Testing my pump track

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Phase 2 of my pump track is built and ready to pack. Today I did a little flow testing. These images are so-so, but they show how the track flows.

I am super stoked with the track. It’s fun to ride, and it accomplished its goals.

Goals
• Learn about building a pump track on a steep slope.
• Work with the existing terrain.
• Use endemic dirt.
• Make sure everything drains — without pipes and such.
• Combine the best parts of pump track and trail.
• Help push the Pump Track Nation to a new place.

Build by the Mighty James Hall. Great job James.


Re-creating that feeling of popping between singletrack corners.

STYLE ALERT: Whoa, I actually threw a whip! Trying to get a bigger piece of that wedge-shaped backside.

We were worried we wouldn’t carry enough speed to ride the corner up the hill. Ha.

Dappled light but nice flow.

This shocked me. The bottom of the corner entrance is as least 10 feet below this spine.

This feels so cool.

BACK TO NO STYLE: A little turnbar as I jump into a faaassst uphill turn.

Topped out and working it.

Finessing the transition across that spine.

Whoa! Fast!

I’m starting to brush that tree with my arm. Upper armor for pump track riding?

Lateral transition while driving forward: one of my favorite feelings on a bike.

YEAH! This is what I was hoping for!

On Tuesday the plate compactor will beat this track into hardpacked glory. Braaap!

Know more. Have more fun!

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16 replies
  1. Daniel says:

    Wow! What an amazing track. Pump tracks with elevation changes are great. So much more interesting and challenging.

  6. Chris Q says:

    That’s an incredible track! Very stylish riding going on too.

    It looks like you would be pulling some massive G’s on this track. Is 100 laps of pump a bigger task on this track? Also, I’m interested to know how the Captain is taking it. Being such a beast of a track are you missing the P Bike at all? Could you see yourself getting around this track on a 29er?

  8. leelikesbikes says:

    Chris!

    100 laps on this track is a major task. I cruised 100 on Phase 1 pre-pack, and it wound up being 48 minutes at 85% of my max heart rate. Put into simple terms, it was really hard, and I felt like crap the rest of the day.

    The track is faster now, but the elevation changes make endurance pump a lot more intense than on a flat track. To ride this track well requires a lot of power, and that means you’re probably gonna be anaerobic.

    The new Phase 2 lines have beautiful flow. As soon as they’re packed this week, I’ll lay down another 100-lap time.

    DUDE: My Tricross is on a trainer right here in my office. The track is just outside the window. I have my yoga mat and dumbells in here too. If I can’t stay in shape this winter …

  9. leelikesbikes says:

    Captain America is working quite well — as well as the rider, right? However, I want to run Rhythm Lite tires (and leave the Captain ready to coach), so I think I will set up a dedicated 20, 24 and P.bike.

  10. John K. says:

    I love seeing new posts about your pumptrack. So much inspiration on my computer screen…

    The second to last photo shows some serious elevation difference between the lines. Wow. Did you really pump around that corner? It looks so steep!

    I know you’re going to shoot video – if you could walk the track and explain some of your ideas around maintaining pumpability with that type of uphill corner, it would really help some of us horizontally challenged pump track aspirants!

  11. leelikesbikes says:

    Hey John, yes, we’re pumping around those uphill corners. The north berm is so fast — and with a decreasing radius as you go uphill — I can barely handle the Gs (but I plan to learn!)

  12. Jason says:

    Wow. Nice track. I just finished phase 1 of mine this weekend and it also has significant elevation change.

    Do you have any advice for making it pumpable with elevation changes? Do you need bigger bumps, sharper or smoother transitions?

    I can’t get around mine without a few pedal strokes on the uphill section. It ends up stalling you too much, so it is tough to build speed on each lap, more like starting from a stop each time.

  14. Jason says:

    Thanks, I tried to follow the dimensions in the e-book for the layout. By bigger do you mean, higher jumps with wider spacing in the same ratio as recommended? Is the shape or size more important to allow you to build more speed for the elevation changes? This is my first track so I am trying to sort it out. It probably would have been better to start with a flat area, to learn, but I don’t have any on my property.

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