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[Closed] Has anyone ever made a pump track?
I'm feeling the need for a new project, and I think that a pump track could be really beneficial here (as far as I can see there isn't one in the whole city; a few skateparks and a 'cycle circuit' but that's it.
I helped get a skatepark built (in a small town rather than the city) a few years ago, but I suspect things have changed since then so I'd appreciate any advice or experiences folk might have.
(I'm only musing at the moment, my first step will be to find out if there's any interest!).
talk to the local MP, their may be one in planning but needs resident backing.
If you want quotes talk to Velosolutions or http://www.clarkkentcontractors.com/tracks/pump-track.html
Good luck with it.
A few years back I was (very slightly) involved with the new trails in Philips Park, Bury. I suggested that the patch of ground next to the carpark would make an idea place for a pump track. The cap-ex/projects guy from the council agreed, but said that it wouldn’t progress as the Parks Department had no money to maintain it. When I asked what maintenance would be involved he said that the issue would be mowing the grass. The mowers that they had in the park couldn’t cope with the undulations. To mow round a pump track they would need strimmers and there were no strimmers based in that particular park.
Short answer - Yes.
But -
Without substantial financial and volunteer backing behind the project it is a long hard lonely road.
If you can get the actual track built by a company who's work you have tried, then in hindsight that's what I'd have done.
I went down the Lee like bikes/Pump track nation route, which isn't as bmx style and requires quite a bit of effort to get round and doesn't have much air time opportunity unless you are pretty good to start with. It seems popular with younger kids out with Mum and Dad but not the rad kidz.
The land is parish council land and although they have been great in helping, I need to raise around £700 a year for the public liability, this can be hard to find and the council aren't interested in adopting it as a facility.
Don't let this put you off, it's great fun watching it being used or breathing through my eyelids after four laps!
Anything else you want to ask, feel free to email me?
Thanks guys - talking to councillor straight away makes sense, I was going to try and gauge interest first but there could well be something in progress already.
build it - they will come (probably, if it isn't raining!)
One in Machynlleth.
Just been re freshed. Thanks to the dyfi events and olly and the athertons.
Details on the summit cycles and dan atherton instagram.
jwt - who do you use for your liability insurance?
I too have been trying to get a pump track off the ground locally and got as far as the council agreeing to a site in the local park but only if I first proved the need and then formed a community group to lease the land and insure, inspect and maintain it. Sadly by this point it was too late to get all the info together to apply for this years Big Local fund.
I've worked out that next time round I need more people on board with the varied skills required and we need to start by proving the need for one.
What does suprise me is the lack of accessable information to show why these tracks are required. Neither C&K or Velosolutions have this info or even Leelikesbikes. OpenMTB are currently seeing if they can put something together.
As suggested you need the councilllors on your side and piggybacking onto a local sports club might help. If I get any more info I will let you know.
My local one was a combination of lottery grant (a big one, for projects across the whole park) and Access Sport who helped start up the BMX club.
Dropped you a mail Mugboo.
Thanks JWT 🙂
In the process. Got group, charity status, feasibility , just put out tenders for design and build. Now have to take that to planning etc and raise the eye-watering amount of money.