BMX bike for MTB training (again)?

Hey there Lee
I am a mediumly ordinary MTb rider, who does not get out often enough. I have bought Mastering Mountain Bike Skills edition2, and it is a great book, however I really do not to get to session stuff much which would imprint skills into my old brain. And so often ” just riding” gets in the way of actual learning.

Recently a couple of pump tracks have been built where I live ( In Wellington, NZ ) and they are of course just ideal for sessioning and skills. I am just starting to ride awkwardly on them.

My question is this: might is be worthwhile getting a BMX bike for the purpose of fun and skill acquisition?

I have a peferectly excellent MTB (an Ibis Mojo) however in a way having a completely different bike would make riding a pump track an event, and I would be more likely to session it and not be tempted by the nearby MTB trails?

I do not want to build a hard tail MTB as the Mojo is just fine for all the trails, and in some ways a HT is an unbalanced beast compared with a fully rigid BMX or a fully sprung MTB ?

Your BMX book does look enticing!

cheers
Rob
Wellington, NZ

Ian prefers the responsiveness of the little bike.

Hey Rob,

Yes.

Get a BMX bike.

If you want a bike just for the pump track, and you want to earn your PhD in Pump, a BMX is ideal:

• Efficient. Tiny and tight with awesome angles of incidence.

• Immediate feedback. When you’re on you’re On. When you’re off …

• Cheap. You don’t need a carbon this and that race bike. Just get something that fits. See links below.

• FUN! BMX bikes are freaking fast!

If you’re an awkward bike handler, start with a 24″ cruiser. If you’re ready to start your thesis, step right to a 20″ race bike. Get knobby tires. Don’t even think about clipping in.

Treat riding your BMX bike on the pump track as a job. It’s your job — no, your duty — to master pumping technique. It’s fun on its own and …

… when you get back onto your mountain bike, everything will feel like slow motion. Which means you have to speed up!

More on this topic:

What is the best pump track bike?

Pump track weapon: small and inexpensive

Pump the trail bike or get a 20?

Braaap!

Lee

PS: The book Pro BMX Skills has insane detail on pumping technique.

Know more. Have more fun!

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