Berms

nonnac85

i always thought that you should ride berms with the pedals level but i went on a skills day recently and they said to put one pedal up and one down e.g. if going round a berm turning left put your right pedal down to push your weight into the berm (and the opposite for right hand berms). are both these ways "correct"?

any opinions / tips please?

thanks!

nicklouse

outer pedal down sounds right.

Ciaran500

Outside foot down and inside foot extended out in front is the way I learned.

ddoogie

I've always done it with the pedals level. Because you are tilting the bike to be perpendicular with berm as you go round it, you shouldn't need to have the pedals in the 12/6 o'clock positions.

davydesign

I reckon either way works, it depends on the berm - is it tight or open, cut up with braking bumps/roots/rocks or smooth etc...

If you're trying to pump the berm and use the momentum they allow then I feel more comfy with my pedals horizontal so theres a solid platform to push the bike through and out of the berm. but if the berm is tight then you may need the extra stability of having the outside foot down.

Go with whatever feels best at the time.

Have you seen this vid of Doddy showing Mr Stevenson how to ride berms?
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/o ... ricks-7629

milkywhite

It always seems to me that having your outside foot down gives more grip, as your bodyweight is pushing down into the berm more. Having said that, I've read guides on riding berms that recommend level pedals.

I guess it comes down to riding style etc, and like Davy said...whatever feels most comfortable.

Dan.hkr

yea agree, whatever is comfortable (definatly in a position that alllows you to pump into the berm though!), i think the guides will say pedals level so people dont put the inside pedal down and clip it, then kiss dirt :roll:

BoredHousewife

On that free dvd MBUK gave away the other month Chris Smith said level, personally I always have the outside foot down. I'm crap and he isn't though so there could be something in it

toasty

Yeah, outside foot down here too, soley because it makes me feel less like im going to fall off though I don't go fast around them, might have to watch the dvd again!

davydesign

BoredHousewife wrote:

On that free dvd MBUK gave away the other month Chris Smith said level, personally I always have the outside foot down. I'm crap and he isn't though so there could be something in it

formerlyknownasbonj

what actually are 'braking bumps' on berms, and why do they occur?

nicklouse

braking bumps are caused by people braking and the bikes digging the dirt out.

now if they just went round them with using the brakes they would be faster and the holes would not appear.

benneally

whenever I corner its always ur outside foot down, and then lean away from the turn, thus keeping centre of mass above ur tyres, on berms maybe u dont have to lean (maybe not as much) but still outside pedal down...

M1N1 DH/FREERIDE

yep i always have the outside foot down. If the inside pedal is down, when you lean into the berm the pedal might catch and bring the back round.

fumps

I have just started doing berms & i find outside foot makes me feel more planted into the berm, i just feel i have more confidence in the grip it gives.

320DMsport

Well after BMX racing for 5 years i've been round a few berms, it really depends on how tight the berm is, if it is tight then i always put outside pedal to the bottom and coast round and pedal out or even cornering at speed on fire road i do the same if it's tight.

If the berm is more sweeping with a good bank i just pedal right round the middle and your speed keeps you planted into the corner, i'd never lean away from the bike just keep the same angle as the bike.

Seemed to work well for me anyway.