A PumpTrack works on the principle of momentum and gravityYou use your body weight to build speed by pushing up as you leave the hills (rollers) and lowering yourself in the valleys. This pumping motion generates energy without having to pedal. The undulating shape of the track allows you to convert this energy into speed and maintain momentum throughout the entire lap.
What is the basic principle behind a PumpTrack?
A PumpTrack is a closed circuit with rolling hills and curves You can ride it without pedaling. The track consists of several elements that work together to create a smooth riding experience.
The main components are rollers (small hills), berms (gradual curves), and sometimes small jumps. These elements are designed so that you can build and maintain speed through body movements. The secret lies in the timing of your movements combined with the shape of the track.
The principle is similar to a swing: by shifting your weight at the right moment, you build up energy. On a PumpTrack, you do this continuously as you ride over the small hills and go through the turns. The professional asphalt PumpTracks are specially designed to optimize this effect.
What movements do you make on a PumpTrack?
The pumping motion consists of a coordinated movement of your entire bodyYou push yourself up when leaving a small hill and lower yourself when entering a valley. This movement is called “pumping,” and that is where the name PumpTrack comes from.
In practice, you work like this: when you approach a roller (a small hill), you make yourself small by bending your knees and arms. As you go over the crest, you straighten your body and push yourself up. In the valley that follows, you lower yourself again and prepare for the next roller.
Your arms also play a vital role. By pulling the handlebars toward or away from you at the right moments, you enhance the pumping motion. It takes some practice to get the timing right, but once mastered, it's a natural movement that you can perform faster and faster.
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Why can you gain speed on a PumpTrack without pedaling?
It works by convert kinetic energy into forward motionEvery time you extend your body as you leave a hill, you give yourself a push forward. This energy builds and makes you go faster and faster.
Scientifically speaking, you use gravity and momentum to generate energy. When you're in a valley, you have potential energy due to your position. By stretching your body at the right moment, you convert this potential energy into kinetic energy (motion).
You can recognize this principle in other sports as well. Skateboarding uses the same concept when skaters ride through a halfpipe. Surfers use the energy of waves in a similar way. The difference is that a PumpTrack makes this principle accessible to everyone, regardless of age or experience. View our completed projects to see how this works in practice.
For which ages and vehicles is a PumpTrack suitable?
PumpTracks are designed for all ages and almost all wheelsFrom a 2-year-old toddler on a balance bike to a 70-year-old adult on a mountain bike: everyone can enjoy it. This makes PumpTracks unique compared to traditional play facilities.
You can use a PumpTrack with:
- Balance bikes (ages 2 and up)
- Children's bicycles and regular bicycles
- BMX bikes and mountain bikes
- Skateboards and longboards
- Scooters and inline skates
- Wheelchairs, both manual and electrically powered — a handbike is not necessary for this.
The concept works universally because it is based on natural body movements and physical principles that apply to everyone. Younger children ride slower and make smaller movements, while experienced riders can reach higher speeds. The track adapts, as it were, to your level and daring. Wearing a helmet is mandatory on Velosolutions PumpTracks for the safety of all users.
How Velosolutions helps with professional PumpTracks
We design and build professional asphalt PumpTracks that meet all Dutch safety requirements. Our complete process runs from the initial consultation to annual maintenance, so you, as a municipality or recreation park, have complete peace of mind.
Our advantages:
- Safety according to applicable standards – full safety guarantee
- Sustainable asphalt – lifespan of at least 20 years with minimal maintenance
- Custom design – adapted to your space and target group
- Accessible to everyone – including wheelchair-friendly ramps, also suitable for manual wheelchairs
- 5 year warranty – available with annual maintenance contract
- 12 years of experience – more than 100 PumpTracks built in the Netherlands
We guide you through the entire process: from permits and subsidy applications to the official inspection. Velosolutions also offers annual inspection and maintenance, which can also be purchased via a maintenance contract, ensuring your PumpTrack always remains in optimal condition. This way, you can be certain that your investment yields an optimal return for your users.
Read more about us and discover why municipalities and recreation parks choose us. Request a no-obligation consultation to discuss what is possible at your location.
