A pump track is a loop of rolling bumps and banked turns that you ride without pushing or pedaling. You pump instead. Push your body down on the back of each bump and the track turns that push into speed.
Pump tracks started with BMX and mountain bike riders. The newer ones are paved with asphalt or concrete, so skateboards, scooters and inline skates ride them too.How does a pump track work?
The bumps are called rollers and the banked turns are called berms. Each roller has a front side that goes up and a back side that goes down.
On the back side, drive your weight down through your legs and you speed up. Bend your knees and stay light going up the front side and over the top, so the bump doesn't slow you down. In a berm, go in low and push through the turn on the way out. Keep your eyes on the turn's exit.
Time it with the bumps and you keep rolling lap after lap without a single stride. That up and down motion is the pumping that gives the track its name.Riding a pump track on inline skates
Stay low and compact with your knees bent, so your legs have room to push down on every bump. Start slow on the easiest line and learn the rhythm before you go for speed. Ride the same direction as everyone else and wait your turn. A few laps work your legs and lungs hard, so take breaks.
Wear a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads. Many parks require a helmet on the track. See our skate protection.Skate wheels for the pump track
Pump tracks are paved, so they call for outdoor wheels. A softer wheel grips the pavement better and soaks up rough spots. FR made its Downtown wheels for the city and the pump track. They are 85A, for grip and durability on asphalt and rough ground, in sizes from 76mm to 125mm. Choose the size your frames take.Questions
What is a pump track used for?
Fun, fitness and skills. Riders of every age and level use them to build balance, timing and confidence on wheels.
What does a pump track look like?
A loop of rounded bumps in a row, with banked turns that bring you back around. Many tracks have an easier line for beginners and a harder one for experts. The drawing at the top of this page shows one from above and from the side.
What is an asphalt pump track?
A pump track paved with asphalt. Older tracks were packed dirt and needed a lot of upkeep. Asphalt lasts longer, and it opened pump tracks to skates, skateboards and scooters as well as bikes.
Can you ride a pump track on inline skates?
Yes, on a paved track. Rules differ from park to park, so read the sign at your track first.
What are the best inline skates for a pump track?
Urban skates. Some makers call them freeride or freestyle skates. Their hard shell boot holds your foot in place over the bumps, the aluminum frame takes the knocks, and most of them take wheels between 80mm and 110mm.
FR Downtown Natural Wheels$31.99 - $41.99Sizes: 76mm, 80mm, 84mm, 90mm, 100mm, 110mm, 125mm.
FR Downtown Black Wheels$31.99Sizes: 76mm, 80mm.
FR Downtown Teal WheelsSold out right nowSizes: 80mm, 110mm.
