DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE TIP #45

Mastering The Drop: For the Beginner Rider

1. Find an 8-12 inch log (or street curb) with unobstructed ground running up to it and after it.
2. Ride towards the log on your bide at a moderate speed.
3. As you approach the drop, shift your weight to the back of your bike over your rear wheel.
4. Stand and coast straight off the log from the upper level to the lower level.
5. Stay in position and absorb the drop shock of the landing in your knees and elbows.
6. When you ride away from the drop stabilize your mountain bike before you grab the brakes.

Note: When you hit the rear brake during a drop, you' could go right over the handlebars.

Practice tips
1. Try drops of greater heights gradually.
2. Check out the urban landscape. Some street curbs rise from the standard height up to several feet.
3. Experiment with your body position over the rear of the wheel. Drops of different heights require you to be further back over your rear wheel.
4. Experiment with different speeds

Advanced Tip:
Drops of 2 feet or higher require a sloped landing as opposed to a flat landing. This type of landing is much easier on you and your bike.