So I laced up my first rim in quite some time this week. It is free when you buy all the materials from most online shops to build the wheel, but I wanted to do this one.  I think it has been about 10 years since I last built a wheel.  I don't have a truing stand, or even a proper spoke wrench, but used the ol method of putting it in the bike and taping an old spoke on the fork for a guide.  In then end, it worked out very well.  Hope to ride it tonight at CCBMX!

Shot out to Empire BMX for the idea of the photo through the valve hole in the last picture!

no more pump track

The pump track is now gone, but there are jumps, and it will be more fun this winter I think.  Come on out and take a spin!  Click to see a quick video of a run through.

Quick run through of jumps

Track is fast and smooth now.

After a week of very hard rain and storms, the track needed some maintenance.  Raked it, watered it, then had a buddy over, and a bunch of kids playing so the track is is great shape now.

I also got the lights up, and they are easy to take down with one person.

Made a quick vid with Phil hitting the new "roll in"

First complete laps!!

Wow, it finally was above freezing and not raining for a week, and I got to work and now have a ridable, packed, very smooth pump track. Had a friend come over and some pretty fast laps were ridden.  He was able to double in one spot, so the design works for advanced riders.

I wanted the track to be more flowable, fun, and jumpable that the first one.  I couldn't double anything yet, but its coming.  In fact, going for some x-rays tomorrow for my attempts.

All in all, I am very happy with the results, and after only about 5 hours riding time on the track, it is very fun and fast.

Here's a couple links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab_TzisvtXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gD7zmAU3-Q

finally got a complete lap ridden

Tonight the dirt was dry enough to actually ride the first full lap on the track!!  It's been almost 3 months since I first moved the dirt.  It has been raining every time it gets above freezing for at least 2 days.  I have been covering it with plastic, when I can, but it has been tough going. 

Looks like the worst of the winter may be behind us.

I worked on the second straight, and got it smooth.  It will need some fine shaping, but it rode better than I thought.  Berms 2 and 3 were still quite soft tonight.  I think its going to be fast once its dialed and firm.

Hope to get some good time on the track this weekend, and maybe start laying out the center of the figure 8. 

I will post some photos once I get out in the daylight.

Long time no Post

Its been awhile.  I've been riding, working on the track, and been pretty motivated to make some changes.

This week, the track flooded again.  I will either sell my house (not related to the flooding), or keep the house, but move the pump track up to the back yard.  Wife isn't too happy about it, but I think it will work out ok.

I have a couple different layouts drawn up.  One is a replica track of the 2010 sea otter pump track. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC1RBoa-z7k&p=F356C4B51EE5A582&playnext=1&index=25

This is a pro level track that I think would be fun to ride, but hard to build just right, and not so much fun for beginners.  Anyway, trying to get a video posted that I just hours before the rain started.  I will post it up in just a few. Its not a great video, but gives the idea of the size and flow of the first part of the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkgPgI0BiGU

Shaping up after the flooding

After the rain and flooding a couple Sundays ago, the track is starting to shape up now.

Its quite a process. I really wish I had planned out drainage before I had the dirt. The only problem with that is that my original plans for the rollers, berms, and everything else, was completely off, and so the drainage still wouldn't be right.

Keep in mind, I read alot about pump tracks. I read Lee's book. I drew out several plans, worked with my buddy, and put lots of time into planning and thought about the construction. It is just not an easy process. That is part of why I am writing this. Pump tracks seem like an easy process, but its more work than you would think. I am happy I did is still. When you get a section dialed and smooth and fast, it really feels great.

I added a new roller tonight. I had a friend over this weekend to help dig, and we added a step up type roller, as well as one more. The track has a total of 16 rollers, two good berms, and one big, great 180 degree plus turn. I have about 11 or 12 rollers to fine tune, as well as 2 big berms left.

If you are thinking of building a pump track, do it, it is worth all the work.

My boy takes his first pedal

Here are the before and after photos from the rain storm.

My son, 2yrs, 9 months, and about 15 days, rode a bike under his own power, without training wheels for the first time today. This photo is of him on the runner bike at the pump track.

What a feeling!! He has had the runner bike from Strider since his first birthday. He has had the Specialized 12" pedal bike since Christmas, but really took no interest in pedaling. Well, last evening, I gave him a push and he started cranking and pedaling across the lot. It really was exciting. He loves his Strider on the pump track, so now I have to get him out with the pedal bike and teach him to pump.

Anyway, it really was great to see. We went to the BMX track last night, and he wanted to get on the "pump track" there. I hope to have him race before he turns 4.

First Entry of the Blog

Yesterday I went to see the pump track, after the rain on Sunday, I wanted to pump out some of the standing water. The entire track was completely underwater!!!

I started the pump track on the 4th of July, 2009, with only the help of a friend and a couple days of rental on a bobcat.

There have been designs, re-designs, builds, modifications, and re-builds.

I read all I can about pump tracks, what works, what doesn't and why are they so much fun.

Yesterday I was quite disappointed, having put so much work in, just the day before the rain, and then to see it underwater. My son, at 2.5 yrs old, suggested the flooding might just go away and we could ride the pump track, but I knew that after the water goes away, we still have a lot to do just to get it back to where is was.

This blog will document some of the work that goes into it, ideas of what works, and what doesn't, and anything in between.

I hope to post lots of photos and videos along the way.