DMR Pump Track Challenge - Bristol, England.
The nights are drawing in and downhill racing in the Northern Hemisphere is surely in hibernation by now. That leaves us with a few options to fill our precious time. Whilst many were out on an XC ride or down the gym, those in the know went pump track racing!
![Ace]()
Saturday 19th of November 2011 - DMR Pump Track Challenge
The U.K like many countries has seen a wave of pump tracks popping up in towns and cities at a regular pace. Bristol is the latest on the scene, just under Brunel Way, which is only a stones throw away from the famous suspension bridge.
![photo]()
As the track is open 24/7 to the public, unofficial practice was a chaotic affair with the usual council/project kids zipping around like flies around dog pooh on scrappy BMX bikes with the bars bent way too far back as well as a snapped brake cable. We booted them all off come 13:00 for offical qualifying all run under British Cycling rules as the race was deemed as a 4x time trail, hence the full face helmet rule and a B.C Commissaire permanently on the start hill. May I take this opportunity to enforce a new race kit rule for pump track racing? Nobody should be allowed to wear a race kit, you must run jeans/shorts coupled with a tee-shirt/check shirt or a hoody. Plus no SPD's!
![...]()
For the Rippers, Open and Ladies categories the format was quite simple, you had the chance to drop a few pedals before launching over the start line and then it was up to you whether you pumped, manualed or pedalled until you crossed the finish line.
The Pro riders were allowed a rolling lap start, (i.e they did one lap without being timed) this allowed many to showboat along the way to the pleasure of the applauding crowd. Come the last straight they then started to wind her up to gather some pace to cross the start line and straight into their timed lap!
![1st straight]()
Riders were allowed to pedal on this track, which was a slightly controversial decision as wasn't this a pump track race? The track dictated the rules for this one as the second corner exit almost brought you to a stop hence the need for some crank spins. Not everybody agreed, but this meant the racing was fast and furious, easy to monitor and fair for everyone.
![Graffiti]()
Every rider got a timed run and then we went to eliminators, dropping down the number until we had a super final in each catgeory with just five riders. As you can imagine times were amazingly close, a good time was under 20 seconds on this tight and technical track.
Thanks go out to DMR Bikes the main sponsor of this event and Andrew Cooper who did a great job on the mic updating us all day whilst the guys at Monster Energy dished out the green fuel. Chris Roberts the organiser for giving us the best days racing for a a tenner.
![photo]()
RESULTS:
Rippers
Anderson Joel 17.835
Stephens Alfie 17.993
Profit Tom 18.61
Open
Russell Stephen 17.028
Wells Jack 17.673
Astley Martin 17.918
Ladies
Greaves Jess 20.435
Lacey Suzanne 20.648
Burridge Rachel 24.287
Pro
Baker Ben 16.298
Kerr Bernard 16.507
Lacey Lewis 17.227
![Winner of the Pump Track challenge]()
Stay Unclipped!
Si Paton..
Halo British Downhill Series 2012
Photos by Sam Davies
![Pumping..]()
![Dont clip in]()
Bristol Pump Track
Saturday 19th of November 2011 - DMR Pump Track Challenge
The U.K like many countries has seen a wave of pump tracks popping up in towns and cities at a regular pace. Bristol is the latest on the scene, just under Brunel Way, which is only a stones throw away from the famous suspension bridge.
DMRs Duncan Ferris 16.95 seconds
As the track is open 24/7 to the public, unofficial practice was a chaotic affair with the usual council/project kids zipping around like flies around dog pooh on scrappy BMX bikes with the bars bent way too far back as well as a snapped brake cable. We booted them all off come 13:00 for offical qualifying all run under British Cycling rules as the race was deemed as a 4x time trail, hence the full face helmet rule and a B.C Commissaire permanently on the start hill. May I take this opportunity to enforce a new race kit rule for pump track racing? Nobody should be allowed to wear a race kit, you must run jeans/shorts coupled with a tee-shirt/check shirt or a hoody. Plus no SPD's!
Sam Reynolds 17.18 seconds
For the Rippers, Open and Ladies categories the format was quite simple, you had the chance to drop a few pedals before launching over the start line and then it was up to you whether you pumped, manualed or pedalled until you crossed the finish line.
The Pro riders were allowed a rolling lap start, (i.e they did one lap without being timed) this allowed many to showboat along the way to the pleasure of the applauding crowd. Come the last straight they then started to wind her up to gather some pace to cross the start line and straight into their timed lap!
Will Soffe on the first straight
Riders were allowed to pedal on this track, which was a slightly controversial decision as wasn't this a pump track race? The track dictated the rules for this one as the second corner exit almost brought you to a stop hence the need for some crank spins. Not everybody agreed, but this meant the racing was fast and furious, easy to monitor and fair for everyone.
Not everyone was riding their bikes there.
Every rider got a timed run and then we went to eliminators, dropping down the number until we had a super final in each catgeory with just five riders. As you can imagine times were amazingly close, a good time was under 20 seconds on this tight and technical track.
Thanks go out to DMR Bikes the main sponsor of this event and Andrew Cooper who did a great job on the mic updating us all day whilst the guys at Monster Energy dished out the green fuel. Chris Roberts the organiser for giving us the best days racing for a a tenner.
Olly Wilkins Second Straight 16.65
RESULTS:
Rippers
Anderson Joel 17.835
Stephens Alfie 17.993
Profit Tom 18.61
Open
Russell Stephen 17.028
Wells Jack 17.673
Astley Martin 17.918
Ladies
Greaves Jess 20.435
Lacey Suzanne 20.648
Burridge Rachel 24.287
Pro
Baker Ben 16.298
Kerr Bernard 16.507
Lacey Lewis 17.227
Ben Baker your Pro winner 16.51
Stay Unclipped!
Si Paton..
Halo British Downhill Series 2012
Photos by Sam Davies
Pinkbikes Si Paton 18.6 seconds
There is always one.
Author Info:
Member since Jul 26, 2006
Must Read This Week
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
42295 views
42295 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
(Even if it is just a crappy snapshot of the article's author?)
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150974890000601&set=a.10150974884700601.772061.562540600&type=3
That's not the point though, I'm just talking about courtesy rather than law.
I am somewhat familiar with self copyright infringement, but I feel like I've just lost you somewhere along the way
Anyway, congratulations on getting your photo published in an article on a cool website.
(and carbonlite, i understand you were confused, this is more in the direction of "bigredbike")
Bigreadbike, there is a reason they let us talk here and don't cap conversations. I agree it is courteous to keep it on topic and not post without reason, but if I'm confused there is a chance other people are too, though in this case I realize that probably isn't the case now. Seeing as this discussion is somewhat off topic (but not private) I'd suggest a forum thread would be a great place to continue, though you'll have to message me a link to it if you want me to be part of it
To be accused if whining is a little offensive when you take into account the fact that I was influential in getting this pump track built, bringing this race to it and then providing a well received set of photos of the event. I also raced, if you're worried about me not riding enough.
Chill out, ride more, troll less ;-)
Step 2: Proffitt.
One time of him is 16.51 and the other is 16.298
2011 saw the introduction of pump track events at some rounds of the UK 4X, fantastic idea and very popular, but "some people bent the rules( pedalled) and benefited, this spoilt the whole event that wekend. If this format is to succeed and it should, its simple, NO PEDALING! No matter who youy are. Simples.
As for running under 4X rules, who desided this? the helmet rules is daft. this means guys who don't own a full face can't race this fun event. Bad idea! we want to encourage young guys who may normally only ride trails or park to have a go. they ride dirt jump comps without fullface helemts so whats the prob. Please, keep the rules simple and sensible. Encourage riders to enter! its a tiny event at the mo, don't put up obsticles. KIS! keep it simple!
i do downhill so i was shit but its still epic! :')
i rode clipped for years until my coach made me learn to ride flats. granted i'd probably be jumping bigger things by now if i were clipped but i'd definitely be lacking in the "basic skills" department...
It builds character.