Few trail sensations beat the feeling of leaning deep into a hard-packed berm, tyres ripping, gravity doing the heavy lifting and speed rocketing you into the next straight. Berms let beginners feel like pros and give seasoned shredders a playground to squeeze out free momentum. Below you’ll learn exactly how to read, enter and exit a berm so you roll out faster than you rolled in.
What’s a Berm, Anyway?
A berm is a banked corner, the angled wall supports your tyres so you can lean harder, brake less and even accelerate through the turn. Get your line and body position right and the berm will slingshotyou onwards.
The 5-Step Formula for Berm Brilliance
Remember: The fastest line is usually the smoothest line. Think wide-to-tight, eyes up, brakes off.
1. Set a High & Wide Entry
Nine times out of ten, the top edge of the entrance is the speed line. Starting high lets you stay above braking bumps, find extra traction and open the radius of your turn.
Practice drill: On a gentle berm, roll slowly and deliberately aim for the top third. Repeat until it feels automatic.
2. Scan for Traction Mid-Berm
As you drop in, identify the firmest, most supportive section—often the darker, packed line. If the main groove is blown-out or dusty, adjust a touch lower where the dirt is still solid, then rejoin the primary line.
Pro move: Wet morning? The grippiest dirt may sit slightly lower where moisture lingers.
3. Push Through the Pedals & Hold Your Arc
Think “stand tall then drive the bike into the wall.” Stomp evenly through both pedals, brace your core and resist sliding up or down the face. A constant radius = constant speed.
Body cue: Knees slightly bent, elbows out, hips following the bike—not fighting it.
4. Spot (and Commit to) the Exit Early
Your tyres follow your eyes. Look past the apex to the section where the berm fades into flat trail and let the bike carve toward that target. Turning off too early robs you of the berm’s free speed.
Fix a common mistake: If you’re stalling mid-turn, you’re probably staring at your front wheel. Lift your gaze!
5. Brakes Off—Let It Fly
Do all braking before the entry. Once you’re on the wall, release the levers and trust the tilt. Dragging brakes inside the berm kills speed and can stand the bike upright.
Mantra: Slow in, flow out.
Extra Nuggets from the Coaches
- High-to-Low = Free Acceleration. Entering high lets gravity pump you out low for a burst of exit speed.
-
Match Lean to Berm Steepness. Steep wall + high speed = you and bike lean together. Shallow berm or slower speed? Keep body more upright and push the bike underneath.
Common Pitfalls & Quick Fixes
|
Pitfall |
Why it Happens |
Rapid Remedy |
|---|---|---|
|
Over-braking in the turn |
Fear of washing out |
Brake 2-3 m earlier; pick a slower entry speed and commit to zerobrake pressure on the wall |
|
Riding off the top edge |
Entering too high or standing bike up mid-turn |
Drop entry a tyre-width lower; keep eyes on exit to maintain lean |
|
Sliding to the bottom |
Inside pedal weighted, loose soil collecting low |
Keep outside pedal weighted and stay in the grippy upper track |
Drills to Dial It In
-
Figure-8 Berm Session
-
Find two consecutive berms and ride laps, focusing on repeating the 5-step flow without pedalling between turns.
-
-
Eyes-Up Challenge
-
Tape a small dot on your top tube. Each run, remind yourself not to look at it.
-
-
Brake Marker Game
-
Place a stick on the trail as your last-chance braking point. Move it progressively closer to the berm until you’re smooth and control is crisp.
-
Ready to Rail?
Grab your mates, pick a flow trail and put these steps into action. Need kit that breathes, bends and stands up to the occasional “involuntary dismount”? Explore the latest RSD collection—eco-friendly, gender-inclusive and backed by our Crash Commitment—so you can focus on fun, not fabrics.
See you on the trail, and remember: always keep it Rubber Side Down!