What Is a Berm: MOUNTAIN BIKING

A BERM is a smooth banked outside edge of a curved section of trail, usually man-made. Smooth berms allow riders to “rail” turns without slowing down like the banking turns of NASCAR tracks. 

• More simply, a BERM is a banked or angled corner

Berm vs Off-camber

• BERM = positive camber

  • A corner that is higher on the outside than the inside. The trail will slope down from the outer edge to the inner one

• Off-Camber = negative camber

  • A corner that is higher on the inside than the outside so the trail slopes down from the inner edge to the outer edge

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A corner with positive camber is called a berm and the opposite of a berm is known as off-camber.

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What is Camber?

Camber refers to the difference in height between the two edges of a trail which creates a banked riding surface.

• Positive camber is a banked turn and is easier to ride than an off-camber trail or corner as gravity works with you.

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Scientifically formulated to go faster

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Quick Summary

• A berm is a steeply banked corner which it’s possible to take at speed. A singletrack with many berms can be described as 'bermy'

• Off-camber is the opposite of a berm. The slope hinders cornering at speed as opposed to berms, which makes turning at speed easier and faster (aka more fun)

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Jesse is the Director of Pedal Chile and lives in La Patagonia. Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Hobbies: Mountain biking, bicycle commuting, reading, snowboarding, researching, and sampling yummy craft beers.

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References and Sources

1. “Camber vs Berm - What’s the Difference?” WikiDiff, 3 Nov. 2016, wikidiff.com/camber/berm.

2. Hurst, Robert. The Art of Mountain Biking : Singletrack Skills for All Riders. Guilford, Conn., Falconguides, 2012.

3. ‌Lopes, Brian, et al. Mastering Mountain Bike Skills. Champaign (Il) ; Windsor (On) ; Leeds (Ls), Human Kinetics, 2017.

4. “Mountain Biking Glossary - Forestry and Land Scotland.” Forestryandland.gov.scot, forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/activities/mountain-biking/glossary.

5. “MTB Techniques - the Mountain Bike Skills and Technique Resource.” Www.mtbtechniques.co.uk, www.mtbtechniques.co.uk/AdvancedOffCamber.html.

6. Netting, Dan. “Camber on Race Tracks: How Does It Affect Us as Riders?” Life at Lean, 18 Nov. 2013, lifeatlean.com/camber-how-it-affects-us/.

7. Trevitt, Andrew. “Riding Skills Series: Camber and Elevation.” Cycle World, 3 Oct. 2011. LINK