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pump tracks

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
the leelikesbikes.com pump track "e-book" is good if you're a total beginner....

but if you're into jumping at all, or more bmx style riding, take design cues from bmx race tracks and bmx trails/DJ as well.

http://www.prm.nau.edu/prm423/bmx_track.htm



This is an "idea" that we have done at my spot. I call it accelerating rollers. You make each one longer and more spaced out from the last.... As you are gaining speed over each one, you have to pump a little farther to get the backside... By the time you're at the last one, the roller is basically tabletop big except that it is VW'd or bubbled on top.... The next one can be a 10 or 12 foot gap double or whatever.
 
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zaqxsw_1

Chimp
Apr 13, 2009
3
0
the leelikesbikes.com pump track "e-book" is good if you're a total beginner....

but if you're into jumping at all, or more bmx style riding, take design cues from bmx race tracks and bmx trails/DJ as well.

http://www.prm.nau.edu/prm423/bmx_track.htm



This is an "idea" that we have done at my spot. I call it accelerating rollers. You make each one longer and more spaced out from the last.... As you are gaining speed over each one, you have to pump a little farther to get the backside... By the time you're at the last one, the roller is basically tabletop big except that it is VW'd or bubbled on top.... The next one can be a 10 or 12 foot gap double or whatever.
thank you guy!
 

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
One thing you gotta pay close attention to is the RADIUS of your berms....

Note the third track below on the bottom of page 21 of Lee's "Welcome to Pump Track Nation." .... The two top corners are 8 foot radius turns, which is excellent, tight enough to pump but big enough to also go real fast into. HOWEVER, the bottom turn is a big 14' 180 berm... That's a speed killer.

Why? Because a berm is like a sideways quarter pipe (or half pipe). A 14' radius berm is like riding a monster vert ramp. Great when you're already going super fast, like on a 4x track or downhill....but bad on a small backyard pump track.

Better to match up all your berms with roughly the same radius. Then your track is built for a constant speed. You won't have "dead spots" where you have to make extra effort to re-gain speed. HOWEVER, I could see how maybe that's the goal if you want the pump track to train people in accelerating through pumping. You have to slow them down every lap, so they got work to get going again....

If you have a lot of space, (like in a public park) there is absolutely no reason you would want to limit yourself to 35' X 60'. There's also no reason they have to be rectangular or oval shaped... You could have a regular trail through the woods with all kinds of turns and twists and make it a pump trail... (And of course you can mix pump elements in with full size doubles and tables--to me that's what bmx 'trails' is all about..preaching to the choir here...)




 
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cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
Just a few other ideas... Be as creative as you can with pump tracks. No reason they can't incorporate some bmx-trails-ish stuff as long as you keep the edges rounded and rollable, bmx track style.

Here are some examples for the beginner builders out there.

e.g#1: In the first line, note that you can have 2 small rollers then a monster roller... just make sure that your peak-to-peak distances match up though. So if you were to jump the gap of the first two, you'd travel in an arc over 10 feet, then the next one you'd do the same except have the roller hovering under your tires.... If you don't match up the peak-to-peaks almost exactly, it won't feel flowy and effortless. It might be challenging in other ways, just depends what you want.

e.g.#2: Second drawing shows 2 monster-rollers in a row.

e.g.#3: Shows a pump track version of a Trails pit--bump jump roller double into pit and step up out.... In the version we built...this whole line is manualable/rollable....but is also fun to blast out into the step up. I made the step up 12 feet instead of matching it at 11 in order to give you just a little more room to pump and pull up for bigger air, but not too far so that everyone would case it all the time.

that's all for now.

 
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don

Turbo Monkey
Nov 8, 2001
1,319
0
Rumson, NJ
cmc - thanks for the drawings. Some interesting stuff there.

I've been working on a setup in the yard and was just going to do a basic 3 rollers in a row berm 3 rollers back berm loop and all the same size. But you've got me thinking to change it up a bit. I am integrating some DJ's in the middle so something like that monster roller would be easy to feather into a DJ lander.

Plus when it's a loop, it'll give a totally different feel riding it in both directions.
 

CRoss

Turbo Monkey
Nov 20, 2006
1,329
0
The Ranch
Here is our pumptrack. We made multiple berms back to back so you can change direction in many different places. It keeps the track interesting. I have been on two many track that where just a loop with maybe on cross over in the middle. You really only had two options ride in forward or backwards. It made the tracks get old very quick.

 

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
A couple unedited clips of riding our pump track (i'm on the black MOB with white NemPro weezy's). It's a pump track designed with some bmx track/trails elements (outside loop is easier than inside loop). Relatively easy, but fun and flowy. It'll definitely bump your skills up some notches before you go ride some hardcore trails. We are currently facing a teardown threat and in the process of meeting/discussing/educating/negotiating with Parks and Rec.

Object moved

Object moved

New inside line (on left)

Side view of monster roller on same line.
 
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t1maglio

Monkey
Oct 29, 2001
855
0
southern wisconsin
Wow, CMC, that looks so good. I'm really depressed about my backyard right now. I thought I was going to do some subtle stuff, but I think I need to do smooth things out. So good! Maybe I should have done the extra 9 hours from Joplin and stopped by you guys.:D
 

TortugaTonta

Monkey
Aug 27, 2008
539
0
I've found that if you really want to do laps and have fun its best to build bigger and FAST. There is one section of my jumps that work better as a pump track than my actual pump track, I think that is because on my jumps you can hit about 25 mph and its easier to carry that speed up the slope to the drop in. Right now it takes some pedal strokes to get there but we are planning a couple rollers so that we can do laps.

Where this pic is taken there are a couple roller dubs behind me to get you set up, then you make a choice between 3 lines (one to the left you can't see) There are hip and transfers between the 2 lines on the right giving many combos. All the way in the back is one of my 180 berms that brings you back up the slope all the way on the left. That can take you towards the drop in for this section so you can do laps or take you to another set on the other side of my property.



This pic is standing on the far 180 berm looking up the drop in on the left and the line going back towards the drop in or the section you can see in the distance. Right in front of me is this new bowl we built, Its a 90 hip into a downhill bowl turn that will have another 90 hip coming out, its going to be tech.
 

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
i've Found That If You Really Want To Do Laps And Have Fun Its Best To Build Bigger And Fast. There Is One Section Of My Jumps That Work Better As A Pump Track Than My Actual Pump Track, I Think That Is Because On My Jumps You Can Hit About 25 Mph And Its Easier To Carry That Speed Up The Slope To The Drop In. Right Now It Takes Some Pedal Strokes To Get There But We Are Planning A Couple Rollers So That We Can Do Laps.

Where This Pic Is Taken There Are A Couple Roller Dubs Behind Me To Get You Set Up, Then You Make A Choice Between 3 Lines (one To The Left You Can't See) There Are Hip And Transfers Between The 2 Lines On The Right Giving Many Combos. All The Way In The Back Is One Of My 180 Berms That Brings You Back Up The Slope All The Way On The Left. That Can Take You Towards The Drop In For This Section So You Can Do Laps Or Take You To Another Set On The Other Side Of My Property.

. . .

This Pic Is Standing On The Far 180 Berm Looking Up The Drop In On The Left And The Line Going Back Towards The Drop In Or The Section You Can See In The Distance. Right In Front Of Me Is This New Bowl We Built, Its A 90 Hip Into A Downhill Bowl Turn That Will Have Another 90 Hip Coming Out, Its Going To Be Tech.
Nice !!!!
 

pastcaring

Chimp
Nov 22, 2006
55
1
so i'm ready to start putting the pumps in.
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cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
my latest project.... my buddy Mark knockin it out:

i love shoveling but, heavy equipment can't be beat when you want to get stuff done fast. it was a blast to drive. took about 15 minutes to get the hang of it. (more pics later when we get it dialed).

 
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CHOP

Monkey
Aug 20, 2003
611
2
Rivermont, Va
Here are a couple pics of mine. Very simple layout about 25 ft wide and 40 ft long. I tore it down because I am building a new one at a different spot.

 

spornographer

Monkey
Feb 19, 2009
246
0
that's so sick!

as the hella ft. collins gang has proven (and spangler w/ sea otter pumptrack and others i've run into (cough, zachdank, cough)), think creative, think deeper and bigger. don't get stuffed into something sterile by some online blueprints...especially when you're cheating with a tractor like CMC (kidding b/c i'm jealous).

ankle-high bumps and berms don't cut it when the potential is so much greater!
 

don

Turbo Monkey
Nov 8, 2001
1,319
0
Rumson, NJ
Got my backyard loop running today. I'll try to post some pics and maybe some vid if I get around to it. It needs some tuning and packing but it's running both ways and feels fast.

For those that are making a track from scratch, I'd follow the drawings cmc posted up over the Pump Track Nation. I had my setup layed out with same size rollers all around and changed it up a little more cmc like: 2 closer rollers that you can manual, a euro/step-up thing, a mini table that's sorta like a spine. It's a lot more fun when it's every set/straight is different.

cmc - how is it going with the town? IMO, what you guys have should be a model for dirt jump/skills/pump tracks for towns. It fun but can be mellow or kinda nutty depending on how good you are. Plus the design looks durable too.
 

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
....

cmc - how is it going with the town? IMO, what you guys have should be a model for dirt jump/skills/pump tracks for towns. It fun but can be mellow or kinda nutty depending on how good you are. Plus the design looks durable too.
thanks man, glad your backyard is working out.

things are going pretty well with Austin Parks & Rec. didn't start out that great, but now we are having some pretty constructive dialogue. at this point they have stated they do not intend to tear it down. but we do still have to work on issues that neighbors (maybe just one neighbor) about parking, people being there late (although still during park hours which don't close till 10), etc. etc.

View of the S-berm/Snake Run: (josh)
 

cmc

Turbo Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
2,052
6
austin
i've been thinking a lot lately about various designs for pump tracks from scratch... in some cases, shrinking a regular bmx track design will work... in others it won't. like this one below... the first left turn berm has double the size radius of the 180 berm on the right.... bmx tracks seemed designed to have slow spots and fasts spots--if it was all a consistent speed, you'd never have opportunity to pedal hard and pass somebody. i'm not a racer--i have raced a few times in cruiser class and done well but that's about it....