BMX parks and bike skills parks are awesome, but we don’t always have time to get to them. By adding some bike ramps to your driveway, a manual machine to your patio, or a full-fledged pump track to your backyard, there are lots of ways to sneak in a little bike skills practice.
In this post, we’ve compiled lots of ideas to make your at-home “bike park” rad. Some of these are cheap and easy, some are major commitments. Likewise, we’ve tried to include a mix of commercial options, as well as DIY projects.
Soak up some inspiration, grab your kids, and go get started!
MTB Hopper Lite
The MTB Hopper is definitely one of our favorite lines of ramps and jumps. With a range from a small “Intro” sized jump to others made for moto’s, there are no limits with how big the send can be.
Each ramp is made with modular pieces that fit together to create a durable, no slip ramp that can be adjusted in height and placed anywhere you can fathom.
We opted for the Lite model which can be folded down and packed as a back pack. It is still plenty big to send and easy to have fun with.
Read Our Review: MTB Hopper Lite
MTB Hopper Skinny Set
The MTB Hopper Skinny Set is like an erector set for your backyard bike park. This modular system includes a teeter-totter and four additional pieces that can be configured as skinnies, ramps, or obstacles in countless creative ways.
What makes this set special is its versatility across skill levels. Beginners can practice balance on the teeter-totter while advanced riders work on step-ups and wheel lifts on the same equipment.
The pieces break down for storage or transport, making them ideal for families who want to practice with friends in different locations. At over $500, it’s definitely an investment, but it provides hours of screen-free entertainment while building real bike skills.
Read Our Review: MTB Hopper Skinny
Freshpark Bike Ramps
You can build an entire bike park / skatepark at home with the FreshPark products. Every piece connects to other FreshPark obstacles using their proprietary linking system, so you can start with one ramp and expand your setup whenever you’re ready; the company guarantees they’ll never change the connection system.
All of their products are weather-resistant and reasonably easy to fold up for storage. They also hold up to 1,000 pounds, so dad can have just as much fun with these obstacles as the kids.
Manual Trainers
Manual trainers are one of the best tools for developing balance and bike control skills. By isolating the manual motion in a controlled environment, kids (and adults) can practice finding their balance point without the fear of flipping backward or crashing.
These trainers are perfect for building muscle memory and confidence before taking the skill to the trail or street. Plus, they’re a great way to burn off energy and get some practice time in, even when you can’t get out for a ride.
Commercial manual trainers include MTB Hopper and Ninja MTB. Or, you can try building one yourself.
Build A DIY Bike Ramp
There are TONS of tutorials out there on how to build a bike ramp. If you have some wood, saw, screws, and a little time on your hands, there’s really no limit to what you can create. Here are a couple that we’ve built over the years.
Build A Backyard Pump Track
If you’ve got the space (and your spouse will let you), build a pump track. Pump tracks are one of the best ways for develop skills, and having one in the backyard will let them get their 10,000 hours in. And it’s a great bonding experience to go out and dig with your kiddos.
Build A Teeter Totter
Depending on the age and skill of your child, a teeter totter can be as skinny or as wide as you would like.
Set Up An Obstacle Course With Cones
Cones can provides hours of fun. Set them up so your child can zig-zag in between them, or let them indicate the boundaries of a race course. For kids just learning to brake, you can also set them as stopping points–have them get as close to the cone as possible without running it over.
Create Some Skinnies
Use some 2x4s, logs, or whatever else you have laying around to practice riding skinnies, and riding up and over obstacles.
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About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared.
Over the years, we’ve added other families to our team and have tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a licensed USA Cycling coach and NICA coach, and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is 13 now and is our resident shredder.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
IG: @rascal_rides
YT: @rascalrides
How to build bike ramps – I think this is a great approach to learning techniques and improving balance even when you are inside your house. To create a bike ramp, it’s important to have three crossbars. You need a total of three vertical racks to create a good-quality cycling ramp. Then sketch a curve on one side to create the base of the bike path. You can use a jigsaw to cut a curve by tracing the sketch you made. For positions, you should find three points on the curve: the top, middle, and bottom. It will ensure that your bike’s uphill platform is firm and doesn’t come apart during use. «After you have built the foundation of your homemade bike ramp with the crossbars and vertical racks, proceed to cut the deck. For the floor of the bike ramp, cut the plywood into 24″ wide and 26″ long pieces.
Now, I think building bike ramps has become easy and inexpensive, and you can give it a try.
What is the best angle for a bike ramp? Keep the height 10 inches or less and the angle 30 degrees or less for a good starter ramp. Getting the transition right is crucial, you’ve got to decide whether you want to gain height or distance, should you have a steep or mellow curve? It’s up to you.