A Table Top in My Backyard?

[tns1972]

So, at age 33 I've decide that I'm going to learn to dirt jump. To avoid embarassment and to freak out my wife, I wanna build a little jump in the yard. I figure a TT would be the easiest to learn on, any other ideas? What kind of dimensions would be reasonable? So anyone with jump building advice post-up! Muchas gracias.

[Buck]

google ramp plans. That should get you started unless you are using dirt...then it is all about experimenting. I would start 3ft high, 8foot gap, then just diddle with the lip to kick you the way you feel comfy, I'd start with a plain old straight plane ramp. Nice wide landing! Hope that helped!
L8R
Buck

[bigwheel]

If you really want to freak out your wife, make it so that you jump over her flower garden.:mad:

[manual63]

Don't make it too small....not for an MTB. At least 4 ft high. Keep in mind...it's a table top....so you don't need to clear it. Make sure it's at least 4 ft wide or wider.....that is comforable. Also make sure you have a slight transistion for the launch part, but not a kicker lip......a kicker will throw you funny and cause front wheel landings.

Bike setup is important too. Don't use a typical XC MTB setup. Have a super short stem or even use a freeride bike.....hard tail dirt jumper is the best for this sort of stuff....like my P.2. But you can use an FS too....just a little more of a learning curve.

If you are not too far from Edina....I can always help out......:)

I will draw up a picture of what to do.....and then I will post it here.

[tns1972]

Bike setup is important too. Don't use a typical XC MTB setup. Have a super short stem or even use a freeride bike.....hard tail dirt jumper is the best for this sort of stuff....like my P.2. But you can use an FS too....just a little more of a learning curve.

I learned the hard way that xc bikes don't jump well (and that they do not like to go off small drops). My left shoulder will never be the same. :cryin: I don't think I have enough dirt to make a jump that big, so I'll have to do wood.

Is it harder to learn to jump on a FS bike? I still haven't decided which "freeride" way to go (HT or FS). I'll be riding a FS XC bike for the first time this year, might have to get rid of it though. I just don't feel like an XC guy any more.

Any help would be sweet, found this site today
http://www.wwucycling.com/djpark/
at the bottom of the page there are some simple diagrams of the jumps. And there really are plans a plenty for ramps and stuff. I look forward to seeing what you come up with Shad.
Over and out.

[tns1972]

If you really want to freak out your wife, make it so that you jump over her flower garden.:mad:

My wife doesn't garden (allergies), but the back yard trail will be going straight through my Hosta garden! Vegetation be damned! :D

[whitt_travis]

Ohh boy

*Cover's eyes with hands*

[manual63]

Okay....so now we are talking wood.....hmmmm. This will be a little trickier for an MTB. The thing is that you want to get the transition correct the first time.

Check out this page for a good start.

http://www.heckler.com/ramps/

This is the link to the parts you will need.

Launch: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/ramplnch.html
Box: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/rampdet1.html
Landing: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/rampdet2.html

Don't pay so much attention to the dimensions....just how the ramps are built. Make your box 4 ft high...8 ft long...and 4 ft wide. Use at least an 8ft long landing so it's not too steep. Now....you probably want a mellow transition to learn on and not a kicker. A kicker is good for tricks......but that comes later once you are comfortable with it. I would almost think an 8 to 10 foot long transition would be good. Maybe longer if you want. Let me draw something up and come up with some measurements (back to geometry class) for the lenth of the launch ramp....and maybe even the landing.

[Buck]

Okay....so now we are talking wood.....hmmmm. This will be a little trickier for an MTB. The thing is that you want to get the transition correct the first time.

Check out this page for a good start.

http://www.heckler.com/ramps/

This is the link to the parts you will need.

Launch: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/ramplnch.html
Box: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/rampdet1.html
Landing: http://www.heckler.com/ramps/rampdet2.html

Don't pay so much attention to the dimensions....just how the ramps are built. Make your box 4 ft high...8 ft long...and 4 ft wide. Use at least an 8ft long landing so it's not too steep. Now....you probably want a mellow transition to learn on and not a kicker. A kicker is good for tricks......but that comes later once you are comfortable with it. I would almost think an 8 to 10 foot long transition would be good. Maybe longer if you want. Let me draw something up and come up with some measurements (back to geometry class) for the lenth of the launch ramp....and maybe even the landing.

Good god, mine as well find a sk8 park, that will cost a couple hundred in lumber...he is learning, no need to build a 4' high box jump. with a 10 long landing...I mean **** it'd be cool and all, but that is going to take a ton of lumber......save youself some money make a portable kicker, find a hill, use that as your landing...just my .02 if you do go the other route be sure to post some pics! have fun learning
L8R
Buck

[manual63]

http://www.freethinkersunite.com/images/RampSpecs.jpg

Here is a quick drawing with an 11 foot radius on the transition. A string (non-flexy one) and pencil can draw this out for you. The string should be 11 ft long and you will get a pretty good MTBable non kicker launch. It won't take you long to clear only 8 ft with this launch. So plan to make the table longer when you get better at jumping. A typical BMX jump box would have a 9.5 or 10 foot radius. You can make the radius bigger if you want to have it even mellower than this. If you make it 4 ft wide......thats the width of a sheet of plywood.....so it will make it nice and easy to build. An MTB is about 4 ft long or so....so you will have both wheels on the transition for a good amount of time....which is what you want.

Last fall we had these short little kicker ramps to use for the MORC fall party. The length of the launch was about the wheelbase....so as your front wheel was lifting off....your rear wheel was just hitting the ramp. This will make you nose dive off of the jump and is no good. I had MORC (Erik and James) put on a sheet of plywood that made a nice long transition. This made for a much better launch and Buck could bust huge no-footers off of it....you might have seen the pics on here.

The launch is the most important part of the whole project. Knowing a good radius is the key to making a good launch transition. Good luck and if you need any help....let me know.

[manual63]

Good god, mine as well find a sk8 park, that will cost a couple hundred in lumber..

The dude owns a house......I am assuming he can handle it........:)

[tns1972]

Knew I could count on you two. Thanks, I'll let ya know what happens this weekend.

[tns1972]

Good god, mine as well find a sk8 park…
Buck

Speaking of skate parks… any one know anything about an Apple Valley Skate park. I've seen ramps stored behind the Community Center. Anything in Burnsville?

But like I said, this is going to be really embarassing. I've accepted that. I just want to get comfortable with it all in the privacy of me own back yard. :embarass: :crazy2:

[Magic]

It's no fun unless others are watching. It's part of the learning curve, having your buddies laughing while your in a heep and bleeding. Come on tell us where you live. I need a good laugh. Just like last night when I pilled it on the stair gap. Some little 10 year old asks " are you okay mister". Ya like what is he going to do for me. Him and his little friends just sat there and laughed there little butts off.

[manual63]

I never quite figured it out.....but why do people laugh when you kill yourself on you bike? It's like laugh....laugh....laugh.....are you.....laugh.....okay....laugh.....

[tns1972]

"It's funny when friends get hurt!" :laugh: , Kelso (that 70's show). Ya, once you hit 30 it ain't that funny.

[dave t]

The A.V. skate park is at the teen center (which won't help for not getting laughed at) between Eastview H.S and the Water Park.

[NDK]

I know Burnsville has a skate park. I BMX biked it last year. They have a really cool table top. The skate park is free and is right next to the garage and the indoor ice rink place. I dont think they have all the ramps up yet.

[manual63]

I know Burnsville has a skate park. I BMX biked it last year. They have a really cool table top. The skate park is free and is right next to the garage and the indoor ice rink place. I dont think they have all the ramps up yet.

Uh, can you give more info on this. G-Shock closed down a year or so ago, so what Burnsville skatepark are you talking about that allows bikes?

[bolmsted]

I believe the burnsville skate park being referred to is on the south side of the park located at 130th st and nicollet. ...right next to the police station. My wife's father was on the board to have that built. I'm not sure if they allow bikes though.


Anyway, at least there is a location.

[manual63]

I know about that park, but they didn't allow bikes there before. Maybe they changed the rules.....or there is a different park. Last time I saw that park, it was full of fruitbooters!!

[tns1972]

do any of these places allow 26" wheels or is it all BMX?

[manual63]

do any of these places allow 26" wheels or is it all BMX?

Bikes is bikes as far as I know. I have never seen a park that allows bikes limit it to 20" wheels. Some BMXers ride 24.....so don't worry about it.

[Buck]

Bikes is bikes as far as I know. I have never seen a park that allows bikes limit it to 20" wheels. Some BMXers ride 24.....so don't worry about it.

hahaha, you haven't been to many parks then. Alot of them are that way, good thing in the last year or so it has been changing nation wide, heck this is the 1st year that Mtn Bikes will be allowed in Woodward

L8R
Buck

[manual63]

Actually, I have been to many parks. I just have not seen mountain bikers at them. The ones I have seen mountain bikers at allowed them....obviously. Most of the time it's trials riders that I have seen.

With the freeride movement, I am sure most park will take advantage of the extra income.

[NDK]

I think this is still the address 251 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337A few years ago it used to cost to get in and bikes were not allowed. But I think in the last year or so the have made it free and allowed bikes. Because its free I am guessing you can bring in MTB but not sure.

[SpecHR55]

i'v built one and its kick ass. I advise u to make it out of a pinic table.