What is a pump track?

Pump tracks are exploding in popularity, and we’ve been at the forefront of this movement, constructing over 200 of these exciting facilities across 15 countries in just the past few years. But what exactly is a pump track? Read on to find out.

A pump track is more than just a place to ride; it’s:

• A vibrant community hub: A pump track becomes a central gathering point, fostering connections and riding experiences.
• An all-ages, all-wheels playground: From toddlers on scooters to seasoned bikers, ages 2 to 70 can enjoy the thrill of the ride. It’s perfect for bikes, skateboards, skates, scooters, and other wheeled sports.
• An engaging and safe outdoor activity: The smooth asphalt circuit, with its rhythmically flowing rollers and banked turns, offers a dynamic and secure riding experience.
• A unique and innovative way to ride: Pump tracks teach riders to generate momentum through body movement, constantly shifting their center of gravity for a truly engaging workout.
• A physically challenging and rewarding experience: Users get a great workout while developing crucial balance and coordination skills.
• A low-maintenance, permanent fixture: Built to last, pump tracks require minimal upkeep, ensuring years of enjoyment.
• Versatile in design and location: Pump tracks can be adapted to suit various environments and placed conveniently close to the communities they serve.

The Evolution of Pump Tracks

Pump tracks have come a long way since their humble beginnings in the 1970s. Initially conceived as smaller versions of BMX tracks, they served as training grounds for developing essential cycling skills, resembling the snake runs found in skate parks. The 1990s saw mountain bikers embrace and adapt these tracks, leading to a global proliferation of dirt pump tracks in both public spaces and private backyards.

While accessible and affordable, these early dirt tracks were primarily suited to cyclists and suffered from weather dependency and the constant need for maintenance. This maintenance often required specialized knowledge, and the lack thereof could lead to negligence accusations in the event of accidents. Despite these challenges, dirt pump tracks remain a popular option today, particularly for individuals and clubs with limited budgets who possess the skills to build and maintain them.

Attempts to improve durability and all-weather usability led to experimentation with concrete surfaces. While offering advantages, the complex and costly construction process limited widespread adoption. The true revolution in pump track design arrived with the introduction of asphalt. Sharing many of concrete’s benefits, asphalt offered a simpler and more affordable installation, paving the way for the pump track boom we see today.

Since 2015, asphalt pump tracks have become a global phenomenon, with Slovenia leading the charge, boasting the highest density of these facilities per capita.

Fun, Fitness, and Skill Development

Pump tracks offer a unique riding experience, propelled not by pedaling or pushing, but by the rider’s dynamic movements. By skillfully shifting their weight, riders generate momentum as they pump through the course, rising on the rollers and then dipping down to create speed. This physically demanding activity provides an excellent workout for everyone from young children developing their motor skills to seasoned athletes honing their technique. Furthermore, pump track riding is a fantastic way to build balance and coordination, essential skills for young riders and beneficial for all ages.

Different Kinds of Pump Tracks

Dirt pump tracks were a great starting point – cheap and easy to build. But they needed constant upkeep and were really only good for bikes. So, people looked for better options. Concrete tracks were tried, but they were too expensive and hard to build. Modular tracks, made of wood, metal, or other materials, popped up too. These were good for temporary events, but they weren’t as fun to ride as permanent tracks.

Finally, asphalt pump tracks became the favorite. They’re cheaper than concrete, you can make them in all sorts of cool shapes, and they last a long time without needing much work. Plus, you can ride them with almost anything that has wheels. That’s why you see so many of them around. Read more about different types of asphalt pump tracks – all the advantages and disadvantages of individual versions can be found in these articles.

Design and Construction

The design of the pump track is adapted to the main target group of users, the number of potential users, the available resources, and the area where the pump track is to be placed. The design of the pump track is so diverse, which adds to their attractiveness even more since every pump track tends to be unique. Pump tracks can be placed on small areas of 400m2 and up, allowing them to be placed in urban environments. On the other hand, such pump tracks can also be placed in areas of several thousand square meters. While smaller ones are especially suitable for the youngest users on scooters, and beginners, larger pump tracks are also suitable for older, more experienced users, as well as cyclists and skateboarders. An appropriate size for a specific place also depends on the number of potential users. The most common pump tracks are in the size of up to 1000 m2, as they are already large enough to be suitable for older users as well as for a wide range of sports equipment. You can find more information about choosing a suitable location for a pump track here.

Pump Track Construction

The construction of a pump track depends on the type and way of construction. Dirt pump tracks are the easiest to build and can be built in a very short time. For the dirt version, the most important is the use of a suitable soil mixture, which allows achieving the desired degree of compaction, while retaining moisture for longer periods, even in dry weather, preventing decay. A mixture of clay and arenite in a ratio of 30:70 is recommended. In addition, various preparations are also available for stabilizing the soil, for example, Soiltec or various homemade mixtures based on wood adhesives, etc. It is advisable to provide drainage prior to building a dirt pump track, and it is reasonable to cover the soil on the banks permanently in order to increase its stability.

Asphalt versions require a greater degree of field consolidation to prevent the shrinking of material that can cause cracks on the asphalt surface. In this part, it is necessary to remove the humus layer and replace it with suitable stone material. Drainage is also necessary, most often through concrete shafts connected with pipes that discharge water outside the pump track itself. With the help of machines and handwork, the configuration of the pump track itself from the frost-resistant material is formed and consolidated on the prepared plateau. The structure itself is then coated with a layer of asphalt with a suitable granulation, which provides a smooth and solid surface. The pump track banks must be covered with grass to prevent the lower layer of the pump track from rinsing and eroding.

Similar is also the technique for constructing a concrete pump track, but it is necessary to enclose the entire pump track with formwork, and then apply the concrete with the shotcrete technique.

Pump Tracks and Safety

Pump tracks seem to look very diverse and for some also dangerous. However, in contrast to the first impression, they are very safe, which is supported by the fact that we have also obtained the Certificate of Conformity with the European and Slovenian standards for playgrounds for our asphalt pump tracks. Read everything you ever needed to know about Pump Tracks and Safety. 

Competitions on Pump Tracks

Various events and competitions can be organized on pump tracks. Some pump tracks are specially designed for the organization of competitions and allow the simultaneous ride of two competitors on two pump tracks with exactly the same circuit, again on others it is possible to organize competitions on time, etc. Due to the popularity, the rapidly growing number of such pump tracks around the world, and the existing competitions, riding on pump tracks has been recognized as an official sports discipline by the UCI International Cycling Association. Consequently, national, European, and world championships will be held on pump tracks.

We support Austrian Pumptrack Serries, Pumpaj Slovenija and Hungarian national pumptrack cup.