Bike Ramp Building Instructions

mountain bike world cup 2006 image by Doug Stacey from Fotolia.com

Bike ramps can be constructed in many different ways with a variety of materials. Ramps for BMX bikes are built from wood or from natural earth material, and mountain-bike ramps are typically built from natural earth materials. Ramps can be constructed as a half-pipe, quarter-pipe or box. Wood building requires quality materials and construction skills, but building with dirt requires only basic tools and space. For this project you will be using dirt to construct a ramp that will work for BMX and mountain biking. The ramp can be constructed on private land or on public lands with a valid permit or permission from the appropriate land management agency.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Dirt
Shovel
Bucket
Water
Plate compactor
Bike
Safety gear

Step 1

Locate an area with a straight line before the ramp and a clear landing area. Place an object on the space where you plan to build the ramp. Walk the landing area and look for dangerous obstacles. Remove any sharp objects and hazards.

Step 2

Dig a hole directly behind the ramp area and pile the dirt for the ramp. Use the shovel to shape the dirt at an incline as you shovel. The degree of the incline will depend on your jumping experience and comfort level. The incline can always be adjusted to a steeper incline as you gain experience on the jump.

Step 3

Use the shovel to shape the ramp. Compact the dirt by adding two to three buckets of water and hitting it repeatedly with a plate compactor. Allow the ramp to dry. The compacted ramp will be much smaller than the original pile of dirt.

Step 4

Add more material to the ramp and shape it with the shovel. Add another 1-2 buckets of water and hit the ramp repeatedly with the plate compactor. The ramp should be close to the desired shape and size. If the ramp is not adequate, repeat the process.

Step 5

Allow the ramp to dry for one hour before testing. Attempt several trial runs at a slow or moderate speed to test the integrity of the ramp. If the material proves stable, increase your speed and begin using the ramp.

Tips & Warnings

For an exciting ride, build a course with several jumps at different inclines. Experienced bikers can hit the jumps on turns and make advanced turns on the landing area.

Always wear a helmet and safety pads when jumping a bicycle. Do not attempt jumps without supervision, and keep a first aid kit at the jump site.

Article Written By Zach Lazzari

Zach Lazzari is an outdoor writing specialist. He has experience in website writing as well as standard newspaper writing. He wrote an outdoor column for the Silver World in Lake City, Colo., and articles for Colorado-mountain-adventure.com. Lazzari is currently completing his bachelor's degree online through Arizona State University and lives in southwest Montana.

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