As some of you may already know,
I'm Tomoda, and I've been heading out to the pump track almost every week lately.
A pump track is a dirt track designed to be ridden without pedaling,
where you navigate a series of bumps using movements called pumping or pushing.
The trick to pumping is to pull up on the handlebars before going over a bump, then push into the pedals as you crest it,
using your hip movement to shift your weight and generate momentum for the bike.
That said, it’s probably hard to visualize just from reading, so if you want to give it a try, let me know.
It might look difficult, but you’ll pick it up sooner than you think. And more than anything, it’s fun.
So, I went again this past holiday.
I ride a Gopher from Hunter Cycles. It’s a bike built for pump tracks by Rick Hunter.
Yesterday there was another Gopher there. It’s fun to compare two bikes set up differently.
The builder, Rick Hunter, says that installing a fork with about 120mm of travel is fine,
but I’m running a 100mm travel fork as I feel that’s about right for pump tracks and dirt jumping.
By the way, we currently have three Gophers in stock at Circles.
Keita from EarlyBirds tried the pump track for the first time the other day. At first, he could barely make it one lap,
but he got the hang of it after just a few runs, and look at this impressive riding.
(That’s Keita on the yellow Gopher in the second half)
Since these skills are also useful for riding off-road like in cyclocross,
it’s a great way to sharpen your technique for racing.
Though, for me, I’m just doing it because it’s fun.
It’s also a blast to ride together and just hang out.
It’s a different way to enjoy cycling compared to climbing mountain passes on a road bike or riding forest trails on a mountain bike.
I’m out there just about every week, so if you’re interested, let’s go together!