Mountain Biking - Subjective question (drops to flat)

I really hate drops to flat, but Kansas isn't known for transitions.

So I was out doing a little urban session and there's just not a whole lot of "fun terrain" around here. I found a progressive ledge to flat grass and was wondering how big of a drop to flat can I get away with w/o damaging my crap too much?

This one was 40" to flat and I sucked it up pretty well with my arms/legs and fork. I still had about 10mm of fork travel to spare according to my zip-tie. My wheels are still true and I don't see any signs of stress anywhere.

I think the weak links could possibly be my pedal spindles Candy C's and rims 5.1d.

What's the consensus?

I've ridden off of loading docks (around 3-3.5 feet) with no issues, and that was with the dart. Well, I guess I did destroy my rear wheel (but that was trying a tail whip to flat), and I think that killed the rebound in my dart, but that was bound to happen. Drops to flat just arent that fun IMO.

It is subjective. A skilled rider can do less damage then an unskilled rider. Also, going faster can be softer, as the impact is less harsh.

It is subjective. A skilled rider can do less damage then an unskilled rider. Also, going faster can be softer, as the impact is less harsh.

Thinking about this from a (very limited, I must admit) physics angle, the velocity forward has no relation to the velocity down. Gravity is gravity, regadless of how fast you are travelling forward.

Thinking about this from a (very limited, I must admit) physics angle, the velocity forward has no relation to the velocity down. Gravity is gravity, regadless of how fast you are travelling forward.

That would be the case if the rider landed instantaneously...but the load is actually distributed over an area delineated in time from when the tires first touch until the rider finishes absorbing the impact. The faster the rider is going, the greater the area the load is spread over resulting in a lower peak load.

Definitely.

That would be the case if the rider landed instantaneously...but the load is actually distributed over an area delineated in time from when the tires first touch until the rider finishes absorbing the impact. The faster the rider is going, the greater the area the load is spread over resulting in a lower peak load.

Definitely.

That certainly makes sense. I've definitely felt the difference too, just never was sure why.

And let me just point out that, yes, I am a nerd.

I have done 6 foot drops to flat at ~ 20 mph (on a DH bike) with very little compression - I've also done a 3 foot drop to flat and bottomed - almost no speed wheelie drop. However, I have done ~ 6-7 foot drop at ~ 10 mph (on a 22# ti had tail) with a perfect transition - with barely and compression - Spokanites know this drop as "Rushmore"

One more thing - on all my bikes - dh, cx and xc - I run SS eggbeaters - never had a spindle break.

What model beaters?

How much U weigh?

What model beaters?

How much U weigh?

I know them as the Eggbeater SS (stainless steel) I have several sets -

About 155 (not kilos) soaking wet

Spokanites know this drop as "Rushmore"I have to man up this year and hit Rushmore. No excuse. Now Girthmore on the other hand . . . that sucker looks big from any angle.

i have to man up this year and hit rushmore. No excuse. Now girthmore on the other hand . . . That sucker looks big from any angle.


ttiwwp!

Drops to flat are the best. The biggest I've ever hit is 22 feet.

I have to man up this year and hit Rushmore. No excuse. Now Girthmore on the other hand . . . that sucker looks big from any angle.

The first time it's best to follow somone off it - but it really is a nice smooth drop.

The first time it's best to follow somone off it - but it really is a nice smooth drop.That would be good - - would help me gauge my approach speed. Knowing me, otherwise I might overcook the corner. Don't want to do what Robby Johnson did off it.

Still looking for Rushmore, scrub. In the meantime, here's a local boosting Girthmore. It is bigger than it looks in the pic and run-in is sketchy:

http://p1.pinkbike.com/photo/1825/pbpic1825311.jpg

Rushmore vid:

MySpace Video thad doing rushmore by erik

The first time I dropped Rushmore was on my HT - a week after Robby broke his leg - of course I did not know that until after I did it.

Drops to flat are the best. The biggest I've ever hit is 22 feet.
My left tibia snapped in two, just reading that!

My left tibia snapped in two, just reading that!Pffft! I had to schedule a hip replacement. http://static.keebali.com/thereeftank.com/forums/images/smilies/new/oldman.gif

Drops to flat are the best. The biggest I've ever hit is 22 feet.


I guess you have to start somewhere. Get good enough and maybe you can ride with me. :thumb:

Looking for another go through the warranty process?


Please note that XC guys know nothing about drops...

Looking for another go through the warranty process?


Please note that XC guys know nothing about drops...

:lol:Actually...just the opposite. After much reading...I'm gaining confidence in the durability of this one. My wheelset doesn't come with a warranty though, so that's my concern. (that and the pedal spindles)

We'll see, I guess. I really do hate drops to flat. There's just not much for drops to tranny in mah'hood.

I realized I never answered your original question, Ed. (So what else is new? - - there were bad jokes to be made and off-topic photos to post).

I consider 4'-5' to flat to be the limit of abuse I want to heap on parts when I'm just messing around; and the 5-footer should have some speed so that you don't just drop like a rock. But that's just me.

Drops to flat are the best. The biggest I've ever hit is 22 feet.

pics?

mx

pics?

mx

http://k53.pbase.com/u37/bret/upload/24097710.roadkill.jpg

:lol:Actually...just the opposite. After much reading...I'm gaining confidence in the durability of this one. My wheelset doesn't come with a warranty though, so that's my concern. (that and the pedal spindles)

We'll see, I guess. I really do hate drops to flat. There's just not much for drops to tranny in mah'hood.

I read the last line quickly and saw "tranny" and what I thought was "manhood". I got nervous for you.

I read the last line quickly and saw "tranny" and what I thought was "manhood". I got nervous for you.That was how I read it the first time too. And he's complaining about how all the 'trannies' are really just flat and I figure he's really just encountering a lot of cross-dressers. Never would have thought the Midwest was such a hotbed of that kinda stuff.

That was how I read it the first time too. And he's complaining about how all the 'trannies' are really just flat and I figure he's really just encountering a lot of cross-dressers. Never would have thought the Midwest was such a hotbed of that kinda stuff.
I guess when one is as manly as Ed, the rest of the world would seems like flower fairy boys, Cross dressing transilvanianites, and flatland cotton pickers.

Never would have thought the Midwest was such a hotbed of that kinda stuff.

I hear the Midwest is just a bunch of meth addicts. Nothing would surprise me.

I guess when one is as manly as Ed, the rest of the world would seems like flower fairy boys, Cross dressing transilvanianites, and flatland cotton pickers.

I like where this is going.

I hear the Midwest is just a bunch of meth addicts. Nothing would surprise me.

Nahh...we're just the scientists behind it all, then we sell to the East and West coast.

Good location, I suppose.

That would be good - - would help me gauge my approach speed. Knowing me, otherwise I might overcook the corner. Don't want to do what Robby Johnson did off it.

Still looking for Rushmore, scrub. In the meantime, here's a local boosting Girthmore. It is bigger than it looks in the pic and run-in is sketchy:



Here's a cool pic of Girthmore in the snow...stolen off of PB:

http://p1.pinkbike.com/photo/2788/pbpic2788779.jpg

My neck just made a really loud crack after I hit a 3 or so foot drop to flat. It wasnt all that nice feeling.

Girthmore looks cool. Larger than my biggest for sure, and the gap bit scares me. The front of my brain says I can clear them, but the lizard-survival mode back says don't even think about it.

A nice straightforward drop with a nice smooth transition, or something smaller that I can slow speed trials like drop is much more my thing. I'm cool with being a wussy non-hucker type. :)

never: stolen pic or no, that's a cool shot!

I'm uploading a quick video of a friend and I hitting the drop. I measured the drop at about 3.5 feet. My wheels still look fine, but my neck hurts now a bit.

I'm uploading a quick video of a friend and I hitting the drop. I measured the drop at about 3.5 feet. My wheels still look fine, but my neck hurts now a bit.


Work on the smoothness. :thumb:

And buy a 2008 Marz 55r from Jensonusa.com for $229 ;)

Well, I would have it uploaded, but I got distracted and ended up making a movie, and youtube is being slow, so I'll hopefully have it up by the morning. I think what I need to do (you'll see in the slow motion part) is add 5 or so more PSI to my fork. And I should probably get smoother and use my legs more.

Well, I would have it uploaded, but I got distracted and ended up making a movie, and youtube is being slow, so I'll hopefully have it up by the morning. I think what I need to do (you'll see in the slow motion part) is add 5 or so more PSI to my fork. And I should probably get smoother and use my legs more.


Arms and legs. Keep your body weight low, don't have your arms and legs locked out when rolling off.

Unless you're bottoming your fork, no reason to add more psi. That could make things worse - you want the fork to remain plush and absorb impact. Maybe back off on some compression damping - if your fork has that ability.

Thanks for finding that shot of Girthmore, never!

And I agree, scrub; the gap and the sheer size of it are intimidating. I've walked up from the bottom and checked it out. Haven't looked at the view from the top yet but I imagine it looks like dropping off the face of the earth. I think you'd like Rushmore, though. It's big enough, the tranny's nice and the runout is wide open. The sharp rocks at the leading edge of the tranny and the turn in the run-up freak me but I'm gonna hit it this year.

BTW, Robby (the guy we talked about) washed out in the corner and went off the edge already down. Bad femur fracture; lucky to be alive.

Well, here it is. I'd like to say that this was the first ride where either of us actually tried a trick. And yes, we do suck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DYTsVY7peU

Well then...aren't you guys having a ball. ;)

I see you use the same slow down technique ( hit the tree ) that I use.

That was the only time my front wheel/tire had grip that entire day.

i usually use a simple analogy. if im not afraid to hop from it on 1 foot i figure that my bike wont break. you would be suprised with what you can land on 1 foot from

Holy cow. use your arms more for cushioning..

looks like you're landing like a brick.

I'd ride that thing backwards too. :)

It is fun to ride backwards (but there are some other areas that are similar, but better to ride backwards). I just need to use my legs more. As it is, my head almost hit my stem on that.

You're doing fine. Just keep riding and you'll get better, first by learning to land more smoothly and then later on by realizing that just straight hopping off stuff to flat asphalt is not really that fun after all and that prejumping and pumping the downslope is faster and cooler. However you will eventually need and appreciate those awkward landing recovery skills on the trail, so for now I say huck away, bend rims, have fun.

Got to start somehow. At least you are doing it correctly by starting off small and working your way up to bigger.

straight hopping off stuff to flat asphalt is not really that fun after all .

I've got that one down. I dont really like drops to flat all that much, but like in Kansas, thats almost all we have. Plans for tomorrow include making the jump onto the grass a bit taller. That is, if it goes above 20 (I dont dislike riding in the cold, but my camera doesnt like it, and for now I need to get my project done). For some reason, just recently have I started to enjoy riding out of my comfort zone.