Jerk to genius

THE SIMPLE DROP

This is the most common kind of drop, although I'm treating it as a beginners obstacle. I've seen more bikers eating dirt on simple drops than on larger ones. The problem is figuring out how to tackle the terrain and then choosing the appropriate technique for handling it. If you have the luxury of being able to stop and check out the drop first, do it. Riding something blind is always a recipe for disaster and midway down a near vertical chute is not the time to figure out that your chainring is going to bury itself into the lip.

1 POSITION

Get off the saddle and move your bodyweight over the back wheel as possible. This will ensure that your center of gravity is working hard to counteract the steepness of the drop.

2 VISION

Keep your eyes locked just ahead of the front wheel. You need to know what's coming up so you can react by shifting your weight or adjusting your speed by dabbing or releasing the brakes.

3 SPEED

You need to get your speed right before you get to the edge (see braking) if you're going too fast. No amount of hanging off the back will be enough. As you roll the drop, stay slow and in control.

4 BRAKING

Do your heavy braking before the drop. On the drop itself, locked wheels are usless for controlling a bike so avoid skidding at all costs. Brake evenly with a slight bias towards your front brake.