DAVE'S $0.02: THE ANATOMY OF THE PERFECT BERM
June 13, 2019
We invited one of our most dedicated volunteers, Ride Guides owner/coach, State Parks docent, Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and all around good guy Dave Robinson to share his knowledge with the MBOSC community. Here's the next post in our "Dave's $0.02" series!
Your grin is wrapped from ear to ear as the redwoods blur by and the only sound you hear is the wind whistling through your helmet as you descend your favorite loamy singletrack. Far down the trail you spot that corner that seems to always cause you to pause but today your gonna crush it! But just as you enter the corner your right index finger uncontrollably twitches for a split second, you skid and your bike stands up as you ashamedly drop down the berm or worse yet fly out the top. What happened there? Where did all your confidence go and why did the whole corner come un-done on you? Recognizing the environmental factors that affect your cornering are critical if you want to charge through it with complete confidence. Today’s case study in the anatomy of a corner takes place on the “Prince Berm” on Segment Two of The Flow Trail. You can’t see the entire corner at anytime as you smoke through it, it wraps 180 degrees around a stand of redwoods. There is no brake check on the way in, it rises 10 feet from a fast set of rollers and begs you to take the high line throughout. There is 30 degrees of camber at the outset maxing in a nearly vertical wall at the apex, demanding you lay your bike over nearly perpendicular to the trail below. The traction high on the wall is perfect, while down below certain doom awaits in the dust and detritus from the forest. The corner loses 6 feet of elevation through the 40-foot radius of the turn adding speed as you refrain from braking, confident in the support the berm provides. There are very few obstacles throughout this manicured masterpiece, but the one or two there are determine your route. This is my ideal corner, built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers.
Did you recognize the five environmental factors that affect every corner? Camber, radius, pitch, traction, and obstacles. These features will determine your speed, line, and bike handling throughout the berm. So consider pausing on one of your next rides to review the five key elements of your favorite corner, if you do you’re sure to improve your speed, control, and appreciation of the trail.
Understanding the anatomy of a corner is the starting point of The Ride Guides Cornering Clinics at SDSF. We then dig into how to squeeze the most out of the corner as a rider, from your entry speed to your line through the berm and your bike handling throughout. Our clinics are designed to help you grow as a rider and foster your appreciation of our world-class trails built and maintained by MBOSC. If you’re looking to improve one aspect of your riding that will impact every trail you ride afterward then this is the session for you!
Hi, I'm Dave Robinson! I am the founder and head coach of The Ride Guides. Santa Cruz and its epic singletrack have been my home for over two decades. I am heavily engaged in the past, present, and future of mountain biking in Santa Cruz as a former MBOSC board member, State Parks docent, and Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and a trail crew leader with MBOSC. I look forward to sharing my two cents with you!
Your grin is wrapped from ear to ear as the redwoods blur by and the only sound you hear is the wind whistling through your helmet as you descend your favorite loamy singletrack. Far down the trail you spot that corner that seems to always cause you to pause but today your gonna crush it! But just as you enter the corner your right index finger uncontrollably twitches for a split second, you skid and your bike stands up as you ashamedly drop down the berm or worse yet fly out the top. What happened there? Where did all your confidence go and why did the whole corner come un-done on you? Recognizing the environmental factors that affect your cornering are critical if you want to charge through it with complete confidence. Today’s case study in the anatomy of a corner takes place on the “Prince Berm” on Segment Two of The Flow Trail. You can’t see the entire corner at anytime as you smoke through it, it wraps 180 degrees around a stand of redwoods. There is no brake check on the way in, it rises 10 feet from a fast set of rollers and begs you to take the high line throughout. There is 30 degrees of camber at the outset maxing in a nearly vertical wall at the apex, demanding you lay your bike over nearly perpendicular to the trail below. The traction high on the wall is perfect, while down below certain doom awaits in the dust and detritus from the forest. The corner loses 6 feet of elevation through the 40-foot radius of the turn adding speed as you refrain from braking, confident in the support the berm provides. There are very few obstacles throughout this manicured masterpiece, but the one or two there are determine your route. This is my ideal corner, built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers.
Did you recognize the five environmental factors that affect every corner? Camber, radius, pitch, traction, and obstacles. These features will determine your speed, line, and bike handling throughout the berm. So consider pausing on one of your next rides to review the five key elements of your favorite corner, if you do you’re sure to improve your speed, control, and appreciation of the trail.
Understanding the anatomy of a corner is the starting point of The Ride Guides Cornering Clinics at SDSF. We then dig into how to squeeze the most out of the corner as a rider, from your entry speed to your line through the berm and your bike handling throughout. Our clinics are designed to help you grow as a rider and foster your appreciation of our world-class trails built and maintained by MBOSC. If you’re looking to improve one aspect of your riding that will impact every trail you ride afterward then this is the session for you!
CORNERING CLINIC - FIND YOUR FLOW
Don't miss the Ride Guides upcoming Cornering Clinics - Find Your Flow! This 5.5-hour trail riding clinic is set in the Soquel Demonstration State Forest and is geared towards helping you get the most out of the legendary Flow Trail. By the end of the day you’ll have found new nuggets and lines throughout everyone’s favorite lap and developed even more confidence on two wheels. Be sure to sign up today, this class is in high demand with very limited enrollment! Upcoming Cornering Clinic Dates: Saturday, June 29 Saturday, August 3 Saturday, September 7 Saturday, October 5Hi, I'm Dave Robinson! I am the founder and head coach of The Ride Guides. Santa Cruz and its epic singletrack have been my home for over two decades. I am heavily engaged in the past, present, and future of mountain biking in Santa Cruz as a former MBOSC board member, State Parks docent, and Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and a trail crew leader with MBOSC. I look forward to sharing my two cents with you!
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