MTB Riding Techniques – Dropping Off
When riding on rutted and washed out trails, it is pretty common to come across a step where the trail just drops away. Negotiating this type of trail obstacle is often not as scary as it may look. With the correct technique and a little confidence you may well surprise yourself out on the trail. Start small to build technique and confidence, then work your way up. Simply riding off gutters in your local neighbourhood may be a good place to start. As with anything like this it is a case of practice, practice and practice some more.
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| 1 – On Approach |
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| 2 – Rolling Off |
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| 3 – Weight Back |
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| 4 – Keep Rolling |
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| 5 – Resume Position |
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| 6 – Optional Extra |
1 – On Approach
Approach the drop with a small amount of momentum. If you are going too slowly you run the risk of stalling the front wheel on the drop and going over the bars. A gentle amount of momentum will help to make you more relaxed and smoother on the bike. Eye out the best line-avoid anything that looks likely to catch your front wheel at the bottom of the drop.
2 – Rolling Off
As you are about to roll off the edge, have your arms bent and relaxed. Your weight should be centered or slightly forward on the bike. This is the scary bit and is not the time to baulk and slam on your brakes! Tackling these obstacles requires a certain amount of commitment-it helps to start small so that you can build technique and confidence as you go. This way you can work your way up gradually and not slam your brakes on in terror at this point in the how to.
3 – Weight Back
Let the front wheel drop away. As this happens, extend your arms and get your weight back. The bigger and steeper the drop, the more you will need to shift your eight towards the back of the bike. Practice getting right behind the saddle so you can place your weight back further- this is the key to staying on your bike. Through these steps it is important to keep your bike rolling forward so once again no baulking and no hard application of the front brake!
4 – Keep Rolling
If you rolled into the drop with the right amount of momentum then you will flow through this step smoothly. Too slow and your front wheel will tend to hit the bottom, lose momentum and you risk having an ‘over the bars experience’. Throughout this manoeuvre it is important to stay focused on the trail ahead-this will keep you on the line that you picked out in step one. You don’t want to make it down the worst of it down the worst of it and then throw yourself into bushes for no good reason!
5 – Resume Position
As you have cleared the drop smoothly shift your weight back towards the centre of the bike. Your arms can return to a relaxed, bent position ready to absorb the bumps and rocks on the trail. As you move forward on the bike you will need to clear your saddle and not catch your shorts-baggy bike shorts wearers beware1 If you are testing your limits and trying a particularly tough drop, you can always lower your saddle to make the whole process safer and easier.
6 – Opitional Extra
If you can confidently pull a mono, even if it is only for a second or two, there is another technique that can work in some situations. By putting in a solid pedal stroke and pulling up on the bars, you can pedal off the top and land back wheel first at the bottom of the drop. This lessens the chance of going over the bars or bashing your chain ring on the drop, however the landing area must be suitable. This method works best when the base of the drop is relatively flat and free of rocks and other large obstacles. This technique often requires more speed and is best undertaken by more confident riders.
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| Article by John Hardwick | Photography by Phil Latz.
This article has been provided for publication by Bicycling Australia. Unauthorised use or reproduction is strictly prohibited. All material & images are © Bicycling Australia & Break Loose Publications. Break Loose thanks Bicycling Australia for allowing us to bring you this excellent cycling article. Mountain Biking Australia – Australia’s favourite mountain biking magazine!
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