Day one on the p.pump
It’s been a big year for sweet new bikes. First the Stumpjumper FSR 29 Carbon S-EVO and now a new p.bike, dubbed for now the p.pump.
We rode today. Check it out:
Mission
Go back to a dedicated pump/jump bike. Captain America has been a great all-around bike, but, as much pump track as I ride, I want to try ripping a bike that’s dialed for that situation.
Captain America works well for a lot of things, but he is a compromise. Benefits of a pump-specific bike:
• Slacker head angle. I’m running 66es and 68s on the trail bikes. The Captain’s 70 works but it doesn’t feel as rail-able.
• Short chainstays. The Captain and even the 29 S-EVO can be manualled (and they are often), but shorter stays adds easy power to that operation. Also, I think the more rear-biased weight distribution increases pump when pushing through the feet.
• Stiffer. Again, The Captain can be railed. But the rear wheel does hit the chainstays in crazy corners like the ones in my yard. The bike has flex, which is great to a certain level of braaap. Above that, the bike feels sketchy.
• Lower. I don’t think this is a major issue, but the seat is lower on a DJ bike than on an XC bike.
• Throwing down at the Sea Otter pro pump track event. If not in the final race, then while we’re burning in the track.
The seat tube is too short to run a full post (does anyone know of a 500mm dropper post?). The Captain remains my daily driver/clinic bike.
Notable parts
![]() The p.pump concept bike. |
• Specialized P3 frame. One of the classic DJ frames. Dialed geometry. Super stiff. Unbreakable. Not super heavy.
• Fox 831 fork. The class leader in pump and jump. Stiff and light, with valving that wants to be braaaped.
• SRAM Rise 60 wheels. Yep, I’m that balding guy with a totally sick bike and no style. These $2,000 carbon trail wheels made my Stumpy 26 feel like a new machine. Now that I’ve gone 29, the p.pump is a great place to enjoy their lightness, stiffness and absorbency.
• Shimano XTR Race brakes. OMG, these are mellow but powerful brakes. Just like the mind-blowing XTR Trail brakes on the Stumpy 29 S-EVO, but without the Servo-Wave levers.
• Shimano PRO Atherton 50mm stem with the Truvativ Boobar riser bars I won at last year’s Sea Otter DS. Good fit and worry-free burl.
• Specialized Fast Trak 2.2 front tire and Renegade 2.1 rear tire. Ultimate fastness and hard-pack OKness in the back, a little extra bite in front. Control casings for both.
• Drivetrain is top-level SRAM 9 speed that I’ve been hanging onto.
• Fyxation Mesa MP pedals. Cheap, plastic and working fine so far. When it’s time to Race (capital R) I’ll probably clip in.
Pro build by Steve Shelp at The Fix Bike Shop.
Total weight: Less than 24 pounds.
Riding the bike
Huge surprise:
The best fork + one of the best frames + insane wheels + top level components = a nice-riding bike.
Duh!
More precisely:
Today I took a dirt jump class with the legendary Yellow from Yellow Designs. Yes, I was the student, and it was rad to learn new things. Trying to live in that sweet spot where ability meets challenge.
• OMG this bike is quick. Light and stiff generally leads to quick. Especially when most of the lightness is in the wheels.
• Manualing is easy and powerful! Holy cow man, snap!
• Pumping feels connected, precise and like, well, BRAAAP!
• We all know Specialized P.3s can jump. I had more fun jumping today than ever. Most of that credit goes to Yellow, but the bike is definitely not sucking.
• The dual slalom course was a whole other experience. I’ve been riding the Captain and the Stumpy 29 S-EVO, and I get down that track OK. But dude: Today was crazy. As an indication of speed, I was consistently jumping the step-up on the third straight, which has never happened. The rest of the track felt solid and fast (as opposed to sketchy, which can be confused with fast). We’ll have to rock the lap timer.
Lots of “testing” to do. I’ll get a lot of laps at Sea Otter.
Stay tuned.
Lee
Know more. Have more fun!
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Lee~ That bike is sweeet! What a stallion to start off the season with! Great to ride with you, get you flowin, rippin and see some dip in your hip! We’re never too old to learn.
~See you on the trail.
Beautiful bike! Is it a fair bit longer than your old P Bike?
Way longer in the front end.
I am so jealous. And not of the bike! (Although, that bike is soooo sick!) Nope, I’m green with envy for all that time on rad tracks including a day with the Yellow rippa! Green over here…
That looks amazingly dialed! can’t wait to hear more.
glad to see you haven’t been completely brainwashed by the 29 bug, i was worried there for a while.:)
Ha! All bikes are rad.
Oh’ boy my good friend putting the P back in PUMP. With that said we (the yellow team) will be doing a little pump track party at my house in the near future and of course I would love for you to come as you know you are always welcome. The track is a complete new redesign by yours truly. Yep 3 ft rollers with 3g turns and oh yeah the famous bbq corner which we will be pushing 4 or more g’s so make sure you have a belt on that front wheel and yourself…. Look forward to seeing you soon????
Zach!
I’d love to rip your track and all its sickness.
See you after Otter …
Have fun at the Otter and I will be in touch.
Shelp’s and ex Steamboat guy Isn’t he??
nice finger! and looks like the twins are practicing their drawing on the garage door! 😉 sweet bike!
That bike is dialed! Plus you cant go wrong with Steve wrenching on it. I worked with him when we were both at Sports Garage. He an awesome rider and all around great person.
Lee, I have been wanting to build up a ride just like this to build my skills and keep my Stumpy on trail duty. How would you build this bike if you where on a budget? What wouldn’t you skimp on? Would you go P.2 and convert?
This bike is truly extraordinary, but you can build skills and have fun on any stock BMX or dirt jump bike.
The P.1 and P.2 are great values.
Oh, and you have to see this video! BMX world champ rips the lower Valmont Bike Park pump track on this bike:
https://www.leelikesbikes.com/my-p-3-rips-the-lower-valmont-pump-track.html
I did! That and this post about your build up (also reading our book 😉 ) got me interested. I want a bike that I can hit some short flowy trails, pump track and mess around around town. That is why your build peaked my interest. Gears, brakes and ride height..all while still being amazingly nimble in the pump track. I am sold.