Wanna Help Us Build A Pump Track?

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Wanna Help Us Build A Pump Track?

98 posts & 42 voices | Started 2 years ago by Ben_Haworth | Latest reply from Ben_Haworth

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pumptrack

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Ben_Haworth - Moderator

For next issue's "One Ton Weekend" feature we're going to attempt to build a pump track.

The location is a bit of a secret at the mo but it's somewhere in West Yorkshire.

A date is to be confirmed. Maybe the weekend of Aug 22nd-23rd?

You'll be paid in drink. And food.

And you'll be able to feel all smug and proud about helping to create something ace out of nothing.

You're also guaranteed* to be hugely famous once the magazine comes out.

*not an actual guarantee.

If you're interested in helping - or have some advice about building pump tracks - please post on this thread and/or email us

Posted 2 years ago #
Dylan08 - Member

I'm happy to offer some help!, Im based in Leeds

please keep me updated via email if poss, with date place etc

lj.smith@leedstrinity dot ac dot uk

Posted 2 years ago #
woody2000 - Member

As above, should be able to help with a couple of hours spade work.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mr Agreeable - Member

Down South I'm afraid but we built one a while ago and I'm happy to share our experiences.

I'd say first off be prepared for a bit of trial and error. We used the specs on http://www.leelikesbikes.com - it has some really good advice but I think on their particular design the rollers are too closely spaced for a normal 26" wheeled bike.

You need to build up the humps and dig out the troughs as much as possible, flat is bad. Make the corner berms high to start with, as if you don't feel confident committing to them you lose all your speed.

We plumped for an un-ambitious oval design - kind of wish we'd gone for something a bit more creative now, like a figure of 8 that you can ride in either direction. One local track has alternate lines, with doubles next to the rollers, which is a nice idea.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cheeky Monkey - Member

You need to plan it. If you don't and set lots of people off digging you'll end up with lots of things in the wrong place. Then you'll have to rework lots of stuff.

You need to consider drainage. If it all fills up with the first rain you will cry and the spot will be pants. Do you need to install drainage channels, do you have suitable free draining fill, do you need geotextile?

Are you going to build up, down or both?

Are you going to import, win on site or both? How much muck are you going to need and how are you going to shift it? Mech barrows and mini diggers are wonderful for this (and a good driver for the mini is a godsend).

How are you going to shift the muck? Good (or even just half good) PT's can be very fast. Big enough berms to catch riders can take a fair amount of muck.

Have you got enough tools and are they the right ones (the right tools always make a job much easier)? Do you have enough barrows?

Do you have a budget?

You have email

Tim
Chairman, SingletrAction
Building a PT last night in Buck Woods and built another in Stainburn.

And like the man says, have you memorised the PT builders bible by Lee McCormack.

PS - Pump Tracks rule

Posted 2 years ago #
ChatsworthMusters - Member

Errr wots a pump track?

Posted 2 years ago #
Dylan08 - Member

the Stainburn pump-track is great fun!!

Buck woods is looking good, but seems to be full of chav's everytime we ride up that way

Posted 2 years ago #
slowrider - Member

singletrack trying to be mbuk?

u iz 2 old n ur byk iz nt sarcin enuf 4 pump trakz!

Posted 2 years ago #
Ben_Haworth - Moderator

This is a pump track.

Posted 2 years ago #
StuF - Member

miss read that as 'track pump'....

Posted 2 years ago #
Cheeky Monkey - Member

Lee McCormack, the God of PT building:

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/ebook-welcome-to-pump-track-nation

Posted 2 years ago #
Dylan08 - Member

"Lee McCormack, the God of PT building" ... I thought you were Tim!

Posted 2 years ago #
DaveyBoyWonder - Member

I might be up for it ben but flying back from verbier that weekend. Make it the weekend after and I'm there!

Posted 2 years ago #
Cheeky Monkey - Member

"Lee McCormack, the God of PT building" ... I thought you were Tim!

No way. Just because I talk a lot doesn't mean I know what I'm doing, it's fooled a lot of people

Posted 2 years ago #
Teetosugars - Member

Ooo, might be able to get of a nightmare wedding scenario..

Thank **** for that.

Tell us more...

Posted 2 years ago #
mike_check - Member

I might be up for helping a bit with this if it's reasonably close to Bradford, built many BMX trails/dirt jumps in the past so berms and rollers are all good! Have a mate in Bradford so can crash up there and would be good to get stuck in and also ride somewhere new!

Posted 2 years ago #
ChatsworthMusters - Member

This is a pump track.

Ah, thank you. It's a BMX track!

Posted 2 years ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

try and get hold of some pics of the new pump track in Derby, its ace, the corners are so tight you feel like your going to ride out the top of the berm despite it going upto vertical!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Cheeky Monkey - Member

Ah, thank you. It's a BMX track!

Oh dear, not really.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonEdwards - Member

Ah, thank you. It's a BMX track!

Nope. It's a pump track. Completely different to a BMX track. Far smaller, far tighter, and doesn't have a start or a finish. You just ride round it using body english rather than pedaling to generate your speed.

Mark Weir is the daddy when it comes to riding them - ridiculously quick!

Posted 2 years ago #
lister-hooded - Member

info please,

Posted 2 years ago #
stumpyjon - Member

I'd be interrested, doubt I'll be able to ride it afterwards but I do like digging holes.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mr Agreeable - Member

Pump tracks are easy to ride (unless the turns are super-tight), it's just keeping it going. Three or four laps round ours is enough to turn me into jelly.

Posted 2 years ago #
Hodge-Podge - Member

StuF - Member

miss read that as 'track pump'....

I misread it as 'pump up track'. I'd have been well up to help make an inflatable velodrome!

Posted 2 years ago #
RHSno2 - Member

My abs and lower back ache just watching that vid

Posted 2 years ago #
xherbivorex - Member

i reckon i'm up for this ben. it'll be a laugh, if nothing else...

Posted 2 years ago #
igm - Member

Interested

Posted 2 years ago #
lank45 - Member

in norland so if its in the calderdale area could get myself and a few other chaps digging. Drop me a mail at helliwell_b@yahoo.com

Posted 2 years ago #
soma_rich - Member

Its a shame its the same weekend as the Big Bike Bash. You would have got more people to help any other weekend.

Posted 2 years ago #
Stevie G - Member

Hey, I,m up for helping and probably get a couple more lads in on it.
Drop me an Email: stephen.greenwood1@googlemail.com Cheers....

Posted 2 years ago #
abductee - Member

The video on here is worth a look
Monkeyspoon
Might be near enough for you to try it out before you build one?

Posted 2 years ago #
Crell - Member

thisisnotaspoon - Member

try and get hold of some pics of the new pump track in Derby, its ace, the corners are so tight you feel like your going to ride out the top of the berm despite it going upto vertical!!

The one at the Alvaston BMX track? It's good but - 1) it's not long enough, 2) it could do with some longer straights 3) you can't rinse and repeat. Too many step ups and not enough rollers. I can take some pics next week if needed. The ones in those vids are far better.

Posted 2 years ago #
Unklehomer - Member

myself, and possible others might be able to pitch in...

Posted 2 years ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

From my very limited experience at Stainburn, I have understood/learned that if you're seriously planning to build a ridable PT in a short period (ie. a weekend), then you really really really do need someone with previous experience, like Cheeky Monkey, on site. Otherwise, you might maybe build a sort of PT in a weekend, but it probably won't flow/ride very good and/or you won't have your drainage sorted. Otherwise, like Cheeky says, you'll be tweeking it/rebuilding it for weeks/months afterwards. It seems to me to be a bit of an exact science, you can't just make do with people throwing earth around and rough dimesions, it won't make a PT.

I should say that the PT at Stainburn was not something I was particularly keen on digging, I had very little involement. I now 'get it' and it's actually good fun and improves your bike riding skills, but I did learn that the building of a PT obviously requires some skill and knowledge and/or a dedication to keep tweeking/rebuilding until it's just right.

Good Luck

Posted 2 years ago #
kimbers - Member

that looks sooo much fun anyone know of any in london?

id be happy to help build one if anyone owns some spare land in london.........?!..........anyone?

Posted 2 years ago #

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