Ramp Feature Build for my kids

PB Forum :: Dirt Jumping & Street
Ramp Feature Build for my kids
  • Previous Page
Author Message
flag somegeek
Posted: May 1, 2014 at 16:18 Quote
I built a pair of ramps and boxes for my kids ( 4 and 6 yr old boys ) to learn on. It's worked out pretty nice for them to ride and I get to play a bit too. Curious what I could build next? Been working off the dimension of a 4x8 sheet of plywood. All six pieces are 4'x2'x1' for the most part and fit nicely in a corner of my garage so I'd like to build something in those dimensions. Half pondered some 2"x8"x6' pieces of wood that would anchor off the boxes so they could ride down them to learn to ride elevated trail type stuff.

Appreciate any input. Smile

somegeek

photo

photo
flag Aaronz25RS
Posted: May 2, 2014 at 5:09 Quote
Build some teeter-totters.. seriously, very simple and build skill..

Can be as easy as a 2x6"-8"-12" with a log in the middle.. can be as complex as you like as well..

Same goes for some low skinnies, just prop the boards up on blocks (secure to your comfort level)

Skinnies are a great control and balance building tools

Not really extensions of your box, but are easily stored and excellent training
flag cmc4130
Posted: May 2, 2014 at 8:16 Quote
So, if you take out one of the 4' box sections, are they able to jump it from launch to landing?

You could go bigger with it and see how they do?

Old school "box jump":
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.feeblebmx.com/bc_parks/images/whistler_62.jpg

Maybe some wood rollers?

https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=119458
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff509/austinmtbbmxalliance/SombrioLadiesPumpTrackJam_Whistler_photo_by_Todd_Hellinga.jpg
flag Aaronz25RS
Posted: May 2, 2014 at 9:25 Quote
4 and 6yr olds man.. easily moved.. ect..
flag cmc4130
Posted: May 5, 2014 at 10:00 Quote
Lack of support for this landing . . . . is pretty sketchy. Hah hah!

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalbmx.com/photos/users/73855/photos/103199/s1600_London_QP_02.jpg?1325017960
http://vitalbmx.com/forums/General-BMX-Talk,2/new-box-jump-plans,1256607?mobile=true

Old school bmx "wedge ramp" to learn to turn around on (pivot or "kick turn")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1cDf1x1cUc
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.mauricemeyer.com/BMX/RobQ/pics/RockvilleBMX/Braintailwhipsmall.jpg
flag somegeek
Posted: Dec 1, 2014 at 15:20 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
So, if you take out one of the 4' box sections, are they able to jump it from launch to landing?

You could go bigger with it and see how they do?

Old school "box jump":
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.feeblebmx.com/bc_parks/images/whistler_62.jpg

Maybe some wood rollers?

https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=119458
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff509/austinmtbbmxalliance/SombrioLadiesPumpTrackJam_Whistler_photo_by_Todd_Hellinga.jpg

Don't mean to necro but just noted you guys replied to my thread. Smile

My 6yr old is now 7 and is hitting the small roller enough to almost clear the backside and land both wheels on concrete. I like the idea of a larger kicker to a forgiving flat angled landing. I will check this out. Thanks much for the replies!
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 1, 2014 at 17:34 Quote
Aaronz25RS wrote:
4 and 6yr olds man.. easily moved.. ect..

I say don't underestimate what little kids can do on a bike, given the right terrain and right example/motivation.

Cameron Sale 7 year old bmx'er
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX-Y2ruoej0

"I'm okay!" 6 year old BMXer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncj4N6oEto

I haven't actually seen a video of OP's kids riding (which would be helpful), but I actually think the next thing to do is to build something a little bit like this. I'll explain why: The key to learning how to jump comes from knowing how to manipulate the bike--it's actually better practice to start out bunnyhopping/boosting out of flat-ish banks (like ditches and skatepark pyramids) than it would be to hit a steep-transition-radius launch ramp. Next question... why does it need to be this tall and long? Well.... when a ramp (incline or decline) has more space for the wheelbase of your bike, it makes the whole jump smoother. When a ramp is smoother to ride, it inspires confidence. It's not like hitting a little abrupt obstacle. Rather, it transfers the direction of your whole body. Because your kids are little, they won't be going as fast.... therefore the deck (flat part across the top) should be only like 4 or 6 feet instead of 8 or 10--like it would be for older/adult riders. But I would say the landing side should be a full 8' length of plywood.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.freeskateparks.com/images/Colorado/Evergreen/evergreen10.jpg
The dimensions on this one are messed up. The launch side is too tight of a radius in comparison to how tall it is and how long the deck is. The grind box side is too short and abrupt on the decline as well.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xnADBeP_-gg/S99LjohfgmI/AAAAAAAAAvI/EaaHzESTL70/s1600/gloucester.funbox.right.JPG
Even though they are visually less impressive, pyramids with long wheelbase inclines and declines and a short deck area are actually way more flowy for all riders.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.justme.ws/pics/groups/24124_20112011_9.jpg
When I was digging bmx/DJ trails in the woods, I learned one rule of thumb... if a geometric shape looks "sick and gnarly" then it is TOO MUCH. Tone it down. The classic beginner mistake is building quarter pipes and jumps too steep and short. Later on, you can build jumps taller and steeper . . . but I still think people visually overestimate what is needed. You can still smoothly boost a jump that is on the mellow side. But as a triangle become steeper, guess what, the horizontal landing area, gets shorter. A lot of people don't seem to get this.
Which has more horizontal space to land on?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://84d1f3.medialib.glogster.com/media/6a/6a0b6f642691fd246290d8b938d86cbead00ad2bf64238af367149227baa7aae/45-degree-triangle-diagram-jpg.jpgUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.freemathhelp.com/images/lessons/triangle306090-1.gifUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://janison.cyriljackson.wa.edu.au/janison/Science/Physics3A3B/Physics3A/PHY3A_WestOne/content/001_motion_in_2d/images/pic032.gif
Even though a lot of "hardcore" riders will groan about a 20 degree landing . . . they'll still ride it all day long. But if you build a box jump with a 45 degree landing, it is going to look “gnarly" but people will not love it. Like I said, the only time a steep landing works is when the jump gets really tall. Then you get back some of the horizontal wheelbase. That's why most expert/pro dirt jumps have landings that are several feet taller than than the launches (step ups).

In dirt jump terms, the best way to start out for older beginners is a jump with a normal length (8'-10' gap) but with very mellow take-off and landing. You could do this same concept for your boys, but reduce the gap to like 4'-6' feet, with the lip being about 2'6" tall.

photo

If you want to get into more of a woodworking challenge, you can also round off the corners for smoother rollability. In this drawing, 10' would be a little long for your kids . . . but, like i said, at about 5' they could be clearing it.

photo

If you do want to cut an arc transition, then I'd suggest not going more than 45 degrees or so. That would mean that the height of the ramp is about a third of the radius length. In other words a 2'6" tall launch would have a 7'6" radius. As ramps get taller, then can have more degrees of arc, but a short ramp that is overly steep/abrupt is going to suck.

photo

This is a pretty good dimension for a small ramp for kids (or other beginners). Combine it with about a 4-6' gap and a landing that is at least 8' long, then you'll be good!

photo

I built this in about 2 hours (with tractor help) for my friend's boys out their property.... The launch side was even maybe a little too abrupt... But apparently, both boys learned to jump it in a week.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff509/austinmtbbmxalliance/stv_jumps3_zpsd1c42adb.jpgUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff509/austinmtbbmxalliance/Stephenville/stephenville-tractor_zps2e365335.png
I know this is all way too much information for what you're interested in for your boys.... but whatever, maybe someone will get something out of it. ; )
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 1, 2014 at 17:53 Quote
somegeek wrote:

Appreciate any input. Smile

somegeek

photo

photo


I would suggest making the landing side double that wide (full sidewalk) then making two launches with one being closer than the other. There's something about a wide landing that inspires confidence....The closer and the longer launch will then give options/goals etc.
flag somegeek
Posted: Dec 2, 2014 at 10:44 Quote
cmc4130 - thanks for taking the time to post that detailed reply! This will help greatly with the new ramp(s) I build my sons. I can relate to those short kicker hits and how they bump you up vs the bike taking up the length of the transition to more smoothly get airborne. Thanks again, man.
flag somegeek
Posted: Dec 2, 2014 at 10:45 Quote
That dirt jump you knocked out for your friend's boys is sick. Wish I had something like this when I was a kid... hell, I wish I had property and a tractor now. Smile
flag sirrob
Posted: Dec 2, 2014 at 18:48 Quote
Killer info cmc.
Rob
flag Zach2
O+
Posted: Dec 12, 2014 at 13:57 Quote
I agree with other posters. A well shaped take off ramp (arc, or arc + straight), slightly taller boxes, wider landing and adjustable table (gap). If you make the table from a few separate pieces, like 2 feet each, you can start them small and increase as they progress.
flag somegeek
Posted: Jan 12, 2015 at 8:21 Quote
I'm looking to design this this week and start building it.

I'm looking to use my (2) existing 1' x 2' x 4' boxes for the gap. I'd like to build two more so my gap box would be 2'h x 4'w x 4'l. The take off ramp would be two ramps, 2' wide each/side by side with the landing side being two 2' wide ramps each side by side.

Looking at your diagram for a 30º take-off and a 7'6" arc, my 2' height, would require a 6'6ft length take-off? My kids currently ride 18" and 16" wheel bikes if this has any bearing.

Thanks again for this input. Really helping take the mystery outta building a nice riding ramp. Smile
flag somegeek
Posted: Jan 12, 2015 at 11:30 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
If you do want to cut an arc transition, then I'd suggest not going more than 45 degrees or so. That would mean that the height of the ramp is about a third of the radius length. In other words a 2'6" tall launch would have a 7'6" radius.

I'm dense sometimes. This is what I was glazing over for some reason. I'll post my dimensions for a sanity check. Smile
flag somegeek
Posted: Jan 12, 2015 at 11:53 Quote
Going off your figures and suggestions, would this fit the bill?

Kids Ramp Design
  • Previous Page

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.016683
Mobile Version of Website