How to Make a Bicycle Pump Track for Your Kids

Do you have kids who love to ride their bikes? If so, you may be thinking about creating a backyard space that is fun and exciting for them so they can ride whenever they want. Creating a pumptrack is an excellent way to accomplish this, as it’s a type of trail that enables riders to ascend and descend specific areas over and over again. Read on for more information on how to make a bicycle pump track with the help of an expert.

What is a Bike Pump Track?

A bike pump track is a type of trail that is often used in mountain biking. It consists of a series of berms, bumps and jumps that enable riders to ascend and descend specific areas over and over again, resulting in a smoother ride.

Creating a Bicycle Pump Track

Creating a bicycle pump track is easy if you have the right tools, materials and instructions to follow. One of the most important things you need is a design plan. This will help you figure out the size and layout of your backyard, as well as how steep or gentle you want your hills to be. Once you know what type of pump track you want, it’s time to start figuring out which materials are best for your design. For example, if you want to create a small-scale track that goes around your yard, then dirt or sand may be best for your surface. However, if you want something more permanent like concrete or asphalt then this may be an option for you. Be sure to discuss these options with an expert before making any final decisions!

Materials You Will Need

Some of the materials you may need to consider for your project include: - stones, which act as the surface for the track; - a roller, which is necessary for creating a smooth surface; - a shovel and rake; - wood planks (typically 2”x4” boards); and - stakes.

Step 1: Build the Bottom Curve

The first step in creating a bike pump track is building the bottom curve. For this, you will need to create a section of the track that is about five feet high with a radius of about three feet. You’ll want to make it about ten feet wide and have it slope down towards the center. It should look like an upside-down cone.

Step 2: Build the Middle Curve

The first thing to do is to mark the center of your pump track. You can use a string and measure the distance from one end of the yard to the other. This is your center point, so mark it with a large piece of tape or something that you’ll know is visible to you but not easily seen by children. Next, follow the curves that you want for your track. This center curve will be about two feet wide and will be curved in an S-shape. For this step, use a string and hold it tight so it follows the desired curve as closely as possible. You can also make a small toy out of a ball and move it around on the ground until you get the shape you want for your curve. It should take up about two feet in width when finished, with a gradual slope from one side to another. Next, finish off this section by laying down pieces of wood or stone under each end of your track to prevent slipping on turns (a good idea if children are involved). Remember that these should have enough space under them so that children won’t hit their heads as they ride over them while going uphill or downhill around curves.

Step 3: Build the Hill and Anchor Point

To build the hill, you'll need to use compacted dirt or soil. If the ground is too hard, you can use some of your local sand for leveling. You'll want to make sure that it's a gradual slope with an incline of about 10 degrees. It should also be at least 12 inches high. The anchor point is where the bike rider pushes off from to start their descent down the track. It needs to be about four feet away from the base of the hill and parallel to it so that when a rider uses it, they will have enough room to coast back up on top of the hill without hitting anything in their way.

Step 4: Add Shaping Material

The shaping material will be spread over the dirt and then scraped into the surface of the dirt to give it a more even surface. The first step is to make sure that you have enough material. You will want to spread a quantity of shaping material in an area of about ten squaremeters, so if you are not sure how much you need then it's best to estimate more than less. The next step is for you to take the shaping material and start scraping it into the surface of the dirt that has been laid. You will want the surface to be as even as possible, so it should be flat and level. With this step complete, it is time for your kids to come out and try out their new bicycle pump track!

Conclusion

It might not seem like much of a project, but if you’ve got the time and the space, building a bike pump track for your kids is a great way to get them outside and active. And if you’ve got an older child who’s just getting into mountain biking, it’s a fun project to do together. The first step is to figure out where you want to put your track. The space should be as flat and level as possible with no large slopes. Once you decide where to put your track, you can start building. Be creative with the curves—they don’t have to be perfect. Good luck!