The pump can be made by shaping the ground, or by assembling shaped parts in different materials, from wood to specific resins.

A typical pump track circuit is oval in shape, consisting of at least 6 bumps per side and 2 parabolic curves. These must be flat in the middle and steep in the high section, to be covered at different speeds. The radius of curvature ranges from 60° to a maximum of 240°.

The track must be designed in such a way as to allow the start of the descent and the holding of the acceleration at all obstacles, without the biker having to use the pedals to give the push but only to balance the weight of the body in various situations. With good arm/leg coordination you can complete the entire circuit without ever pedalling.

Poggiridenti

One of the latest projects along the Sentiero Valtellina, inaugurated last spring, is the Poggiridenti pump track area.

The area enjoys optimal accessibility both from the cycle/pedestrian road network and from the local one, which allows access to a vehicle parking area used for canoeing and rafting, as well as by fishermen who frequent the special sports fishing area.

Specifically, through the application of successive layers of dry and draining materials, a movement of land has been carried out that creates a wavy path that allows, thanks to the thrust determined by the curves and differences in level created as a result of a specific and peculiar surface modeling, to be covered without pedaling.

The final pavement is in asphalt, with the central areas of the track and the lateral parts of the same adequately grassed.

The access is characterized by the presence of a reinforced concrete structure that constitutes the access threshold to the area, the place where the rules of use of the structures are located, some bike carriers and a bench.

The area is equipped with sub-services for the collection and disposal of rainwater as well as the preparation for the future construction of a possible lighting and video surveillance system.

A specific signage, consisting of coloured graphic signs painted on some asphalted areas near the Sentiero Valtellina and some metal writings placed at the entrances, indicate the presence of the sports area giving it a specific identity connected to the colour used (red), in analogy with the other equipped areas mentioned in the dedicated articles (skatepark and fitness area).

Lainate

One of the most complete pump track facilities, built last year in Lombardy, is that of Lainate, adjacent to a large sports center. Open to the public in December, it hosted the stage of the Red Bull World Championship in April.

The track has a linear development of 200 meters and occupies, within a fenced area of 8000 square meters, an area of 2000 square meters. The lay-out was chosen by the Municipality and realized in about 25 days during the summer.

The works initially involved excavating the area covered by the track and moving the material from a local quarry on site, using excavators. This was followed by the modelling of the ground, with the mixed contribution of machinery and muscle strength, followed by the beating of the entire track, to consolidate it as much as possible, through the use of “frogs” manually operated even on the most significant slopes. Hence the asphalting and beating of the path, which was also attended by some Lainatesi included in the social project work that supported the staff specialized in the movement of hot asphalt from trucks to the track.

The last phase saw the creation of red horizontal signs to delimit some points of the track.

Subsequently, the plant was finished by covering the non-asphalted areas with a carpet of synthetic grass, thus avoiding the washout of the ground on the track in case of rain