Mountain Biking - Dropping Off

I did a search and this is what i came up with:

You basically lift up your front wheel right before you leave the lip and you lean backwards. You try to land with your back wheel just before the front and you cushion the landing with your legs and arms.

Correct so far?

Okay. Here's my next question. When i land, is it alright if my ass is right over the rear wheel? Will i flip back or somethimg? I ask this because my seat is usually positioned fairly high and i like to keep it there because i have really bad knees. I'd get off and adjust the seat, but then i might as well walk the drop off.

if you have bad knees I wouldn't be dropping off high stuff.

start on small stuff like curbs and work your way up to what feels comfortable.

So can i be right over my rear tire or not?

Oh, and dont worry, I wont be on any huge drops. I don't have the guts to do anything much higher than 3ft.

why do you want your ass that far back? And are you doing this at speed or trials style. I never recommend putting your body that far out of position. You can do a lot with very little movement. If you get stuck in that position nose heavy you have no movement to pull out of it.

If you are doing a slow trials type drop I recommend www.trials-online.com to find out details

why do you want your ass that far back?

Because im scared im going to hurt myself really badly on the seat, which is positioned high because of my bad knees.

I'll go try dropping off and see how it goes.

i highly doubt you'd flip backwards. especially at 3ft or less. however, if i remember my mtn. bike days well enough i never went too far back. i would apply pressure to the pedals at the same time i pulled back a little on the handlebars (right before the drop), and get up a little off the saddle. i would end up a little further back than normal, but certainly not directly over the back wheel. knees bent to absorb shock and return to the saddle and continue. that's just how i used to do it though.

Being that far back would be a strain on the knees...

Drop your seat and absorb with your legs...3ft is not enough pressure to have to fully compress your body

alright, thanks.

Don't say you don't have guts. I was scared to do three footers when I started this year. (Started to get serious this year) and now I do 5-6 footers no problem. If your like me the nervousness will go away and it will start to be fun!

As far as leaning backwards till your butt is over the tire. BAD IDEA. Two things can happen. You can land ackward and your butt will hit the tire (which isn't a good feeling) and you will most likely loose control. Second when you land and are going back to your normal riding position...since your seat is so high...you risk hitting your gonads (and that hurts like a be-atch)

As far as leaning backwards till your butt is over the tire. BAD IDEA. Two things can happen. You can land ackward and your butt will hit the tire (which isn't a good feeling) and you will most likely loose control. Second when you land and are going back to your normal riding position...since your seat is so high...you risk hitting your gonads (and that hurts like a be-atch)

Too bad i ain't a guy... :D

Too bad i ain't a guy... :D

Gonads: : a reproductive gland (as an ovary or testis) that produces gametes

You've got gonads too ksy :).

yeah...but not unprotected

Wow. When I was typing that I seriously thought wait what if the person i'm responding to was a girl. Sorry about the ksy! Can you forgive me?

yeah...but not unprotected

Fair enough. :)