If your kids (or even you!) are sick of being inside in the holidays or the pandemic, but are healthy enough to be outside and maintain social distance, why not give this kicker jump a try? I built this one with my boys and they love it! We also shared some video with the Qld Junior Road and Track Development Squad who have been unable to train together during the pandemic, and they loved it too.
The design is based on kicker jumps others have shared online. It's light weight and portable so you can take it to the park or wherever else you may want to ride. This one is designed for beginners learning to jump. It isn't too wide so it's easier to transport, and can be stored in your garage out of the weather.
To build it you'll need:
Plywood: I used 19mm structural ply for the sides and 9mm for the top. You won't be able to bend 19mm for the top unless you cut 1cm grooves every inch, and if this isn't appealing and you want the extra strength (say for some large adults to jump it) then you can simply screw a second top sheet onto the first.
2" by 4" for the crossbeams (I made these 400mm wide)
60mm screws for the cross beams (I used 12 gauge screws which require a 3.2 or 3.3mm drill bit to pre-drill holes and a countersinking bit)
30mm screws for the top sheet: screw the top sheet into the crossbeams not the plywood sides
Skill saw
Jigsaw
Cordless drill and drill bits
tape measure / steel ruler / pencil
conduit to help draw the curve
Watch the video below to learn how to build it.
This video talks about the slope of the jump and how you might alter it to suit your needs.
And most importantly, let's jump it!
Enjoy, and stay safe! If you haven't learnt skills like wheel lifts or jumping, engage a professional mountain bike coach first.