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What Is a Berm: MOUNTAIN BIKING

Jesse Wright

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

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

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.

Scientifically formulated to go faster

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)

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