but still completely smooth. Any thoughts? Is this retarded? Is hoping to pump a DH bike through flat berms and rock gardens hopeless? I can't think of anything that would be better for general DH fitness.
 

John P.

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,170
0
Golden, CO
It sounds like a good idea, but I think you'd get more out of finding a small hill somewhere and building a one-way pumptrack that snakes down the side of it. You'd have to push up after each run, but it'd probably be much more relevant to the type of 'real life' riding you're actually going to encounter on your DH bike.
 

Mulestar

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2007
1,061
0
in the dirt
It sounds like a good idea, but I think you'd get more out of finding a small hill somewhere and building a one-way pumptrack that snakes down the side of it. You'd have to push up after each run, but it'd probably be much more relevant to the type of 'real life' riding you're actually going to encounter on your DH bike.

exactly. Your original idea is cool but it would be really hard to design so that it rode correctly on a DH bike. Your rollers would have to be massive and you'd need to enter it with some speed in order to pump over the rough terrain. What would be sick would be to construct a rock-armored pump DH run that could be flowed by a skilled rider without pedalling or braking. Turns and grade reversals to to control speed, with massive rollers to conserve speed. The main problem I see would be making it fun for all; if you made a trail that a beginner could flow without braking, a pro would be overcooking everything. On the other hand, if you designed it for pro-level speed, a beginner couldn't get through it without pedalling.

This definitely has some gears turning in my head.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
Downhll bikes nad bikes with 4+ inches of suspension are usually meant to go down mountain sides. Not in back yards.
 

ronnyg801

Chimp
May 27, 2009
61
7
Sounds cool but I dunno the last time you tried to "pump" a DH bike like you can a short travel, hardtail or a BMX.

Sounds very tiring very quick.

You can still use a traditional pump track to build skills and if you really think you are beyond that then you can do it to keep them sharp...
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
The idea of a track that could be no brakes sounds sweet. I'm just wondering if it would feel overly slow during the times when you aren't cornering. I think grade reversals are great because you use your speed and get more cumulative elevation which equals much more trail for your vert. The tricky part is keeping it fun/fast/minimal pedaling. I think rat pac in cle elum has done the best job of this I've ever seen (at least in it's original form). It was built so you could have fun on an 8" or 4" bike.
 

igz-

Monkey
Nov 30, 2008
265
0
Santa Cruz
I used to shred a pumptrack on my SX-Trail with a full travel Totem up front...

I mean, it's hard but damn you get fit
 

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
It sounds like a good idea, but I think you'd get more out of finding a small hill somewhere and building a one-way pumptrack that snakes down the side of it. You'd have to push up after each run, but it'd probably be much more relevant to the type of 'real life' riding you're actually going to encounter on your DH bike.
That's another option. On boy sides of my yard my neighboors have steep grades that are completely empty. Maybe they'd be okay with building a dozen berms or so on it? We'll see.
 

Metal Dude

Turbo Monkey
Apr 7, 2006
1,139
0
Smackdonough, GA
I'd like to build a pump track (for HT/ST bikes) full of Dj's and vertical berms w/ different lines etc. but you can just keep circling and jamin til you eat it...
I'm picturing drop in start off my upstairs rear deck! If only the Wife would go
for it, I tried to have her imagine a sculpted landscape with plants and flowers
around the jumps but, pffftttt not buying it.
 

OB1

Monkey
I'd like to build a pump track (for HT/ST bikes) full of Dj's and vertical berms w/ different lines etc. but you can just keep circling and jamin til you eat it...
I'm picturing drop in start off my upstairs rear deck! If only the Wife would go
for it, I tried to have her imagine a sculpted landscape with plants and flowers
around the jumps but, pffftttt not buying it.
Show her your resume.
 

Sonic Reducer

Monkey
Mar 19, 2006
500
0
seattle worshington
i like the idea of building it at a large size. build it for the bike you want to ride. you will just be that much more dialled and at home on your DH bike from pumping and turning it constantly. but dont put rocks in it. maybe put a corner with no berm in to get your loose corners dialled better and maybe a log you have to bunnyhop. come to think of it you could move the log around to make you bunnyhop into certain rollers, change it up a bit.