Switchbacks, berms and confidence

boogercj

Right, I hope the technically sound riders can help me out here.

Up at QE park there is a section of switchbacks that snake down a hill with a berm at each corner. (those that ride up there regularly should know where I mean).

I've seen a couple of folks tear down them quite fast, but I seem to have trouble judging the speed for the berms and slow down a lot, especially for the tight ones. I have trouble carrying any kind of speed through the corners.

Are there any tips for taking berms, especially tight ones with speed and confidence?

cee

there are a couple of good videos on the front page here....

mtb ride technique section...for berms and switchbacks....

boogercj

Such as this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bikeradar-video-of-the-week-riding-berms-18833



searchy before asky! :oops:

P-Jay

I'm not by any means an expert.

But I found the best way to do them is technique first, speed second.

Watch the vids and get the technique NAILED then, slowly (or quickly) increse the pace.

You might feel a bit daft going around at a crawl, but as long as you get the lines right it doesn't matter. Also set your speed, then go in. You simply don't want to be anywhere near the brakes mid berm.

rhyko7

its all in the hips man, and dont brake around corners

XxxBFGxxX

boogercj wrote:

Right, I hope the technically sound riders can help me out here.

Up at QE park there is a section of switchbacks that snake down a hill with a berm at each corner. (those that ride up there regularly should know where I mean).

I've seen a couple of folks tear down them quite fast, but I seem to have trouble judging the speed for the berms and slow down a lot, especially for the tight ones. I have trouble carrying any kind of speed through the corners.

Are there any tips for taking berms, especially tight ones with speed and confidence?

i know QE well i just broke my coiller bone up there a week ago lmfao.

Anonymous

what the hell is a coiler bone? is that the bone that gives you the spring in your step?

Raymondavalon

yeehaamcgee wrote:

what the hell is a coiler bone? is that the bone that gives you the spring in your step?

It's the alternative term for the crossbar on the Kona Coiler..

Mccraque

he must type with a new york drawl.

chuckd

boogercj wrote:

Such as this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bikeradar-video-of-the-week-riding-berms-18833



searchy before asky! :oops:

Can anyone get this or any videos to load? All I get is a black square with nothing in it.

ste0649

Same here, just a black screen, maybe removed!

XxxBFGxxX

yeehaamcgee wrote:

what the hell is a coiler bone? is that the bone that gives you the spring in your step?

sorry chap i am trying to type left handed and finding it hard. i ment coller bone. lmfao

RealMan

There's nothing insane at QE. Just practice loads. Once you've been somewhere like the Alps, then you will know what a real switchback is like.

Northwind

For berms, just remember you can do them faster than you're doing them, unless you're doing them pretty damn fast. Ironically, the more committed you go into the berm, the easier it is, assuming it's a well made berm at least- you get hooked in and spat out the exit. Not that I'm great at them, I still find them a bit weird but I'm getting better.

It's quite funny though, if you look at the berms at most trail centres, they're either covered in braking bumps before and in the middle, ie people slamming on the brakes IN the turn, or alternatively they're smooth as anything down the bottom because everyone trundles round there, and lumpy as hell up top as hardly anyone actually rides them.

XxxBFGxxX wrote:

sorry chap i am trying to type left handed and finding it hard

:shock: