How to Build a Bike Ramp
If you want to ride freestyle BMX, you need to practice on a real bike ramp. The best way to get more practice is to build your own ramp. There are several ways to do it, but one of the most common is to build a structure out of 2-by-4s and plywood. You build a ramp frame first, then layer the top with bendable plywood or fiberboard. How steep you make your ramp is up to you, depending on the type of tricks you want to master and how comfortable you are with steep grades and inclines.
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Things You'll Need
- Several feet of 2-by-4 boards
- Plywood (1/4-inch or 1/2-inch sheets)
- Screws
- Power driver
- Saw
- Nails
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Decide on the length and height of your ramp, then design a curve that you are comfortable with. It should give you plenty of lift but not be so steep that it causes you to lose speed. A grade of about 45 degrees with a shallow curve is perfect for almost any type of trick.
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2
Cut two 2-by-4s to the length of the ramp, and two more to the height. Lay the lengthwise boards side by side, and put the vertical end boards aside for now.
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3
Brace the lengthwise 2-by-4s with cross-braces cut to the width of the ramp. One should be placed at least every 2 feet. Stand both the lengthwise boards and the cross-braces on their edges. Use screws or 2-inch or longer nails to fasten the boards.
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4
Fasten the vertical supports to the end of the ramp using screws or 2-inch nails. Now it is time to cut the side boards from plywood.
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5
Trace the curve you want onto a large sheet of 1/2-inch plywood. If you need to use two sheets, do so. Then cut the curve using a jigsaw. Do this again for the other side.
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6
Fasten the side boards to the frame and vertical supports using screws.
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7
Cut cross-braces that will fit between the two side walls and fasten them along the top of the curve about 2 feet apart. These serve as braces for the layers of plywood that will form the ramp.
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8
Cut the plywood to create the surface of the ramp. Take into account the curve, which will add several feet to the length of the ramp. Measure along the curve with a flexible tape measure, and leave extra space on the end of your sheet of plywood, which you can cut off later.
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9
Lay the plywood onto the ramp. Starting from the bottom, work your way up securing the plywood right to the cross-braces with screws and a power driver. Use the nails or screws on the side boards to locate the cross-braces.
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Tips & Warnings
Use several sheets of thin plywood for the ramp surface. These sheets are easier to bend and will not break while you are trying to form them to the ramp.
