Drops to downslope

DROP-OFFS

Drops to downslopes are a common trail feature. Here’s how to land rubber-side down

THINK SPEED

Set your speed early so you have time to set yourself up for the drop. Roll in at a medium pace to start with. Once you’re comfortable, you can try hitting it slower or faster.

APPROACH

Stand on the pedals, in a neutral position. Stay loose and relaxed, because you’re going to need to be dynamic. As you get closer to the edge, look for the landing but keep your head up.

DROP & PUSH

As you approach the edge, drop your body and push your bike forward with your arms. You’ll need to time this so that the rear wheel is unweighted as you go over the edge.

EXTEND

As you drop through the air, start to extend your legs to bring the bike back underneath you and make it level with the landing. Keep looking up and think about landing over the pedals.

DON’T LEAN BACK

Don’t confuse getting low with leaning back. Think about pushing the bike forward and dropping your hips. This may look like you’re leaning back but you’re definitely not – if you were leaning back, you’d be hanging off the handlebar.

LAND

Aim to land in a strong position and take the impact with your legs. This will ensure you are ready for the next trail feature and in a strong position if you need to brake.

get the drop on drops

Try these tips to improve your technique

Focus

Concentrate on what you have to do. If you have any negative thoughts in your head or any doubts, then find a way to overcome them and focus on what you need to do before attempting a drop.

Get low

The lower you can get off the edge, the faster you’ll be able to hit the drop, so you won’t have to dab the brakes in fear of flying too far. Leaning the bike over just before the edge can give you extra room to get lower, especially on biggerwheeled bikes.