BMX Term
Pump
Pump is the technique of building speed on a bike by pushing the body and bike through bumps and transitions rather than by pedalling.
Updated 2 min read426 words
To pump is to build or keep speed by moving the body and bike through bumps and curved surfaces, rather than by pedalling. A pump track is a loop of rollers and banked corners built for this technique.
Meaning
Pumping works by timing. As the rider goes into a dip or the base of a transition, they push down through the arms and legs. This loads the bike and the ground. As the bike rises out of the dip, the rider relaxes and lets the bike come up under them. On the back of a roller, the rider pushes down again. Done well, each push adds speed.
The skill is easy to see and hard to learn. The motion is small, and it relies on timing more than strength. Riders often keep their cranks level, stay low and use the whole body, not just the arms.
Pumping appears across BMX. On a quarter pipe or a bowl, riders pump the curves to carry speed to the top. In dirt jumping, riders pump the lips and landings to stay fast without pedalling. In racing, pumping over the bumps in the track helps riders keep speed through each section.
Pump tracks
A pump track is a loop of rollers (small mounds) and berms (banked turns). The shape is designed so a rider can ride laps with no pedalling after the first push. Pump tracks are built from dirt, asphalt, concrete or modular plastic, and are found at many parks and public spaces. They suit beginners and experts, and they are a good place to practise pumping because feedback is immediate. If the timing is wrong, the bike slows.
Origin and usage
The word pump comes from the up and down motion, like pumping a handle. The technique is used in mountain biking, skateboarding, and many other sports. Pump tracks developed as a way to practise it. Their exact origin is not clearly documented, and different accounts exist.
Riders use pump as a verb ("pump through the corner") and as a noun ("a pump track"). Saying someone "pumps well" means they carry speed without effort.
Examples
- "He pumped the whole bowl without pedalling once."
- "We rode laps on the pump track for an hour."
- "If you want more boost off the quarter, pump the transition harder."
Related terms
- Transition: the curved part of a ramp.
- Quarter pipe: a ramp with one curved wall.
- Boost: height or air on a jump.
- Flyout: a ramp used to launch out onto a deck.
- Line: a run of tricks or obstacles linked together.
Frequently asked questions about Pump
How does pumping work?
The rider pushes down into the bottom of a dip or curve and unweights the bike as it rises. The push stores energy that carries the rider forward, so no pedalling is needed.
What is a pump track?
A pump track is a looped circuit of rollers and banked corners, called berms, built so a rider can ride laps by pumping instead of pedalling.
Related articles
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Transition is the curved surface of a ramp that connects flat ground to the top edge, and it is often shortened to tranny in BMX and skateboarding.
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To boost in BMX is to go much higher than a jump, quarter pipe or obstacle needs, adding extra air by popping and pulling hard off the lip.
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