Mountain Biking - How to Improve on your Dropping off skills

Hey erm I was wondering, how do you improve on your dropping off skills?. My mtb book says to pull your handlebar up and do a single stroke but I cant even up my front wheel. And it also stated that mastering the wheelie has no affect in dropping off. Anyway my main point is how to do a drop off? Because I cant even lift up my front wheel. (Read my Kayuh Lasak report in the Racing thread)

Are you standing up when you try to lift it? Its harder to do when you are in the saddle, try compressing your fork (assuming you're not on a rigid frame) then pulling up on it as you lean back a little bit to let it come up.

because I want to be able to execute this drop off when Im going downhill or I will end up with six stitches again. Heh, I see people standing up but I scared my leg will lift out from the pedal

For me, I tend to like to not do that single pedal stroke before dropping, and like some run in room. A pedal clip when doing a drop can be deadly in some cases. As for getting your front up, try preloading your fork a bit before lifting and very, very slightly shifting you weight to the back to get the front up. If you can't do that, run in, get front up when you're in mid air. Also depending on the transition you don't always want to have your nose up. Flat nose up, downhill transition land with both wheels parallel to the slope.

because I want to be able to execute this drop off when Im going downhill or I will end up with six stitches again. Heh, I see people standing up but I scared my leg will lift out from the pedal

You won't fall off the bike, doing a drop when seated is a sure fire way to messing your back/legs up at the very least.

Downhill slope, you want to keep your wheels parallel to the transition while in the air.

How big a drop are you talking about? Make sure your bike can handle the drops, you will get even more injured if your frame fails.

well practically I dont know how big the drops are because the drop that I fell is about 5 foot high ( never expect it to be that high) anyway thank god I didnt do that drop using my Anthem.

I always pre-load the fork and then like the others said, shift my weight back so the front comes up, I always try to come off the drop flat, I usually add a little hop as my rear wheels nears the end of the drop, come off the drop flat and lean forward a bit trying to get my front down a bit as to contour to the .landing, AND MAKE SURE YOUR WEIGHT IS EITHER CENTERED OR MORE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE BIKE WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE TOUCH DOWN, nothing is worse than going over the bars landing a drop, and it's all done in the few seconds (if that) that it takes to accomplish it

Don't if you're in the UK, but if you are, it might be worth finding this months issue of what mountain bike because they have a feature on drop-offs.

Otherwise MBUK is doing a thing on air forr cowards - anyone would think they wrote it for me. :)



Mod edit Please try your best to type things out in full. It makes things a bit easier to understand.

Looks like you have some good advice to work off of so far.

But one more thing, start out small by just rolling off curbs and trying to get both of your wheels to land at the same time. Sounds stupid but essentially thats all you need to do on a larger drop.

If there is a good transition what you can do is just unweigh the front (by leaning over the rear wheel)and let it drop a bit till your parallel to the slope, then just hold the position in the air. Butter smooth!

oh kay, thanks for the tips guys, after my stitches are healed im going to train my drop off skills, going to start small first, anyway I wonder how are they going to cut the threads, hmm. Oh well lets wait and see the end product, hehe. And thats great, What MTB and MBUK has a tips on dropoff for this month issue? Im sooo going to Kuala Lumpur or order the magazine

Pedal really fast and close your eyes.

Yeah, I SHOULD do that and after that I can sing the song IM FLYING WITHOUT WINGS, some guys actually become superman twice in that race, haha. They dont cycle fast just enjoy the race so they are a bit crazy when it comes to downhill.

There is nothing wrong with toe clips. You dont have to tighten them down. And they will catch you foot if the bike tries to bounce away.

Here you go dude, this will show you how it is done!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVVAX-0KGgQ

Origonaly posted by sherpapeak

well im getting eggies soon, and Im looking towards Nike YVRIII shoes

If you hit a drop with speed its easier than wheelie dropping.Just start small and work your way up.Also,don't take dropping advice from Hambone40

haha, I dont see his posts anywhere around here?? Maybe I should pm him asking the same question :D

haha, I dont see his posts anywhere around here?? Maybe I should pm him asking the same question :D

Go to the ride reports and go back a page and you'll see.

If you hit a drop with speed its easier than wheelie dropping.Just start small and work your way up.Also,don't take dropping advice from Hambone40


Wish I had a clever reply...but you can't argue with the truth. By all means, learn to get your front end up.