Professional mountain biker Jono Jones was on hand for the launch of the new track at Millennium Field, Kesgrave, funded by Kesgrave-based plant and machinery hire firm TRU7 Group.
Kesgrave pump track was funded with £100,000 from Kesgrave-based TRU7 Group (Image: Newsquest)
And the sun also made a welcome appearance, providing a gloriously warm spring day for the cyclists and wheelers to enjoy a trip or two around the track.
Neal Beecroft-Smith, from Kesgrave Town Council, said it was fantastic to see so many people at the opening of the new pump track (Image: Newsquest)
Guy Nicholls, chair of TRU7, cut the ribbon to launch the pump track, watched on by Neal Beecroft-Smith, chair of Kesgrave Town Council, which has been a big supporter of the project.
Describing his feelings at the launch, Mr Nicholls said: “I am a bit emotional. It is fantastic to see all these people and to have such wonderful weather as well.”
He also praised East Suffolk and Suffolk county councillor Debbie McCallum, who represents Kesgrave, for her support, describing her as a “doer not a talker”.
Oscar Sanders, nine, travelled from London to have a ride on the track and said it was “quite nice” (Image: Newsquest)
“We just wanted to do something nice for the area to get kids out on push bikes and exercising, rather than sitting around all day on computers,” Mr Nicholls said.
Mr Beecroft-Smith said: “It is fantastic to see so many people here. It has been an aspiration of the town for more than 25 years to get something like this, but we have never had the finances or the land to get something like this.”
The facility had an expert design team, courtesy of Clarke & Kent contractors, who were responsible for the BMX track at the 2012 London Olympics, located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Albie Dare, pictured with his dad Matt, said he liked the facility, describing the track as “nice and smooth” (Image: Newsquest)
The asphalt track features a continuous circuit of rollers, berms and linked turns designed to help riders build confidence, balance and bike-handling skills.
Albie Dare, nine, was among the cyclists making first use of the facility and was joined trackside by his father Matt.
He said: “I like it, it is nice and smooth. It is nice it is being used a lot.”
Oscar Sanders, also nine, had travelled all the way from London to have a go as he completes his mission to visit every pump track in the country.
Theodore Burnett said the track was “really good” (Image: Newsquest)
“It is quite nice. The only problem is that it is quite busy, but once it calms down it is going to be a really nice track.
“There are good jumps and it has got a lot of rollers. You can get a lot of speed on it.”
Theodore Burnett, ten, from Woodbridge, said: “It is really good and it is really easy to get speed up. The step ups are really good.”
Professional mountain biker Jono Jones said the pump track was “brilliant” (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Jones said: “It is brilliant. Stuff like this is so cool. There is no barrier to entry for people. It is the perfect place for people to meet each other, but also to ride.
“The opportunity for people is massive. It is amazing that TRU Group have put things in for the community.”
Guy Nicholls cut the ribbon to launch the new pump track (Image: Newsquest)