Riding berms is an art. Done right, it can turn plain real estate into a monorail thrill ride. What is a berm? It can either be dirt pushed outward into a crescent-shaped bank or a groove worn down into a turn. To shoot berms, you approach the corner at a higher rate of speed and use the wall of the berm as a bank to hold the tires while quickly changing direction. Who uses berms? Everybody! Slalom riders need berms just to stay on the course. Downhillers depend on them to maintain speed through fast sweepers. And cross-country riders find the twists and turns of singletrack a lot easier with a berm or two to carom off of.
BERMS & THE
ENVIRONMENT
Shooting berms has its politically incorrect side. While racing downhill, cross-country or dual slalom, blasting berms is fun and necessary. However, when riding on a singletrack trail that is shared with hikers, equestrians or other bikers, it's not so cool to travel at speed, skid around, or forcefully maneuver through a turn. The subsequent trail damage and possible bodily harm to others is a sure way to close down trails for mountain bike use. Got that? Good. Now let's get back to racing and race training. Here is MBA's "How to bust berms."
Head in: Enter the berm crouched over and standing, then begin driving the front wheel into the groove. Use your weight and momentum to keep the tires knifing deep down inside the berm. Keep your eyes ahead, moving around the turn.
Cross-country riders will occasionally find banks of dirt on the outside of turns. Stand up, position the head over the bars, weight the outside pedal and stay off the brakes. Leverage against the seat with the inner thigh.
Feet up: Stay on the pedals through broad berms. Enter the turn at the outside of the bank and steer more to the inside. Momentum will force the bike to stay upright in the bottom of the berm and you can start pedaling out sooner.
Press: When pressure is put on the outside pedal it counters the force used to lean the bike over and actually digs the knobs harder into the dirt.
G's: As the rear wheel begins to cut deep into the berm it will throw body weight rearward. At this point you will have reached the apex of the turn and the butt will lightly touch down on the saddle. Stand back up as you exit.
Foot out: In tight berms the inside foot is held out for balance. Once in the berm, bend the knee and hold the leg up. As you lean let the dirt come up and lightly meet the foot. This automatically weights the outside pedal.
Slam: On steep terrain or soft dirt, brake into the turn with the front tire to the inside of the berm. The rear will skid into the berm just as the front tire hooks up. Touch down on the saddle, square off and out of the turn.
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