Building a Backyard Pump Track

[Lof8]

Back when I was about 9-12 years old, I raced BMX bikes all across FL. I've always been a fan of riding all kinds of bikes but haven't done anything closely related to BMX stuff since I stopped at age 12...until 2 weekends ago when I went to visit a friend up in Brooklyn. He took us over to a community "pump track." A pump track is similar to a normal bmx racing track, but it generally has smaller hills and is designed to be ridden witout the need to pedal by generating forward momentum as you "pump" over small hills.

We had such a blast at the Brooklyn track that I decided to build one in my back yard. I've been googling and researching for the last two weeks and am taking delivery of 25 cy of dirt tomorrow morninig! The secret (according to the guru Lee McCormack) is that no part of the track is flat. It needs to be constantly changing elevation either via berms or roller hills "like a sine wave."

I have a decent sized backyard that I use for almost nothing other than getting me sweaty when I mow it. One half of the yard will be getting a nice car workshop someday but that leaves another half for building my own pump track. I will try to take some pictures along the way to post here.

[Lof8]

[LJ851]

Oh hell yes. I've been toying with this idea myself now that i have a little land. Cant wait to see yours


Growing up, we called jumps/terrain like this a "rhythm section".

[dirtbag30]

that would be pretty fun. but you need something like this

[mrsleeve]

25 yards is not going to go nearly as far as you think its going too for an endeavor like this, I will tell you that right now. My bet is going to be your going to get at least 2 more equal loads if not 3. (I have worked with dirt all my life)

[Lof8]

Well, the track is not very big. 25 yards fit the bill pretty well. I started moving the dirt around with a wheelborrow and quickly realized I would be dead before the dirt was placed, so I went and rented a little skid loader. The rental place had a cool RX7 racecar deteriorating on site. Progress went pretty quickly with the loader. It's going to take several more hours of shaping the berms and rollers, but a big chunk of the work has been done. On to the pics...

[mrsleeve]

Looks good that looks like closer to 40yd than 25 and I didn't relize you were making your track so narrow.

[csermonet47]

Jealous. I road at the Clemson once and they had a small one. Could only go about 30 seconds before being worn out. Very fun and good practice for carrying your speed.

[Fusion]

Add jump over fire pit and do Nitro Circus style stunts.

[dirtbag30]

in the "too narrow to be put to use" patch on the side by the fence.. why not make a roll in there? have that be the starting spot.

[Lof8]

Looks good that looks like closer to 40yd than 25 and I didn't relize you were making your track so narrow.

The dirt was delivered in a sort of small sized dump truck. It took 3 trips to bring it all. I gave the driver a $20 and asked him to overfill a little, so maybe I received more than 25 yards

in the "too narrow to be put to use" patch on the side by the fence.. why not make a roll in there? have that be the starting spot.

That is in the plans!

[Nick_S]

This is awesome. I LOVE pump tracks. Been thinking of building one myself somewhere.

[dirtbag30]

+1 ^ the college here has a set of public trails and a nice pump track next to it. i dont ride bmx as much as i used to, but when i do. its trails.

[Nick_S]

You don't need BMX to ride a pump track. Everytime I go to Rays in Cleveland, most of what I ride is their pump track. It's a huge trend over in Europe to, city funded pump tracks are popping up like skateparks.

Check this place out

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Video-Tour-de-Pump-in-Zurich-Switzerland-2013.html

This thread has me all excited now. Going to check out a small wooded spot by my work I've been eyeing up. Dig now, ride in the spring!

[dirtbag30]

i have no idea if this link will work. but a small section at the college trails a few years ago

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...85850653821068