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Pump tracks: simple is good

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Hi Lee

I thought I would get in touch and I hope you are doing ok in these difficult times.

I have been dreaming of a backyard pumptrack for a few years and with the coronavirus lockdown here in the UK I am trying to find the silver lining and so am planning a build!

I bought your great book Welcome to Pump Track Nation v2 and have taken to design package inkscape to try to plan out a track. I have a long but relatively narrow space which is on flat land and currently simple turf. I plan to bring in a mini digger but don’t have access to bring dirt in easily so will dig down to get the dirt and then put in drainage from the low points.

The design is attached and includes a simple oval with an s-bend berm in the middle and a mixture of simple rollers and a couple of bigger ones to try to give the chance for jumps – including in and out of the s-berm. The track will be used by myself (38 and a bmx/mtb rider since a teenager) and my two kids (11 and 5 yr olds).

It would be amazing to get any thoughts you have.

Thanks
Joel

Core training for mountain biking

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Lee, I’ve been focused on legs strength and stamina. My legs are good now. My core feels like a bowl of jelly. What are some of the best exercises for building my core?

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Flying with a Trust fork

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Hey Lee,

Have you ever flown with a trust fork?  Looking at it, it doesn’t look like it would fit into my bike bag so would complicate things for my trips to the mountains.  Any experience/ideas for plane travel with them?

Paul

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Designing a jump for a Slip ‘N SLide

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Hey Lee,

I am thinking about building one of those giant slip n slides that uses a bungee cord to get people up to speed and sends them off a ramp at the end. I was thinking about doing a ramp somewhere between 45 and 60 degrees because I feel like going for more height than distance would be fun but I also don’t want to lose too much distance. Just wanted your opinion on that. Also I don’t have a clue how to do the curve of the ramp so any advice on that would help. At the moment I don’t know how fast we would be hitting the ramp because I can’t find a big enough bungee cord with a spring constant to do some calculations.

Thank you for your time,

Nolan

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Roller spacing for a kids’ pump track

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Hi Lee,

I bought the v2 of the pump track nation book. Gotta say super well written. I’m planning on building one in the back yard to keep my kids busy. They are 3 1/2 (good at strider) and almost 6 (he’s got a nice 20” bike and can ride mellow mtb trails)

My space in the yard is 35 feet wide and 32 feet deep but the SW corner has a shed so need to keep entrance clear so will likely do a trapezoid shape. That includes room for the back of berms.

My main question has to do with the 10 foot peak to peak number you mention as ideal for rollers. How tight can I make rollers. I assume since the kids are on small bikes they can handle tighter spacing. What’s a smaller spacing that would still be manageable for me. I’m advanced rider on a dj bike. I can pump my way around a pump track without pedaling but by no means an expert. Though I’d like to practice now that I have time. We are working from home for the next foreseeable future and we have the kids home too. All schools and daycares are shut down here for the next 2 months at least. Our local pump track will also be shut down for the foreseeable future.

Thanks
Bogdan

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Pump tracks: Different radii in the interchanges?

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Hi Lee,

I’ve found your “Welcome to Pump Track Nation v2” e-book to be a great resource. The pictures and steps regarding interchanges listed on page 49-50 have been helpful but I am not fully confident with the exact design of my interchanges. My main question is, is it okay that the interchange berm has a different radius than the adjacent berm? I have drawn out a plan that I hope will work well. Is there anything that stands out that needs changing?

Thank you,
Dan

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Roller height on the PumpTopia pump track?

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Hey Lee,

Just purchased the Pumptopia Track Plan and was reviewing some of the sheets while comparing some things in your ebook “Welcome to Pump Track Nation v2” and had a few questions.

In the ebook it mentions 12″ high rollers with 10′ from peak to peak for the rollers.  However, in the plans it shows 18″ for what looks like 10′ peak to peak on rollers?  Is there a reason for this?  Will it be faster or slower?

Sean

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Shortening the RAD and reach on an enduro bike

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Our friend Clara posted a great question to our Facebook group. Her situation is very common. Let’s check it out: Read more

My RAD is dialed but my levers hit my top tube

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Hi Lee,

I bought Dialed ebook from your website and have now got my RAD to + 1mm (was +51mm) , My RAAD is at 57.5 degrees (was 62) and my SHO is +10mm
Had to purchase some new bars and use a different stem that I already had so pleased I got pretty much there – now need to go and ride some decent trails to see how it feels and get used to the difference (its quite a bit) but one thing now is that my Shifter or Dropper lever will now impact the top tube if the bars rotate in an off (they didn’t hit before) – is this something you come across often and any idea on protecting the top tube other that wrapping some suitable tape/rubber/foam ?

Much appreciated
Peter

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Retracting your shoulders on the RipRow and bike

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Hey Lee,
seeing some good progress with the RipRow so far.
I’ve been struggling with my right shoulder after a crash (as well as the common rolling forward problem due to office work), my physio has given me exercises to adjust my positioning of the scapula and my shoulders in general better.

I showed him the RipRow and the lowrow exercise in particular. He likes the machine and suggests I always pull my scapula’s close to one another (which in turn brings my shoulders back), except when i reach the point of trying to push the bar away as far as possible, IOW he suggests at the end of the push away to also release the scapulas to extend the reach at the end of the spectrum, and when pulling back, start with the scapulas before bending the arms to pull.

What are your thoughts on shoulder/scapula positioning in the shredlift, lowrow and straightrow exercises or on the bike in general? Are there rules of thumb like “always try to keep shoulders back” ?

thanks!
Dieter

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Should I get a short-travel trail bike or a long-travel trail bike?

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Hi Lee

I don’t know if you answer these kinds of questions but I thought I’ll give it a try. Feel free to deny to answer ;-).

As mentioned above I’ll be getting a new bike and I actually ordered a 130mm trail bike. I’ve been a bit insecure lately if I did the right choice or if I should try to change my order to a 150mm bike which is a bit more towards Enduro (I rather have only 1 bike than 2).

I don’t want to be one of those quys who is overbiked, on the other hand I don’t want to risk damage of the bike because I’m doing stuff which the bike can’t take.

The skill level I’m hoping to achieve:

  • Good flow on trails with berms etc.
  • Being able to go down technical terrain with some “blocked” passages safely (I don’t want to go down fast)
  • Doing drops of maybe 1m
  • Jumps: clearing tables of maybe 2m safely. Not sure if I have the balls for attempting gaps.
  • Pump Track. With increasing skill, I’d love to include some jumps.

As most of my biking is without shuttles and more like tours rather than bike parks I opted for a nice, light high-end trail bike, but as said, I’m not sure if it would take the above mentioned loads.I’m about 74kg of weight. What does your experience say?

I’m looking at a Canyon Neuron (130mm rear/130mm front) and a Canyon Spectral (140/150mm).

Stefan

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Quick tips for an XC/Xterra racer

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Hi Lee! I’ve been poking around your website and it’s great. So much stuff! Also, listened to your interview on the Nourish Balance Thrive podcast (super!) and my coach Lesley Paterson suggested I reach out to you.

Here’s my deal…
I just bought a new bike. It’s awesome. I know I’m going to love it. When I figure out how to handle it. I’ve been riding a full-suspension bike forever (with very small wheels). What I lack in skill and technique I make up for with determination and squish. My new race bike (for xc and xterra) is a 29inch hardtail. It feels like a big change. I do ride cross and have some experience with a more rigid bike…but I feel really out of my element all of a sudden.

My back end pops up, jams me in the rear, chatters my teeth and I simply feel my riding is cringe-worthy.

I want to learn how to handle this thing with finesse and speed. I’ve got GOALS.

I am wondering if you might have a couple simple tips I can take with me when I hit the trails next..or point me in the right direction with your videos, products, online coaching etc. I’d be very grateful.

Thanks Lee!

-Remy

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