In this clip of The Pump Track Chat Podcast, Brandon Hetrick is asked about potential geological issues associated with pump track builds that Lititz should immediately be concerned with? Hear the full conversation at https://youtu.be/6W4qgR5tTQw?si=Fl8RffWXZjd6u7OG 👉 Subscribe for more conversations about local projects, recreation, community development, and the people shaping our towns. —-- Key Geological Issues for Pump Track Construction 1. Weak or unstable soils Soft or loose soils — like sand, silt, clay, or peat — can shift under load, causing settling, cracking, or rutting in the track surface. Geotechnical sources note that weak soils pose major dangers in construction and often require stabilization. For a pump track, this can mean: - Rollers deforming over time - Berms slumping - Water pooling in low spots 2. Expansive clays Expansive soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, which can distort or crack any compacted riding surface. These are a top problem found in geotechnical investigations. On a pump track, this leads to: - Seasonal heaving - Surface cracking - Constant maintenance 3. Poor drainage or high groundwater Waterlogged soils lose strength and can cause erosion or collapse. Construction guidance warns that unstable clay or sand without proper drainage leads to structural failures. For pump tracks, this means: - Rollers washing out - Berms softening - Muddy, unusable riding conditions 4. Slope stability and subsidence If the track is built on a hillside or fill material, the ground may shift over time. Geotechnical engineering emphasizes understanding ground behavior to prevent settlement or collapse. This can cause: - Cracks in asphalt pump tracks - Uneven riding surfaces - Long‑term structural instability 5. Need for soil improvement When soils are weak, engineers often use ground‑improvement techniques like compaction, geotextiles, or soil stabilization. These methods are commonly used to make marginal land buildable. For pump tracks, this might include: - Importing better dirt - Using geogrid under rollers - Adding drainage layers 🧭 Why this matters Pump tracks rely on precise shaping and consistent compaction. If the ground beneath them moves, absorbs water, or fails to support the load, the riding surface quickly degrades. 📚 About Lititz BMX Lititz BMX is an independent BMX preservation project dedicated to documenting and preserving the people, bikes, artifacts, race history, and stories that shaped the sport. What began as a private collection has evolved into an expanding digital archive featuring hundreds of artifacts, rider profiles, interviews, educational resources, and historical research spanning BMX’s earliest days through today. Every artifact tells a story. Every rider leaves a legacy. Every piece of BMX history deserves to be preserved. Each recording helps preserve BMX history by documenting the people, artifacts, and stories that might otherwise be lost to time. 🔗 Discover More in the Archive This recording is one chapter in the story of the Lititz BMX Archive. Whether you're researching BMX history, rediscovering a favorite rider, or exploring the stories behind the artifacts, there's always something new waiting in the archive. 🏁 Explore Lititz BMX https://www.lititzbmx.com 📚 Explore the Complete Archive https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/ ⭐ Featured Archive Highlights 🔹 Archive Artifact - 26.001 - DIRTYFEST 3 Original Painting by Damian Fulton https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/home/26-0001 🔹 Campaigns - 10,000 Hours https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/campaigns/10000-hours-campaigns 🔹 Collections - The Radical Rick Collection https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/collections/the-radical-rick-collection 🚲 Support the Archive The Lititz BMX Archive is independently developed and maintained. Sharing recordings, identifying artifacts, contributing historical information, and connecting riders with the archive are some of the best ways to help preserve BMX history. • Museum-quality BMX artifacts • BMX team and manufacturer history • Vintage BMX memorabilia and catalogs • International BMX history • Educational resources and historical research • Original photographs, videos, and documents • Original Lititz BMX media productions • Restoration projects and behind-the-scenes stories New artifacts, rider profiles, interviews, and historical resources are added regularly as the Lititz BMX Archive continues to grow.