Building the pump track in Saginaw, MI

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Day 1: Today was long, hot and awesome at Haithco Recreation Area. Dirt is placed and ready for Friday and Saturday’s volunteer dig days. We’ll be working all day both days. Can’t wait to ride this track — and swim in the lake afterward.

I’m posting photos and updates on Lee Likes Bikes @ Facebook (See Facebook box at upper left of this page.)

Day 2: The track is running thanks to county staff, helpful families and the jail work crew. Tomorrow we chase details and turn laps. Community Braaap!

Day 3: Thanks to the kids from a local group home and a surprise appearance by NorCal DH legend Allie Rau, the track is massaged, packed and ready to rip. Riding sesh in the morning, then head to the Detroit airport. I have a dozen blisters on my hands and feet, and I am beat.

Pump track build in Saginaw, MI this weekend

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Hi all, I’m heading to Saginaw, MI to build a pump track this weekend. We sure could use some help!

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Custom pump track madness in Lethrbridge, Alberta

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More than two years ago, Aaron Simms from Trail Crew Design Corp. hired me to design two pump tracks for a bike park he planned to build in Lethrbridge, Alberta, Canada.

He told me to create one pump track for beginners and one for experts, and to go nuts — no limitations. I threw down some madness. Two years later, and the park is coming together. Yesterday Aaron placed dirt for the tracks. Check out this action:

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Valmont Bike Park trail descriptions

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I will update this post as I explore the incredible Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO. Expect photos and videos.

June 14, 2011: Today, my first day at Valmont, I rode the park for six (6!) glorious hours. Features reviewed: Medium Slopestyle Line, Dual Slalom, Mesa Top Pump Park, Mesa Flow, Corkscrew, Rivet, The 5280′ Run-Up, Creekside Pump Park, Small Dirt Jumps, Dirt 101

June 15, 2011: Update on the big pump track. Added bike suggestions.

June 16, 2011: Added video of Jerad Fischer rolling the Large Slopestyle line. This man is ripping with one leg. Medium dirt jump line.

June 19, 2011: Updated pump track descriptions, added Large dirt jump line.

June 30: Updated Large dirt jump line.

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I just rode Valmont Bike Park

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Wow. Wow. Wow. So rad.

Tons of terrain, teeming with all kinds of riders, perfect places to teach (and use!) skills.

I am vying for the contract to run programs here. Oh man, I want this. Skills clinics for all styles and levels of riders, pump track races, dual slalom races, time trials, cyclocross, special guest coaches, bike demos, my mind is spinning!

Lyons pump track is ready for action!

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This weekend is the Lyons Outdoor Games pump track race. Last weekend we gave the pump track two days of much needed love.

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Dig/ride at Lyons Bike Park this weekend

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In preparation for next weekend’s Lyons Outdoor Games dirt jump and pump track comps, we’re going to give Lyons Bike Park some love.

Keep reading for details.

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I wanna build a 4X track

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Hi lee,

Bit of a pickle as to how to get started on our own 4x track. We are trying to find a used Bobcat to get us going. Is this a silly idea? The track will be in what is currently heavy scrub and we also plan to build a mini dual slalom, pump track and some slopestyle features. Do you know of any 4x track plans around that are proven winners?

Cheers
Jonny

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Temporary pump track for event in Finland

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I sent a ready-to-build design spec to our man Tapio in Finland, and he’s built a temporary track for the Stadibike event. After the event, he’s gonna move the dirt and build a permanent version of the track nearby. Pump Track Nation!

Check out the videos:

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Where should we build our Deutsch pump track?

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Hey Lee,

Thanks to Welcome to Pump Track Nation, I am working on my pumptrack project and things look good, Germany) will support the project. They will even allow us to use a piece of public property to build the track on. Right now I’m thinking about the exact location and this is where I have one or two questions.

• The track could be close to some trees which would mean shade from around noon in summer, but also leaves in fall. Alternatively it could be built in some distance to those trees (no shade at all).

• In your book you write that water is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately a connection to the water main is rather difficult at the site. For the building process we could use water from a tank truck. As for the maintenance of the track – is water really necessary for this? Dust is not a factor. Generally, I think we have much more rain (let’s call it precipitation to sound smarter 😉 – you see, I also enjoy the linguistic finesse of your books) in Germany than you do in the Midwest.

Thanks for your advice!

Ralf

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Speaking of pump tracks at schools …

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In comments for Save the pump track at Clayton Middle School in Salt Lake City, Teacher Jeff Zook hinted a campus pump track might interfere with class time — but imagine the teaching opportunities.

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Building the 2011 Sea Otter pro pump track

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Check out these photos from our man James Hall, jmhalldesign — solid digger, rider and dude.

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