How do you pump? (or really, why do you pump?)

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How do you pump? (or really, why do you pump?)

49 posts & 30 voices | Started 11 months ago by clubber | Latest reply from buzz-lightyear

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clubber - Member

I had some time to myself last night so I thought I'd try a bit of pumping. Trouble is I can kind of do it but I tend to get a bit out of tune with it all and end up bouncing up and down and not really getting anywhere...

OK, smut aside I was out on Ashton Court (Bristol)'s new quarry trail which is quite BMXy with several bumps there that are clearly designed for pumping. While I can do the whole 'pump on the downslope' thing, I'm struggling to really see why I'd bother. I can go faster by pedalling instead of pumping so why would I pump? Or are you supposed to be able to do both at speed?

Let me know how you pump...

Posted 11 months ago #
MikeT - Member

I see your recent promotion is keeping you busy then..

Posted 11 months ago #
clubber - Member

Posted 11 months ago #
ampthill - Member

Pumping.....

Useful in stituations where you can't pedal

Can also be used to increase traction

fun

Posted 11 months ago #
clubber - Member

Useful in stituations where you can't pedal

Yeah, ok, that I can understand though I don't find that happens much for me.

Traction, again makes sense to some extent though I wonder that pushing the bike around might not actually be the best way to avoid breaking traction.

fun - yeah, that I can see but my understanding was that DHers and proper fast people actually use it to go faster

Posted 11 months ago #
xiphon - Member

It's all in the timing.

Using the combination of gravity (rolling down the slope face), and momentum (throwing your body weight towards the slope face), you end up exiting the slope faster.

I understand it to be similar to squeezing a lemon pip between your fingers - the harder you squeeze (same as you throwing your weight down), the faster it shoots out of your grip.

Posted 11 months ago #
GaryLake - Member

my understanding was that DHers and proper fast people actually use it to go faster

Well faster or as fast but for less energy - someone proper good like Duncan who's actually building it will probably be at least a full minute quicker down Upper Quarry than even fairly decent riders and have turned the pedals far less.

Just go and search youtube for pumptrack footage and see how much speed a really good rider can carry without a single pedal stroke.

Posted 11 months ago #
Neil_Bolton - Member

Yep. You can actually go faster as you're pushing the bike into the grip and also pushing it 'forward'.

It requires strength - I was on that trail last night and had already ridden a fair distance - so I managed one run nice and neatly, pumping the berms and, er, woopy bumpy bits, but my second run was a mess as I didn't have the strength in me to properly hang onto the bike in the corners.

That track is deceptively tricky - it's very tight in places and there are a couple spots that prefer smoothness and planning over speed.

Just keep practising and worry less about speed, but more smoothness.

Try to get the bike 'silent'.

Posted 11 months ago #
stumpy01 - Member

This sounds like some kind of lame innuendo, but I think of the rythmn you need to get into when pumping, as being similar to the rythmn you use when swinging on a swing and getting it to go higher. If you do the pull-extend legs bit at the wrong place of the swing then you don't get any higher.
It's all about putting energy in at the right place.

As for why etc. it's one of these strange things that is quite fun to do, even without much purpose it's an enjoyable way of getting across the terrain.

It can also be used to keep up pace or indeed speed up without having to pedal. Thetford has lots of trails you can pump along (as it's so undulating) and quite often you can catch people up while pumping through a section of trail, while the person you catch has been pedalling furiously.

Posted 11 months ago #
TooTall - Member

I really like trails that you can ride with more pump than pedal - that's more fun than just going faster and pedalling.

Then again, do hardcore lycra-clad racers do fun around Ashton Court?

Posted 11 months ago #
RealMan - Member

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BDJ0JcKusM

Posted 11 months ago #
prezet - Member

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqsNioznUC0

Try this, really well explained. Worth learning how to pump with a bmx and a pump track if you have one local. It's a great way of getting momentum out of natural lumps and bumps.

Posted 11 months ago #
Campbell Coaching - Member

Hi,
Yeh it a really uesfull skills to develop, it's actualy much better than pedaling when your on lumpy or technical ground, it's also the key to good bunnyhop, manualing and jumping as well as Drops offs too and its acr for gettign some more energy in tot he bike when cornering. So as ou can see it's pretty vital to goo riding really!

We have a quick vid up on out Tops Tips section of our site here:
Use Pump Track's T0p Tips

To pump stand up tall on your bike and move your hips forward and down at about 45' then as you drive your legs straite again also push the bike through your legs, this is also how you should lift the front wheel by counter balencing it NOT by pulling the front up! You can also pump with your arms when the trail is very tight i.e. lots of small features. Don't forget you can pump up and down features too.

Let me know if you want any more info. Were going to do a more indepth 'How to' vid in the next few weeks on pumping from Vancouver as were just about to leave for a months riding out there in the morning so keep an eye out on our site.

We live in North Wales and we have 5 ace pump tracks within 30min drive so if your up Llandegla way let us know and we can go out with you and show you about them too if you want.

Hope that helps!
Bob

Hope that helps!

Posted 11 months ago #
sefton - Member

ONE BEAUTIFUL WORD - FLOW

Who cares it just feels dam sweet when you nail them!

Posted 11 months ago #
clubber - Member

Thanks all.

TooTall

Then again, do hardcore lycra-clad racers do fun around Ashton Court?

Lycra optional. Besides they're too busy annoying you...

Posted 11 months ago #
glenp - Member

Hi Bob and Ally - how you doing? Hi from me and Rich in the Surrey Hills.

Posted 11 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

I ride singlespeed - I have to pump a bit to gain speed on the flat/downhills after a certain speed - I'm just spinning the pedals to no effect otherwise.

Posted 11 months ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

Why? Easy: To maintain or increase momentum without pedalling.

How? Push into/down/through a downslope.

Best way to learn? BMX on a vert ramp. (Even if you don't get air, it's the best way to learn)

Posted 11 months ago #
Neil_Bolton - Member

@TooTall I believe they do, but I never see them

Although. And I'll create a thread later about this: Why THE **** are riders now deciding to ride UP the down bit of the new Ashton court track. I nearly clouted one yesterday - and I wasn't mooching - jesus christ, don't they ever learn?

Posted 11 months ago #
MikeT - Member

Which bit do you mean Neil?

Posted 11 months ago #
xiphon - Member

this is also how you should lift the front wheel by counter balencing it NOT by pulling the front up!

A combination of both pushing your legs down/forwards AND pulling up makes popping manuals (or the front up in general) much easier.

And good call Neil Bolton about riding BMX vert ramps - perfect practical example (and it's very basic motion too)

Posted 11 months ago #
Paceman - Member

I find it fills in the holes on my local trails with the front wheel keeping more grip. Not sure it makes me much quicker though as i've no way of testing that really, but extending my arms and pushing forward on the downslopes definately maintains flow and grip more efficiently in my opinion.

Posted 11 months ago #
nedrapier - Member

a really good way of understanding pumping is to take a skateboard to the bottom of a vert ramp or midi ramp (when it's quiet!) and roll from wall to wall, pumping up and down the walls. Once you get it the hang of it, you're soon got more height and speed than you know what to do with!

If that's an option, give it a go. You don't need to be good at skateboardism at all. It's incredibly specific, and it really helps you understand how you need to push your weight into the transition at the right time.

Edit: or use a bike, but that requires turning. I really should refresh a page if I get distracted mid reply!

Posted 11 months ago #
chvck - Member

Try playing the no pedal game on some downhilly trails that have a couple of flatish bits too. It's fun, requires lots of pumping and breathes life back into trails that you might otherwise be bored of

Posted 11 months ago #
MrSmith - Member

it's a basic skill for riding a mtb.
i'm no riding god (far from it) but if you don't move around and react to the trail contours with your body movements and maintainin momentum you are just a passenger and not 'riding' your bike.

Posted 11 months ago #
Neil_Bolton - Member

MikeT - it's the new bit that runs alongside the quarry fence. It was a bit vague before but now it doesn't make any sense - it's a down bit only.

Posted 11 months ago #
clubber - Member

Mr Smith - It's not a basic skill. What you describe isn't 'pumping'.

Posted 11 months ago #
MikeT - Member

So they are riding up the upper quarry trail, weird.

Posted 11 months ago #
chvck - Member

Mr Smith - It's not a basic skill.

I'm not saying MrSmith is correct or wrong but I would say that pumping is a basic skill. Without it surely you're just hanging onto the bike and not taking control?

Posted 11 months ago #
xiphon - Member

clubber » It's not a basic skill

Yes it is - only recently has 'bike riding' been over analysed (probably due to the rise in popularity of bike coaching in recent years) to make it sound like some sort of elite skill. It's not. Same with 'body position' and all sorts of other stuff.

Always done it since I can remember as a child, trying to squeeze as much speed out of the terrain as possible?

Posted 11 months ago #
deanfbm - Member

Basically pumping > pedalling.

I deem pumping a basic skill everyone should be capable of and practise often.

Pumping as of a big a necessity as pedalling as soon as you can nail it.

Someone who cant pump gets to some rough stuff, they rely on lots of suspension and just pedal ploughing their way through it, it's rough so they can't lay down full power on the pedal strokes.

Someone who can pump gets to rough stuff, the rough stuff now becomes a pump track, the front and back side of every bump now becomes something you can pump, generating speed all the way down. the rider is in full control, the bike is doing exactly what they want.

Someone who cant pump gets to a corner, they pedal into it, brake hard, killing all momentum, leaving the corner slow. the person who can pump approached the turn at slow to moderate speed, leaves the brakes alone, pumps through the turn and exits fast.

See the advantages of pumping?

Posted 11 months ago #
Neil_Bolton - Member

Mike T: So they are riding up the upper quarry trail, weird

Yup, and intensely annoying it is - there isn't much room as it is, especially now with the increased speeds.

Xiphon: Yes it is - only recently has 'bike riding' been over analysed (probably due to the rise in popularity of bike coaching in recent years) to make it sound like some sort of elite skill. It's not. Same with 'body position' and all sorts of other stuff.

I agree - you need to understand how to read the trail and be as efficient as possible. Sometimes you just don't need to pump the track - just let the bike soak it up - but sometimes you do - i.e. prejumping a lip, or maybe looking to get the bike in the right attitude before a berm for example.

Posted 11 months ago #
headfirst - Member

I had some time to myself last night so I thought I'd try a bit of pumping.

This is the very first sentence form the OP and nobody has picked up on it within 30 posts???

Come on STW!! YOu're letting us all down, we can do better than this!!! Pull your socks up lads!!

Posted 11 months ago #
Neil_Bolton - Member

I agree with dean: You'll hear the pros talk of 'pushing' the bike into a berm or a turn.

They/We do this to get the grip - it's a bit of a headfcuk when you first start doing it, but it really works - you're getting the tyres to do their stuff, and also get your weight right.

It also fires you out quicker - much MUCH quicker.

Some FS bikes respond well to it - my old Commencal Meta 4X used to ping out of berms when pumped into them like it was a bullet out of a gun.

Posted 11 months ago #
clubber - Member

I don't disagree that it's a useful skill, just not a basic requirement. Many people don't have a clue how to pump and yet can ride nice and fast. Obviously pumping would make them quicker still but...

Posted 11 months ago #