A pump track is a circuit of asphalt or dirt rollers and berms that riders use to “pump” through the action of pushing down and pulling up as they move forward. Riders increase their speed by pushing and pulling and require little to no pedalling.

Pump tracks can be built specifically for beginner to advanced riders or a track that builds in progression to allow development from beginner to advanced into the design.

Dirt or Asphalt (Beginner – Intermediate – Advanced)

• Free form
• BMX 'style' loop
• Competition (outside of scope)

Free Form provides a skate park inspired open design where all areas of the pump track space are ridable surfaces. There is no set start point, direction of flow and riders can chose their own path but must have awareness of other riders. This offering can cater for bikes, scooters and skateboards.

BMX ‘style’ loop offers users a directional loop through a circuit or a series of intertwining circuits however there is a clear intention of directional flow. This is the most common facility as it can cater for multiple users at a time including different skill levels with opportunities to progress.

*Image: TrailScapes

Skills parks provide purpose-built training grounds for riders of all skill levels to develop and fine tune bike skills while providing fun and engaging experiences.

Skills park features are typically used by mountain bike riders and BMX riders to work on bike handling skills and the tracks can be built in an open plan style park or a single-track loop of connecting features. Features should be built in line with industry standards with appropriate signs that clarify to the rider the required skills level necessary to tackle the feature.

Skills park can cater to beginner through to advanced riders. Riders might have a choice of options of varying levels of difficulty built into a specific feature.

Skills parks typically develop balance, pumping and often jumping skills and will require a rider to consider regulating bike speed and momentum to complete the obstacle. Skills parks might incorporate features such as rolling down a series of steps, or rocks or even taking small drops.

Features typical of a skills park:

• Timber cut objects (see saw, skinny rails, steps, bridges, berms, jumps, etc)
• Stone objects (rock gardens, rock slabs and roll-over’s, rock berms, etc)
• Dirt objects (jumps, rollers, berms, spine, etc)

Images: VeloSolutions

*Image: World Trail (Nesbitt Park Skills Park)

Dirt jumps consist of sculpted and formed shapes of soil historically ridden by BMX riders. The activity of dirt jumping evolved alongside BMX racing and mountain bike racing. These days specific dirt “jump bikes” and even mountain bikes are commonly seen at a dirt jump facility. Timber ramps can be incorporated into the jumps mound to provide a consistent shape that requires little maintenance. Dirt jumps are carefully created with specific geometry to provide riders the ability to launch their bikes into the air. Experienced riders have the ability to perform stylish tricks in the air. Beginner and intermediate riders may be focussed simply on maintaining speed and flow with a smooth landing throughout a series of jumps.