Building the Pony Pee Pump Track

There was rain. And mud. And pony piss. But I’m proud to say Giant Bicycles’ temporary pump track at the Keystone Stables is ready to rock. A tale of logistics, precipitation and teamwork.

Step 1: Logistics
I spent a lot of time gathering resources, doing design and getting the plan together. Projects like this have very little to do with pump tracks and bike riding; they’re about business and process. But that’s no fun, so let’s move on.

But first, I must thank Zach Lewis for helping with the design, and for proving that any two bumps are jump-able.

Step 2: Place the dirt
Thursday was a crazy, rainy day. I of course rocked a t-shirt, shorts and running shoes. The only thing that kept me warm was constant action: spotting Bobcat driver Ernie, pulling out rocks, digging drainage trenches.

After I marked the course, Ernie placed the slop with great precision.

Just upstream was a corral, and I spent the day slogging through a slippery mix of water, piss and muck.

Most of the dirt is in place. Ernie is getting the seventh, and last, load.

We left the track covered in tarps. Great idea Ernie!

Step 3: Shape the dirt
We had an all-star crew of seven diggers. Everyone got paid, got fed and got to rip a sweet track.

Friday morning dawned bright, and we got to work.

Everyone knew what to do, and they just did it. Awesome.

The beginning of this project was all about business and precision. At this point, it’s all about craftsmanship. Front Range pro diggers Andy and Brandon.

In less than two hours, the track was ready to ride. Then the rain came.

We re-tarped the track and went to Good Times for burgers.

Step 4: Ride, baby, ride!
Every new track starts off soft and slow. The more you ride it, the harder — and faster — it gets.

Andy works some clockwise action.

This section has flow!

Brandon claims this double.

And the final touch. Super pro.

The sun shines. Brandon rips. Life is good.

If your question is “Can Zach double those two rollers?” the answer is probably yes.

I help burn in the S section. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

The big 180 feels like Sea Otter dual slalom — at 9,300 feet.

Will is your current World Champion of Lyons Endurance Pump. We needed Will to pound in a few hundred laps, and he obliged.

Zach rips the 180 a new one.

A 62-degree lean angle in a 14-foot radius turn correlates to 20 mph and 2 Gs. Here I drive straight through the bike, perpendicular to the bank. Nerds have fun too.

Will, about to pack this berm with his Awesome Power.

And, finally, Zach shows us that pump tracks aren’t just for cornering. How rad it this, railing a corner so fast you jump 10+ feet into the next one.

Several spots were still gooey at the end of the day. Please, please, please be sunny and dry for the next few days.

We left the track tarped and, hopefully, hardening. A bunch of Giant dealers will rip it Monday evening.

Stay tuned.

— Lee

Robyn@VintageRedline says:

August 1, 2009 at 8:58 pm

You are getting better and better at this Lee. That is a really fast build time, and it looks like a terrific pump track, I like the shape a lot!

Ben Blitch says:

August 2, 2009 at 6:25 am

Many hands do indeed make light work. When do you have to go back up and tear it down? Did you payroll all those folks so they would be under your insurance or did you just letter rip?

zach says:

August 3, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Lee,
You sure now how to throw a hell of a pump track party. The track turned out great for the time we had and i feel ya on the “lets hope that the sun was able to bake in some of those burms.” this should be one great event on monday let us know how it turns out.