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So, not having ridden much for a few years due to bad back and crap fitness, we decided to go to the Alps this year and realised that one big problem was berms, we absolutely sucked at doing these. My local trails don't have much in the way of anywhere to practice these, is there anywhere in the south east where there's a good amount of berms to practice on or even get some training. Not bothered about it being downhill but just need lots of berms to try and get the flow back.
There are a couple of sections at Bedgebury with berms. Sorry, can’t remember the segment names.
Don't know where you are, but what about a local pump track or BMX track
Pump track? Bit of translation required to Alps bike park stuff, but same's true of anywhere in the SE, I reckon. There's flyup417, which has plenty of berms, but if you can get to a pump track once a week, it's going to be more practical use than a drive to a bike park once a bimonth.
Chicksands?
Can’t think of anywhere with loads of berms in the SE (sure you wouldn’t like a muddy rut?) but the QECP blue has a nice run of them that are easily repeatable. Lower half of Rogate is easily sessioned too or there are a few spots in the Surrey Hills. Whereabouts in the SE do you ride?
"There are a couple of sections at Bedgebury with berms. Sorry, can’t remember the segment names."
Unfortunately not v big and nowadays covered in loose gravel. Even Friston is better.
I think Swinley/Surrey Hills would the most SE place I can think of with anything vaguely approaching a decent size (though still not Alps worthy).
There's a recently maintained trail at Swinley called the Berminator - that should get you going. Loads of trails there have all kinds of berms from little lips on the outside to gert big banks, and they're all easy to session if you want.
Loads of places - even bloody Thetford has berms, but will throw in Phoenix Bike Park as another target rich environment.
Swinley can make you heartily sick of berms - so plenty of practice available there.
For a more downhill feel, John the Baptist at Peaslake has plenty of descending berms on the last section below the church.
where in the SE are you? As well as the above, if its just berms (and jumps) southampton bike park is quite good
I agree with the blue as QECP being good for that, or Steyning Bike Park.
some of the b1ke parks have nice sets of berms - rogate has a small trail with an ace section. Pump tracks are good at learning how to pump a berm, but not so good at practice piling into one at too high a speed
If it's anything like the berms I rode in the Alps, there's nothing in the SE that could even begin to resemble them!
QE Park blue is pretty decent - only trouble is the berms are well chewed up, especially from braking bumps, (I will not blame numpties on ebikes, no sir I definitely won’t) and in need of repair, but they’re fun anyway, so worth a trip if you’re not too far 😊
braking bumps will be good practice for the Alps!
Pheonix, Twisted or Chicksands will have something to session but I'd do laps of a pumptrack first until I had those nailed.
QE Park blue is pretty decent
There's a fair few on the red as well aren't there?
Despite being 25 minutes away I don't think I've ridden there this year. I may therefore have a ropey memory.
Twisted oaks would be worth visiting. Not in the south east but worth making the effort to get to.
I know these aren't in the SE but a couple of days at BPW and Dyfi will get you hundreds of berms of different sizes.
Dyfi has some huge berms and some of the blues at BPW will see you 'berming' till your obliques are toast.
There’s a massive, really good pumptrack in Harrow
Bull Track is a great little spot for practising berms, jumps and drops.
There’s a recently maintained trail at Swinley called the Berminator – that should get you going.
If this is the one off the hill with Babymaker then I concur - decent sized berms and easy to lap. There's also a new jump line on the opposite side of the clearing with berms at the top and progressive tables at the bottom.
Thanks all, some places to look at there. Forgot to mention I am East Sussex, near Friston Forest, but haven't ridden much for about 5 years or more and trying to get back into it so it's been a while since I've had a good look around Friston. Happy to travel to places once my fitness improves, years away from biking really makes it hard to get fitness back. It was a big discision to go to the Alps this year as it was a worry that my back wouldn't cope but it was ok, my back has improved a lot in the last year with deep core and mobility exercises. You wouldn't believe how good it is to get out on a bike again!