User:BiggerRedS/dirt jumping

Dirt Jumping is a style of riding that is ridden primarily on bicycles, but also on motorcycles. As the name suggests, the primary activity is riding bikes over and off jumps made of dirt. In general, dirt jumpers are split on the basis of wheel size: 20", 24" and 26", because the wheel size dictates the shape of the takeoff to an extent.

A mountain bike built for dirt jumping tends to be a smaller frame than is used for other disciplines. Running singlespeed is very common, as is using only a rear brake. The forks are generally either rigid or short travel (up to 100mm). Wheel size is either 26" or 24". In general, a mountain bike dedicated to dirt jumping will have 24" wheels, a gear ratio of 1:2 (32:16, 36:18 and 24:12 being its most popular incarnations) and rigid forks. An 'all-round' bike used for dirt jumping will more likely have 26" wheels, a 30-36t chainring with a wide-ratio cassette and a short to mid-travel fork.

A BMX built for dirt jumping tends to have a longer top tube than other BMXs, and may well be more reinforced. They will rarely have pegs fitted (unless they are also used for street riding), and will generally run only the rear brake. Also, the tyres will be semi-slicks, as opposed to the slicks used for park riding. Large, padded saddles are also popular as something to land on when it all goes wrong - they are also easier to hold for in-flight tricks. the gear ratio is generally something in the region of 44:16.

Culture
Dirt jumping is a 'freesport', in that most riders participate for fun, rather than competition. More recently, dirt jumping contests have begun to be organised, with the Duke of Dirt and King of Dirt series becoming large, and viewed as the more definitive series. In these competitions, points are awarded by judges on the basis of style and complexity. Although cash prizes are becoming more common, most prizes are still bike parts, usually supplied by the major sponsors of the series.

Dirt jumpers see themselves as participating in a very underground sport, and go to some distance to prolong this - the majority of bikes and components are made by smaller companies, and most companies push a 'by riders for riders' image, to a greater extent than in most other bicycle disciplines.

Types of jump
The most common form of jump is the double. This consists of two separate earthworks, one acting as a takeoff, and the other as a landing.

Tabletops are more common among those new to the sport, they are a single earthwork with a takeoff at one end, and a landing at the other, with a flat 'table' on the top. These are favoured by new riders because when the rider comes up short they can still easily ride out of it.

Ski jumps consist of just a takeoff, they're usually longer and flatter than other jumps, and tend to be situated on downhills, so the slope of the hill can serve as a landing. They're used mostly in competions on jump length.

Tricks
(Most of the above noted tricks can be put together to form one trick all in one air time -combo)

Noted Riders
Mountain bike dirt jumpers BMX dirt jumpers
 * Aaron Chase
 * Timo Pritzel
 * Grant 'Chopper' Fielder
 * Chris Smith
 * John Cowan
 * Lance McDermott
 * Glen Coe
 * Steven Bafus
 * Ollie Fielder
 * Ollie Wilkins
 * Cam McCaul
 * Jeff Lenoskey
 * Sam Pilgrim
 * Tom Mays
 * Ryan Nosworthy
 * Paul Burke
 * Ryan Nyquist
 * Kye Forte

Noted trails
Most local trails are kept very private, in order to prevent them being customised to fit the riding of anyone except the group that build them. Also, a sizeable proportion of dirt jumps are built illegally, which adds to the incentives to keep them quiet. Some public, commercial, trails of note exist at Esher Shore, Chicksands,