How to Build a Small BMX Ramp
Riding BMX bikes at home when you can't get to the skate park, or when you don't have one nearby, can be a very boring and stale experience. Unless your primary focus is freestyle flatland riding, something to launch off of is necessary to do cool tricks. Rather than just sit out the riding season, learn how to build a small BMX ramp at home that you can use in the driveway and get in some real practice when you can't get to the park.
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Things You'll Need
- 1/2-inch plywood
- 3/4-inch plywood
- Hand held drill
- Wood screws
- 2-by-4 planks
- Saw
- Ruler or measuring tape
Instructions
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1
Make a mock-up of your ramp using cardboard or poster board. Your mock-up should have two triangular side panels to define the ramp's shape, and a rectangular face off of which you will launch your bike. Use this mock-up to experiment with ramp sizes and launch angles, taking into consideration the area in which you will be riding. Larger ramps with steeper launch angles are more suitable for large areas, while smaller ramps with shallower launch angles are most suitable for small and cramped spaces.
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2
Trace the side panels of your ramp onto a sheet of 3/4-inch plywood in pencil or marker. Cut out these panels as smooth and straight as possible with hand held saw. Trace the ramp face onto a piece of 1/2-inch plywood and cut it out in the same manner.
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3
Measure the ramp face's length and width. Cut out one piece of 2-by-4 plank one inch shorter than the width of the face for every four inches of the face's length. For example, if your ramp face is 48 inches long and 24 inches wide, cut out 12 pieces of 2-by-4, each 23 inches long.
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4
Align the end of each 2-by-4 plank along the edge of one of the side panels on which the ramp face will sit. Use wood screws to attach the end of each 2-by-4 plank to this edge of the side panel. Attach the second side panel to the other end of each of 2-by-4 plank using wood screws.
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5
Lay the ramp face over the top of the ramp and align it with the edges of the side panels. Using wood screws, drill through the ramp face into the 2-by-4s below, securing the face to the top of the ramp. Be certain that the lower edge of the ramp face sits flush against the ground to minimize the risk of your new ramp causing a flat tire. When the face is attached, take the ramp to your practice area and take the first test launch.
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