Velosolutions Spot Check Benelux. Need directions? We've got you covered. So much good stuff to ride. Find your way and enjoy. Bring some friends.
Asphalt Pump Track in Graft-de Rijp
Jan Ploegerlaan 1, 1483 VR Graft-de Rijp (Maps: 52.55467, 4.85002)
The first asphalt Pump Track in the Benelux, approx. 50 meters long. The Pump Track is located on the schoolyard of the Community School and is accessible to everyone.
I had the pleasure to spend two days with the Italian freestyle bmx team at their brand new training center in Roncade (TV), housed in the awesome H-Farm campus. The Italian cycling federation, with the figure of the now ex-president Renato di Rocco, worked in synergy with the owner of H-Farm Riccardo Donadon to create, during last year, an unparalleled structure in Italy.
Without chatter, with little or nothing leaked until the opening a week ago, they carried out the construction with the world leaders of Hurricane Parks, builders of the FISE circuit.
The structure is part of a new campus, together with a pumptrack built by Hurricane, already equipped
Velosolutions Pump Tracks are popping up everywhere and for good reason. The quality facilities are good fun for anyone who rides BMX bikes (and other contraptions with wheels). The grippy, yet smooth surface lets you carve the well shaped turns and challenges everyone to manual and jump sections without pedaling once. Don't underestimate the fitness you need to keep going. Doing 3 laps at full speed and you'll be searching for fresh air. Please find below a couple of pump tracks that you should pay a visit to when you have the chance.
Aigle
With 16 new pump tracks in Switzerland built in 2020 alone, the total tally in the country now soars above 40 - an immense figure for a country that could easily fit 16 times into the state of Texas. Notably, the UCI World Training Center in Aigle is now home to a brand new pump track to complement its world-class training facility. Velosolutions also paved vital parts of their BMX track to minimize maintenance needs and ensure predictable speeds for the athletes lucky enough to train there.
Shot with a GoPro Hero 7
Born in Kano before moving to Lagos, Tope aka (Starboy) has always lived a life of near death adventures so taking on an extreme sport like BMX riding was right up his alley.
Documentaire over de verschillende aspecten binnen de Nederlandse freestyle BMX-scene in 2019.
Maybe it wasn't a random Saturday, do they even exist when life changes with updated Corona regulations every week? Anyway, on Saturday October 17th several BMX activities took place. We started the day at the Flame Trails. With no real plan but to do some laps and work on the dirt spot, around 15 riders showed up. Everyone knows that with a lot of people with a rake or shovel in their hands, work gets done quickly. The Flame Trails are now in the best shape they've been in months and word spreads fast as the next day even more riders showed up for a dirt session.
Saturday was also the day of the BMX Street session in Helmond set-up by City Legends. BMX-ers gathered at the Train station and hit up several spots including the Warande park and ended at the Helm Trails at the other side of town where a dirt session was happening already with several visitors from out of town.
USA Cycling Backyard Cribs!!! Have a look at my backyard in this little video I did for USA Cycling!
So many spots need a visit still but there are so many new places to check these days to do them all at once. The pump track in Roosendaal had been on the agenda since the opening over two years ago. Sometimes it just is like that. But time was on our hands (Covid-19!) and the drive was made on a sunny day. Early departure (09:00hr) to avoid the spot being too busy. The pump track location in Roosendaal can be found at the public cycling park. It's free to ride and free to park and on arrival just a handful of kids were using the giant pumptrack. It was made by Velosolutions so the typical red stripe with arrows showed the direction they wanted you to go. It had plenty to offer so going in the opposite direction to create more lines wasn't needed. The aphalt felt grippier than the asphalt in Beesel which was good as long as you stay on the bike. If not, you'll leave some skin in Roosendaal for sure.
It could be me but during the Covid-19 times I've seen lots of trails riding happening. Of course riding trails comes with the hard work of building them but in the nature of trails riding, this can be done away from the masses. If 1,5 meter distance needs to be followed, building trails is perfect. 1) You won't have tons of people around to dig and 2) If everyone builds their own set, there's enough distance in between all people at the dirt spot. The freedom to create whatever you feel like is very attractive; you just need a shovel, some water and dirt to create a dream line.
But rain can destroy the dream quickly if the jumps are not covered up when the water comes down with buckets at a time. The Flame Trails have experienced the feat, and do now need some love again in order to make them run smoothly. The Helm Trails at the other side of town are covered up after every session and even though the heavy rain created some extra work, the Helm Trails are already back up and running.
The Mid-week session took place on a sweet summer night. Not too hot, not too windy, and when the sun went down, the condition was perfect. But that moment doesn't last long and the mosquitos also seem to favour that time of the day to look for some blood. Anyway, we shot some pics for you to enjoy. Check @helmtrails on Insta for session days/times. Well worth it.
BdJ
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.