How to Ride Drop Off's

Near vertical drops can be extremely intimidating but learning how to tackle them will boost your confidence massively.

 

1. While this is a low speed technique, you still need a moderate amount of momentum. Somewhere around a brisk walking pace will help you roll through without your front wheel ‘stalling’ at the base of the drop and will also keep you on line without wobbling or bouncing off the trail. Get your momentum prior to the obstacle and coast the final metres before the drop so that your arms and legs are relaxed with your cranks level. 

If you are unsure about the height and steepness of the drop, hop off your bike and roll it down to check if your chainrings will clear (remember that your forks will compress, effectively lowering your bottom bracket when you ride off). Also take note of anything at the base of the drop that may catch your front wheel.

 

 

 

2. Stay relaxed with your arms bent so that your weight is slightly forward on the bike. To move forward at the top of a drop may seem counterintuitive but your arms need to be bent for the step that follows. Commitment is critical as this is the point of no return; rolling off the drop and stuffing it up completely would still be better than grabbing a handful of front brake just as your front wheel reaches the drop!

 

 

 

3. As the front wheel drops off, extend your arms and allow the front wheel to roll away from you. Your bike will accelerate momentarily but your body mass will continue forwards at a steady rate. As the bike rolls forward, the saddle will pass between your legs (lowering the saddle will make this easier). This action keeps your momentum in check. Some may describe this as ‘getting your weight back’ but in reality you’re staying centred between the tyre contact points and in control of the bike.

 

 

 

4. As the rear wheel rolls down the drop, the saddle will pass back between your legs as the bike levels out. Again this action becomes easier with the saddle dropped as you’re less likely to be ‘caught behind’. The goal right through this process is to remain as smooth as possible and to look well ahead, stay smooth and keep your bodyweight centred between the wheels as the terrain varies.

 

 Job done!