Here's how to build a wooden bike ramp.
With the rise in popularity of the X-Games there has been a surge in the number of people building their own bike ramps. This includes both dirt bike ramps as well as other types of cheap bike ramps. While making your own can be a daunting task, it's far from impossible.
The first thing you need to decide is how large you want your ramp to be. Get comfortable with different types of ramps so that you have an idea about the type of ramp you want to build. That will give you an advantage when designing yours as you can incorporate the things you liked and leave out or redesign the aspects you didn't like.
Once you have an idea on the type of ramp you'd like to build, download a free plan from the internet. Lots of bike ramp designers like to share their plans, so make sure the site is reliable or the plans appear to be sound.
Of course you'll need materials, which will include wood, a drill, a hacksaw and glue. If you plan on using your ramp to perform bike tricks (as in BMX biking), you'll need a metal pipe for a rail.
Use pencil to make markings where you're going to cut. You don't want to have to start over on a piece of plywood because of a simple cutting error.
Make sure that you're comfortable using a saw before you jump right in. Also be sure to wear protective eyewear when using the saw.
Test the strength of your ramp before you try to ride it. If your bike ramp can't hold your body weight when you stand on the ramp, it won't be able to handle the force of you riding your bike over it.
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