Looking for a great pump track in Trentino? We’ll share our favorites, perfect for both athletes and bike-loving kids of all ages.
Trentino has many fantastic bike trails. However, a pump track is a perfect alternative when you have limited time, bad weather, or need different training.
For each of our top pump track recommendations, we’ll highlight whether it’s better suited for experienced riders or frequently visited by younger ones. We’ll also cover some basic skills for enjoying a pump track ride, along with the benefits of pump track training for young riders.
Our Top Pump Tracks in Trentino
We’ve listed our favorite pump tracks here, all of which are free and generally not overcrowded. For each, we’ve indicated if they are more suitable for little riders or those looking to train.
Arco – Parco delle Braile
This is our kid’s favorite pump track! It’s very long, allowing many children to enjoy it together safely. Located in a spacious green park, there’s tap water available, and a café opens nearby during the summer. The rollers and berms are relatively small, making it definitely more suitable for young riders than athletes.
Convenient free parking is available directly in front. Alternatively, you can use the large free hospital parking lot with a small trail connecting to the park. It’s ideal for late afternoons, mid-season, or winter given Arco’s mild temperatures.
Molveno
This pump track is often less crowded and also features a small skill park for kids with small jumps and walkways. The pump track itself is quite compact but very well designed.
Being less crowded by young children, it can also serve as a good training pump track for older riders, despite its small size. Our child tends to get tired quickly here, likely finding the rollers higher, and prefers to play in the nearby skill area instead.
Its location is excellent for kids and young riders because there’s a large playground nearby. Plus, the stunning views of Molveno Lake are simply amazing. Its convenient location also benefits riding parents who want to shred at Paganella Bike Park and then enjoy some riding with their little ones on the pump track.
Terlago
This is another one of our kids’ favorites. Situated in a renowned trail area, it offers a great compromise: entertaining young riders while parents enjoy the nearby trails.
Being directly inside a large playground makes it ideal for children. At the same time, its construction also makes it a good training spot for older riders. Ample free parking is available right in front of the playground, and the same park also offers a beach volleyball and a basketball court.
Lavarone
This is our personal favorite, definitely more suited for riders looking to train rather than young children. In our experience, this pump track is quite challenging for kids due to its high rollers and berms. Even if you encounter some here, they tend to tire quickly, and there are no playgrounds nearby.
We haven’t brought our youngest child here yet, as we consider this pump track outside his current comfort riding zone. Therefore, this is definitely the pump track in Trentino to visit for training.
How to Pump Track: Simple Theory
As the name suggests, the theory behind pump tracking involves pumping – accelerating your bike without pedaling. How is this achieved? This works by moving your body up and down. When you extend your body as the bike comes up, then push down into the ground, you help the bike go faster. The rider’s vertical body movement (a full theory and model can be found in this scientific paper) is decreasing the radius of curvature and increasing bike speed.
Given this theory, when you approach a roller, think of it as riding a curve, not just going up and down. This helps make your movements smoother.
How to Explain to Kids
Children are likely in the process of learning how to push themselves on a swing. Applying the up-down swing concept can work for extending legs and arms when going up, and compressing when going down, to put it simply.
This might help them grasp the idea, but practice is where they excel. So, simply let them enjoy it, with some precautions about avoiding improper pedaling.
Why Pump Tracks are So Good for Basic Bike Skills in Kids
Even though our child is still on his balance bike, he’s already picking up important pump track skills. He’s learning when to push, how to approach a berm, and how to maintain focus on his path, even with other children and distractions around. These skills are incredibly helpful for preparing them to ride on roads.
They also learn other rules, like riding in a certain direction, and are developing control over their body weight and bike maneuvering.
Building Your DIY Pump Track
Since our little rider loves pump tracks so much, we decided to build a small one in our backyard. It has proven to be his favorite game. It’s used not just for biking, but also for running, pushing little cars, scooters, and as part of the obstacle courses.
We asked Grandpa Luciano for a tractor load of soil, created small heaps to build the rollers, and then compacted them with a roller. To build the small berms, we shaped them with a shovel and then refined them with a roller. No matter if your garden is no longer a beautiful green lawn, the fun for your child and their friends will be guaranteed. They literally play for hours on those rollers!
We hope this post guides you and your little one to enjoy pump track in Trentino. For more family riding inspiration, please see our dedicated section!
