Q: Your article on how to build a pump track (MBA, August 2010) got me off
the fence and so I've decided to build a pump track in the back yard for
me and my kids! I'm renting a BobCat and even going to put lights out
there for night riding. The only PT riding I've done thought has been on
a 29er. No fun. I'm looking for a pure PT bike and have a few
questions. What are the Pros and cons of geared and single-speed PT
bikes. What wheel size should I consider with me being six feet tall. I
know I'm going to dig it, so I want a bike that's going to last and make
PT riding fun and easy. I'm pumped! - Warren from Michigan.
MBA: Way to go, Warren. You will
love having the track and the kids will love you more for putting it
in. The lights are a great idea and don't forget a sound system (be sure
to invite the neighbors to ride the track).
You are looking at pump track perfection. An optional dropout allows you to run a single-speed drivetrain. Click here for more info.
There is no such thing as a pump track bike. We have had everything from
little kids on Strider bikes to 29'er hardtail cross-country race bikes
to five-inch-travel trailbikes doing laps on the
MBA
pump track and none of those riders were complaining. Still, if you are
building your own track, we can tell you what will get you around it
with the biggest smile.
What works best are small-sized,
aluminum-framed hardtails with beefy, yet short travel forks. There is
not an advantage going with larger-sized frames even for a guy your
height. The smallest you can fit on without feeling cramped is best.
Remember, you are always pumping with your arms and legs and you are
never sitting down. Twenty-six-inch wheels are the optimal size. There
is no need to build a bike from scratch because what we have just
described is a dirt jump bike.
The plus of having a geared dirt
jump bike is its versatility. The kids can actually trail ride it
especially in the mountain-less regions of Michigan. The negative is, on
the pump track the derailleur is just one more thing to break and there
is no need for it. So, if you are just going to use this bike for
pumping, go single-speed.
We have done laps with a cruiser-class
BMX bike equipped with 24-inch wheels and a rigid fork. It is the
fastest way to get around our track, but it works you and it not as
forgiving. Fastest? Yes. Most fun? No.
As far as a bike
recommendation, that's easy. We have ridden the wheels off a Giant STP
SS. On our pump track nights, our little STP doesn't get a rest. It goes
from one rider to the next, get tossed on the ground from time to time
and except for a little chain lube, we haven't touched the thing. Its
geometry, bar, tires, pedals and fork are perfect for pumping.
"Deputy Dale" Allen, who helped build the MBA pump
track, purchased a Giant STP after riding a number of different bikes
on the track. He might have to write you up if you don't take his
advice. ASK MBARead more Q&A's on the revamped and enlarged "Ask MBA."
Click here to check out the latest bunch of questions or ask a question of your own.