PUMP TRACKS: ALL HAIL THE 180

These special beasts are scarce in the wild, but they are abundant in captivity.

What am I talking about?

Tight 180-degree berms, the kind you find on pump tracks worldwide.

They are tricky, but once you can rail them and gain speed in the process, you are rocking.

Here’s one from a new pump track in, oh, let’s call it Tallahassee. Photo by Ian Martin. Bike by Intense BMX.

Setting the edge.

And here’s the original and still the best, from the original Fix pump track.

His Lopesness.

He’s pulling an honest 3Gs.

Step 1: Dig.

Step 2: Pump!

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14 Comments

1. Mr. P Says April 2, 2008 @ 8:56 am

   Step 3: Grin.




2. Tman Says April 2, 2008 @ 9:15 am

   Cool, will be a while till I get workin on ours………gives me an idea with the hillside tho!




3. stephen Says April 2, 2008 @ 3:38 pm

   180’s rock, about to go braaaap mine




4. leelikesbikes Says April 2, 2008 @ 6:55 pm

   Just got back from The Fix in Boulder. Yeah, there was some braaaping — BMX cruiser style.




5. Will Says April 2, 2008 @ 7:22 pm

   I was so pumped to find out that the ‘old’ pump track had been resurrected at The Fix.

   Can’t wait to try it on my hardtail.




6. leelikesbikes Says April 2, 2008 @ 7:47 pm

   Yeah, Jared has been doing a lot of digging out there.




7. dylan Says April 2, 2008 @ 9:48 pm

   I put a couple in my pump track as different options. They are definitely a challenge to rail. Both of of mine are one eighties for-sure because they are the direction changers for my track. One switches you up then the other rocks you back.
   Go out and get some, pump it to get the most of it!




8. Fred Says April 3, 2008 @ 3:17 pm

   ever seen a 180 berm with a low line that goes all the way around (360 degree berm) aka tidy-bowl berm?




9. leelikesbikes Says April 3, 2008 @ 6:42 pm

   Yep - we built a pair of them at the Lory State Park pump track in Fort Collins, CO.

   http://www.leelikesbikes.com/photos-lory-state-park-pump-track.html

   http://www.leelikesbikes.com/wp-content/111806LorySteveZachSnail.jpg




10. MW Says April 4, 2008 @ 8:59 am

    All I have is 180’s because of my limited yard space but we call them the “power generators” because if you hit them right they just increase your speed. I have hit 19.2 mph in a 9’ radius, what’s the G’s on that Lee?




11. leelikesbikes Says April 4, 2008 @ 12:14 pm

    Speed (meters per second) squared divided by radius (meters) divided by 9.81 equals …

    2.74 Gs

    Sick!




12. Bob Burnes Says April 5, 2008 @ 10:29 pm

    Lee,

    Thanks to this article and the Pump Track Nation, I’m in the midst of building a sicko pump track here in Vegas. If your going to the Otter, let me be the first to buy you a drink, my friend!

    Cheers!




13. MW Says April 6, 2008 @ 12:16 am

    Thanks for the formula! Were do you store all this worldly knowledge? You heard must hurt




14. MW Says April 6, 2008 @ 12:17 am

    Edit: Head must hurt

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