Mastering Pumping: Gaining Speed Without Pedaling on Undulating Terrain

Pumping is an essential mountain biking skill that enables riders to build speed by using their body weight, without the need for pedaling, particularly on undulating terrain. By leveraging the natural features of the trail—like bumps and dips—riders can harness their bike’s momentum to gain speed on downslopes and maintain it on upslopes. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the techniques and strategies for mastering pumping, helping you improve your riding efficiency and overall experience on the trails.

Understanding the MTB Pumping Technique

• Grasping the Mechanics of Pumping
  Pumping is all about using your body and bike to generate speed through controlled, rhythmic movements. The key is to compress your bike as you move down a slope and then extend it as you move up, allowing you to maintain or even increase your momentum without the need for pedaling. Think of it like jumping on a trampoline—when you push down into the trampoline, it rebounds and propels you upward. On the bike, you compress into the ground to generate force and then push off as you rise, creating a cycle that boosts your speed. This technique is particularly effective on rolling terrain, where each dip and rise can be used to your advantage.
• Mastering Terrain Reading
  The success of pumping depends heavily on your ability to read the terrain ahead. Identifying the right trail features, such as rollers, dips, and small rises, is crucial for maximizing your speed. When you can anticipate these features, you can time your compressions and extensions perfectly, allowing you to carry your momentum through each section of the trail. This skill not only improves your speed but also enhances your overall flow, making your ride feel smoother and more connected to the trail.
• Optimizing Body Positioning
  Your body position is critical for effective pumping. To maximize control and efficiency, keep your elbows and knees slightly bent, and maintain a low center of gravity. This stance helps you stay balanced as you move through the undulating terrain, allowing you to react quickly to changes in the trail. By staying low and centered, you can also generate more power in your compressions and extensions, making your pumping more effective. Remember, the goal is to use your body’s movement to control the bike, rather than relying on pedaling, which conserves energy and allows you to maintain higher speeds over longer distances.

How to Pump on a Mountain Bike

• Approach the Feature: As you approach a bump or dip on the trail, assess your speed and the shape of the feature. Aim for a smooth entry to maximize your pumping potential. If you’re a beginner, it’s easiest to start practicing on flat ground with a gentle rolling speed. Choose a flat area with a good grip, like pavement, where you can visualize an imaginary line to swing side to side. Avoid gravel roads with loose surfaces, as it’s easy to lose traction.
• Compress the Bike: As you reach the top of the bump or the apex of a turn, compress your body by bending your knees and elbows. This helps you absorb the impact and prepares you for the next movement. On flat ground, imagine there’s an imaginary line down the center that you’re trying to jump over from side to side. As you lean into the turn, push off the ground to propel yourself to the other side of the line while swinging the bike across. At the apex of the turn, your hips should be at their lowest point.
• Extend Your Body: As you descend from the bump or exit the turn, extend your body and push down on the pedals. This motion helps generate speed as you transition into the next dip or turn. On flat ground, aim to be at your heaviest at the apex of the turn and at your lightest as you extend and swing the bike across the imaginary line. Between turns, your hips should rise to their highest point as you extend your body.
• Repeat the Process: Continue pumping through subsequent features by alternating between compression and extension, using your body movements to push the bike forward. Focus on maintaining a rhythm to keep your momentum flowing. At slower speeds, these movements will be more exaggerated and pronounced; as your speed increases, the movements become more subtle. Once you’re comfortable, start practicing on berms and turns, as this skill is crucial for riding them effectively. As you become more confident, you can let go of the imaginary line and focus on the natural flow of the trail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-Compressing: One common mistake is compressing too much, which can cause you to lose control and disrupt your flow. Aim for a balanced compression that allows for smooth transitions without overloading your suspension or body. Practicing on hardtail or BMX bikes can be helpful, as they require less energy to compress compared to full-suspension bikes. Full-suspension bikes often demand more effort to compress effectively, so it’s important to find the right balance to maintain control.
• Poor Timing: Timing is everything when it comes to pumping. Extending too early or too late can cause you to lose momentum, making your ride less efficient and more difficult. Focus on synchronizing your movements with the terrain, practicing until your timing becomes second nature. Proper timing will help you maintain speed and flow, especially in technical sections.
• Neglecting Body Position: Maintaining the correct body position is crucial for effective pumping. Failing to keep a low center of gravity can reduce your control and stability, making it harder to pump effectively. Stay relaxed, keep your knees and elbows slightly bent, and ensure your body is properly positioned over the bike. A low, stable stance allows you to react quickly to changes in the trail and maintain better control throughout the ride.

When I first started mountain biking, I struggled with pumping and relied almost entirely on pedaling for speed. It wasn’t until I focused on reading the terrain and refining my body movements that I began to see real improvements.

By practicing pumping on flat ground first, I not only gained speed but also transformed my overall riding experience, making it smoother, more enjoyable, and more fluid. Pumping also helped me develop the muscles needed for other skills like bunny hops and manuals. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to see how far you can travel without pedaling!

Mastering the art of pumping is crucial for mountain bikers who want to gain speed without pedaling on undulating terrain. By understanding the mechanics, reading the trail, and practicing proper body positioning, you can boost your riding efficiency and have a more exhilarating experience on the trails.

Share your pumping experiences and tips in the comments below! Have you ever found yourself wiggling to see how far you could go without pedaling, while others gave you those puzzled and weird looks? Let’s hear your stories! Don’t forget to check out our other tips for more insights, techniques, and inspiration to elevate your mountain biking skills!