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There's always people on here trying to cobble together bikes for pump tracks and similar messing around. There must be more people here who are curious or want to try it out but can't afford/don't need an extra bike. Maybe you just want to try it out before you take the plunge.
Well, I've ended up with 2 such silly kids bikes and I can only ride one at a time. One 26" flavour Transition PBJ insurance replacement and one 22" Fit BMX Black Friday impulse purchase. Spoiler alert: They're both mint to ride.
I'm willing to take both bikes to a local (Sheffield) pump track and anyone who wants to come along can grab a bike and rip some laps. We can talk tips, be terrible at riding and just talk shit or whatever.
This will probably be at Charnock first because it's in good condition and doesn't get too busy.
Bolehills is under construction and Hillsborough gets too packed with kids. We visit the northeast quite a lot so Chopwell is on the list. I'm well up for trips further afield when it's a bit warmer and dryer.
Due to a new job I'm about to be a little more time rich/cash poor so might be able to do Monday's and Friday's from May.
The weather is obviously still crap. I think I'll just announce on here the day before we go and you're welcome to along and share a bike. Maybe in the future people could bring their bikes and share them too? We could end up with quite a crew.
Good idea? Bad idea? Am I missing anything?
Oh, please don't knick my bikes.
the 2nd picture which track is that please, I need to go and ride there?
Second picture is Charnock which is probably the best one to ride at the minute. We'll be there this weekend weather dependant.
thank you
its 2hrs away from me, won't be this weekend, but hopefully soon
That PBJ is a thing of beauty.
I had a Planet X Jack Flash built up as a pump track bike but didn't ever feel comfortable on it and - perhaps too rashly - sold it on. Not sure if it was me being tall and feeling like a giant riding a teeny kids bike, or whether I just needed to adjust to it and sort out my technique. It's made me wonder since if a small 650b-wheeled bike would work well as a pump track bike for me at 187cm. Or like I say, I need to sort my technique!
Well you're about the same height as me and plenty of people much taller than us have been killing it on all types of bikes for decades so I'll go out on a limb and say it's technique!
There's 2 bikes here for you to try if you're anywhere near Sheffield. If you live near an amazing track I might come to you!
That’s an awesome idea - just gutted I’m down south and nowhere near you!
My Privateer DJ101 is meant to arrive today - Privateer asked if I’d take some photos and do a little review / provide some comments on it so I’ll give some feedback on what that option is like. It’s a little bit shorter than both the Airdrop Fade and DMR Sect - not sure how it compares with the Transition PBJ as I didn’t look at that as it was too far outside of my budget.
The PBJ had the longest reach I could find when I was originally looking in 2017. I got my first frame for £270 in a distributor clearance sale and cobbled it together. Then it got swiped in a burglary and I bought an off-the-shelf replacement on CycleScheme so it was about £1100. You're right though they're bloody expensive now. The frame hasn't changed in over 10 years and it keeps going up in price.
It’s the Transition tax I think - I’ve got a carbon sentinel but I bought that frame only secondhand so it wasn’t too bad. Some of their builds vs spec are at very boutique sizes prices now
This is a great idea @sharkattack. Would you be willing to have a ageing newbie on a pump track come along with their own bike (I’ve built up a bike from the parts bin and CRC discounts) which I’ve barely ridden and could do with someone to follow round a pump track on.
Definitely. The more the merrier. Part of the reason I posted this is because I'm trapped in the cycle of work>bed>work>bed>work>bed and I need some motivation to get myself out of the house as well. I'm wasting away and I miss riding bikes with my mates!
I'll post on here when I know I'm going out. Possibly Charnock this weekend, Saturday or Sunday, not bothered which. Definitely every other weekend at least when it warms up a bit.
Oh, and I just confirmed my working hours with my new boss. 4 day weekends are locked in for the foreseeable. I can see a UK pump track tour coming this summer. If I can afford to drive anywhere that is.
Such a wicked idea.
If I were close in your area, deffo would bring my Curtis.
Have fun yeah
Can't do this weekend, but I do fancy trying out a bmx at some point. Charnock is not far up the road either, so wouldn't mind rolling up if that's OK?
Not that I'm looking for an excuse to build the DJ bike back up or anything.
I’m meet up if you were Devon based (I miss Bristol for it’s range of pumptracks).
The new Parkwood pump track is worth considering too, next to the car park area near the dual (currently mid refurb by Ride Sheffield), open now, built about 2 weeks ago. It also has a small very beginner pump track too for those who are really unsure.
I can’t make this weekend but definitely up for future sessions 👍
Post on here again when you go next as I’m only 15 minutes from the Charnock track.
Nice little spot Charnock, the dirt jumps are a lot of fun. The pump track felt a tad tight for my messing about HT, like a smaller bike would be a better tool. Would be great to see the pump track and intermediate dirt jump combo (like Charnock) become a norm in shitty urban parks up and down the country!
Wish it was a bit closer to me I'd be up for it. Was in the area last time I went.
Right, I've cleared this with the Boss. We're going to Charnock at 10am on Sunday morning. I'll take both bikes and if you want to try one out just meet us there. We'll have Junior on his balance bike so we usually manage an hour before he gets bored.
The dirt jumps will probably be out of action but hopefully the tarmac bit will be dry. I didn't know about the Parkwood track, I'll check that out at the earliest opportunity. That will be a fun place to meet when the dual track is back in action.
EDIT: And my real name is Tom! Sharkattack doesn't sound cool at all when you say it in real life.
It's hard to believe during the current monsoon conditions but it might, possibly, maybe, be dry on the tarmac tomorrow.
I gather from the Charnock FB group that they're trying to arrange some kind of gathering at 11am so there might be a few people around.
We're still going at 10 because we'll have junior on the balance bike and don't want him causing traffic jams or getting squashed.
That first one looks massive. Where is it?
I know there used to be an app which was a UK pump track map but it wasn't very good. Someone should make a modern version of that.
I'm trying to get round to all of the local (Hampshire) pump tracks now I have a suitable bike. Off to check out the Newbury one tomorrow - early if I'm up, to avoid being shown up by the yoofs!
Even after one dedicated session a couple of weeks ago I was noticing improvements in how I take the berms etc.
@sharkattack - that pumptrack is in Bristol. It’s one tight pumptrack circuit arrangement + a tarmac jump line down the hill above the main bowl. Stockwood is the place it’s in. I like it. The second one is Hillfields - it has an even tighter pump track plus a slightly downhill pump line.
I know there used to be an app which was a UK pump track map but it wasn’t very good. Someone should make a modern version of that.
Try this:
Notice the distinct lack of pumptracks near where Iive (southport).
Nice day today. Mostly dry and even slightly warm. Very windy though. There was a few people around but no one took me up on my offer of a test ride.
I tried switching bikes to see which I prefer but it just made both bikes feel worse so I think I'll still to small wheels until I get used to it properly.
Might be out next weekend but I need to ride the MTB as I've been slacking off badly. Might go somewhere new and try Farmer John's.
Yeah that map is the one I was on about. Not sure if anyone has updated it in the last 5 years. A current one would be useful with all the new tracks everywhere.
Theres one in Haskayne that’s missing from that map.
Thanks, I did know about that one as we used to take our kids there when they were little, it's too small for anything bigger though I think.
Wish I'd have seen this earlier and I'd have brought up my bikes, well bike singular as the other is still missing a few parts.
I'm gonna spray some flipping arrows on the Hillsborough track in the hope that some of the utter dingbats who insist on riding against the flow of everyone else might get the idea before I have to explain in single syllable words and grunts why they've almost lost their teeth in a head on collision.
I'll be back up there on Wednesday 5pm weather dependent. The forecast says rain every day but if it's dry on hump day we're going.
I'm not messing around with 2 bikes again unless anyone wants to actually try one so let me know in advance. It'll be BMX only until I can rip a few laps without hanging up everywhere.
3 pumptracks and a (closed) dirt BMX track in Cambridge. Anyone interested, I have a canyon stitched?
I might make it over but I should really be emptying my workshop.