Riding Drop-offs

One of the most useful techniques to master for general trail riding is the ability to ride drop-offs. What is a drop-off? a sharp descent over the edge of a lip. Drop-offs can vary in angle (steepness), roughness, length and both ease of approach and ease of riding out at the bottom. In many cases the longer the drop the more gradual the ride out, this greatly simplifies things.

Riding a drop-off can be split into 6 golden rules: 1) unless you are very familiar with it always look over before riding down; 2) ensure there is a smooth run out at the bottom; 3) pick both an entry line and the line you will take down the drop-off; 4) always ride slowly over the edge in a smooth and controlled way and do not pedal on the way down; 5) stand up with the pedals in the horizontal position and lean your weight over the back of the bike (get your body over the back wheel) and finally 6) do not touch the front brake (do not even cover the front brake with your fingers!).

Using these tips it is possible to ride down very steep drop-offs. In our experience small drop-offs usually cause the most problems as they are steep and tend not to have a smooth transition into the run out. If this is the case then it is even more important to get your body weight over the rear wheel and stay relaxed, look to where you want to end up after the drop-off not into the bottom of it.

Trouble usually occurs when the front wheel either gets stuck in a rut or is grabbed sideways by a root or rock. As always when learning a new technique practice makes perfect. With Drop-offs take it easy and let the confidence build up, don’t be cajoled or bullied into something that you don’t really want to do.

Here we are riding some drop-offs during a ride at Leith Hill on 28^th October. The pictures do not show the real steepness of these drops, the drop in the first photo is almost vertical!