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!
Step 3: Grin.
Cool, will be a while till I get workin on ours………gives me an idea with the hillside tho!
180’s rock, about to go braaaap mine
Just got back from The Fix in Boulder. Yeah, there was some braaaping — BMX cruiser style.
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.
Yeah, Jared has been doing a lot of digging out there.
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!
ever seen a 180 berm with a low line that goes all the way around (360 degree berm) aka tidy-bowl berm?
Yep – we built a pair of them at the Lory State Park pump track in Fort Collins, CO.
https://www.leelikesbikes.com/photos-lory-state-park-pump-track.html
https://www.leelikesbikes.com/wp-content/111806LorySteveZachSnail.jpg
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?
Speed (meters per second) squared divided by radius (meters) divided by 9.81 equals …
2.74 Gs
Sick!
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!
Thanks for the formula! Were do you store all this worldly knowledge? You heard must hurt 🙂
Edit: Head must hurt