Navigating Janky Drop-ins Safely | Lee Likes Bikes/RideLogic Mountain Bike Skills Clinics

Here's a typical riding situation:
A slight downslope to a slight rise over the front of an old log, then a steep drop-in on the backside. Depending on where you ride, this same move can be over a log, a root, a rock, a curb, a pipe or whatever.
In this video I call out two aspects of this skill:
1) Getting very low and pushing very fast along the handlebar arc.
2) When the drop-in is taller than your arms are long, get forward on purpose then use your arm range in the steepest part.
I hope you find this helpful.
Learn way more at our online schools
www.lllbmtb.com
www.ridelogic.bike
via remote coaching
www.llbmtb.com/product/remote-coaching/
and with us in person
www.llbmtb.com/instruction/
Namastoke to you all,
Lee

[@bigyin2794]

More, more, more LEE! We need your Guardian Braingel with us on the trail.

[@michaelmann3636]

It’s a shame that you and Alex aren’t currently working together. It was your collaboration that changed my way of thinking about mountain biking, and riding style. It made me want to be better, and so does your videos. I just wish we could have hooked up on the RipRow.🤯

[@arquimedesrivero]

Totally true! The synergy between them was amazing. I am in my 50s and recently starting with MTB and I have learned a lot from their videos

[@winnguyen443]

@@arquimedesrivero I started in my 50’s too, after hardly riding since a kid. Really like these 2 guys.

[@daveblackburn4338]

Definitely enjoyed the Lee and Alex collaboration, good info and a good vibe throughout 👌 Fingers crossed they both keep creating content and prayers for a fast recovery for your upcoming shoulder repairs Lee!

[@AlexanderOrion]

Would love a video on how you approach roots,steep rock gardens off cambers, braking on rough terrain, on dry and wet conditions. Thank you for everything

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Join the Lee Likes Bikes MTB School. I cover all the good stuff in there. And you can ask me direct questions. www.llbmtb.com

[@davehumpleby3440]

"Beautiful violence" and "Arc of the Covenant". I'm stealing those! Another great video. Thanks Lee and Happy 20th Birthday!

[@francissola5591]

Right! Songs on my next thrash metal album!'

[@robert50173]

I love your 3rd Edition book. What I really like about the book is that you are teaching according to the 80/20 principle. 8 things that cover 60 situations. Not all of us need the skills for the super unique and tricky situations. I will just walk or run my bike through some of that stuff. I just want to have JOY and stay fit and safe on my bike in the beautiful outdoors! K.I.S.S. for the masses.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Thank you! 80/20 all the way.

[@CenturyRide]

Hi Lee - good to see you again! You and Alex got me working on drops last summer... it was the summer of the low hinge. 😊

[@user-nd7jy1lv6g]

Hi Lee great video for old Dogs. I've been using your pushing technique on both my mtb and my enduro motorcycle and works on both. Looking forward for more content. Miss your videos together with Alex they were on a different level to everything out there. Arik

[@WilliamJRSCassidy]

Arc of the Covenant! LOL Lee - Happy 20th

[@leejames3812]

Pure gold , thanks Lee

[@andrewmolchanoff2067]

Thanks Lee for this. Been watching you since I saw you with Alex over on JoyOfBike and love how you always put it terms of Physics and Biomechanics (makes so much sense to my Engineering brain). Keep these coming and as another commenter said, "rough is good". Looking forward to seeing more. If you get to doing a video on drops, I'll be into that for sure

[@winnguyen443]

Incredible as always Lee.

[@francissola5591]

OMG @3:50 Lee - that is why I went over the bars in Moab! I was trying some advanced early row, but ended up pulling too long. Now I get it!'

[@ronnel1227]

oh yeah every day video nice!!! love it! thanks lee!

[@kennymorris6329]

Thanks Lee!

[@dasanoneia4730]

Guru your back great insight as always

[@markmckenney4534]

Loving the details, as good as can be found, grateful my man🙏

[@TorqueRoller]

So awesome to see you posting vids these last few days. I'm a big fan of mental preparedness and I credit you and Alex to giving me a great start getting back into biking. Keep it coming! Would be awesome to see you team up with Alex again, FOR SCIENCE!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

SCIENCE!!! We talked yesterday. hopefully we'll do more JoBs together. right now he's a road bike nut -- gonna drill it from San Francisco to LA. pretty much the opposite of all the BMX he was doing last year.

[@bartmullin8018]

That's a great technique suggestion; I'll have to adapt that to a sharp drop-off very soon after a sharp switch-back turn with a largish rock on one side of the single-track going forward. Beginning of straight section more of a 1/4 track...

[@tombowman9463]

So great! Physics and biomechanics together makes everything so clear. Now…to practice these things!

[@paulmunger7794]

Great info yet again Lee and congratulations on 20 years of Lee Like Bikes. I can see low hinge tooth brushing in my future and I absolutely love (5:15) "the proper application of beautiful violence", such a contrasting word picture, awesome. Thank you :)

[@TheeGabrielAndrew]

Sweet Lee! Thank you!! Love that you are putting more content out verse not. I'll take great info like this, over "perfect content" that may never get posted/finished any day! Going to go out and practice this this weekend

[@LoamReaper]

Another solid lesson, thanks! I always "think" I'm getting low--but probably not that low. That trail is a great spot for practicing jumps and drops.

[@davidwhite9817]

Hey Lee, I was going to watch this video and just forget about Joy of Bike with Alex. But, because you opened with commenting on Joy of Bike and you're wearing a Joy of Bike T-shirt, I thought it is an opportune time to ask what happened to Joy of Bike? Joy of Bike was by far my favorite YT channel. It reached out to me as an older guy trying to improve my riding skills and the way you guys worked together was brilliant. I really hope that you guys create more fantastic stuff in the future. or now I'll continue on watching this video. I'm sure it will be good.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Hi David! Alex is focusing on other things right now. We talk often ... looks like we'll do more JoB some day.

[@davidwhite9817]

@@lee_likes_bikes That's great, You two guys had great chemistry and made brilliant content.

[@johnfreeman7159]

Thanks for the video, great words of wisdom! I had an incredible transformation in comfort doing drops after taking your in person class a couple weeks ago. I now know exactly what to do and feel so much safer. They are now fun! Thank you!!

[@deponzi]

AWESOME content Lee. Took Your class at Demo many years ago with Liars. Love Your teaching style 🙏

[@onerider808]

Good info; thanks! Can’t count how many wipeouts you and Alex have saved me from...

[@jimmygrimshaw3318]

Nama Stoke ….🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Firstly happy 20th …… Ok so I was an ambassador for you and Alex here in 🇬🇧 I highly recommend your channel everywhere I go… brilliant and I mean brilliant content again …..I can relate to your videos lee and love the way you explain…👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻I can’t wait to get my rip row … It’s always gd to get ideas from subscribers Maybe core skills from the beginning … Oh and I’ve used my bit of string to measure my bikes r.a.d … it’s always in my bike pack … Let’s watch those subscribers go up ….😀😀😀🤙🏻👊🏻🤙🏻👊🏻

[@pauls3616]

Great video. I have not been pushing fast enough in some situations because the rear wheel gets hung up/slows down enough to take away my smoothness. Makes sense to give a more forceful and quicker push to get that rear wheel a bit lighter to climb up and over an obstacle. Thanks Lee. 👍

[@kathyljohnson6203]

As a small female, I really appreciate the modifications for when your arm reach will be less than the drop you're about to face. Thanks for the tips on using a pump track to practice! I found Lee Likes Bikes after seeing you on TrainerRoad podcast. ✌️❤

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Kathy! Thanks for the nice comment. We have lots of “right-sized” students and they all shred once bike fit and body position is dialed. Namastoke!

[@pauliverson7892]

Hey, that looks familiar 😉. ❤️ those Santa Cruz trails. Great tips, as always, keep 'em coming 🙏

[@jasonjb2834]

Happy 20th Lee likes bikes! Love your videos Lee really great to see you doing more don't worry bout the production the info is always gold. I really like how you teach always clicks with me really changed my riding. I practice my high and low hinges all the time in front of the mirror then my wife walks in and asks wtf are you doing, I just say mountain biking LOL. I love going down things using the hinge feels like an in control elevator so good.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

wonderful!

[@kellyjones4238]

Glad to see you back. Moab clinic was a life changing experience, hope to see you again this summer for some sessions.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Me too!!

[@ajmuffinstuff1]

Glad to see you back Lee! Trying to get back into riding regularly and having a hard time coming down a hill (at speed) and making flat turns. Maybe I'm too much on my brakes, maybe I have a habit of leaning my butt back over the bike too much, maybe my brain is overloaded and fear is making me freeze. Spent some time on Joy of Bike and love the lessons given; would love feedback or content on how to carry speed and balance on the bike. Keep up the tremendous work! Also, couple tiles on your drop ceiling were trying to escape.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

you gotta love this classy basement in which i live. not that it matters, but i still pay for the huge house atop the mountain overlooking Boulder. Hopefully not for much longer. your best bet is www.llbmtb.com. we have tons of online lessons there. you can also join the Lee Likes Bikes/RideLogic Facebook group, where you can get friendly feedback on your videos, and do remote coaching with one of us via Zoom (it works great).

[@caujka]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@davidluhr]

Lots of great advice for me to incorporate. Something I really enjoy between this and making it an actual drop is to hop into the downside. Since most of these features are relatively level, you can turn the backside into a landing that you create your own takeoff for. The smoothest path might even be to leave the ground early, ahead of the edge of the drop, to catch the backside as early as possible.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

super duper!

[@nathankreps]

Halfway through the video I was thinking, why push? Just let your arms go forward with the bike. Then you explained why. Mind Blown! Thanks, Lee!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Thank you! There's a whole other wrinkle that'll take on soon. The faster the bike moves, the faster your hands should move! The calcs will blow your mind.

[@robert50173]

Now with the winter Olympics is a great time to watch the mogul skiers staying centered!

[@jimdgrousedogs]

I learned this lesson the hard way back in 1994 when I got my first mountain bike. Where I was there weren't any real mountain bike specific trains yet so I was riding on some hiking trails that has some steps that were well spaced apart with the last one being a bigger drop. The other steps were no issue, but the last one got me and over the handlebars I went. The peddle basket got hooked on my shoe as I went to roll kind of launched the bike down the trail. No major injury, but I certainly changed the way I rode that last step in the future.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

oy vay. we've all been there. i remember strapping my feet -- with leather straps!! -- into the pedals. how can that be considered a good idea :)

[@francissola5591]

@@lee_likes_bikes I remember reaching down and pulling them tight right before a gnarly, slow, east coast tech descent down granite stairs the size of washing machines!'

[@GameplayerSolCley]

HO! YES! IT IS YOU! VERY GOOD BRO.

[@francissola5591]

Perfect! keep em short and Lo-Fi!'

[@mtbtravelers9922]

Hey Lee. Love listening to you man!! So I'm 45 years old. Just started riding about 7 months. Wish I would have started a long time ago. Didn't realize I'd develope such a passion for it! Anyways. If ur ever in Durango and want to teach an old dog with no experience anything let me know. I'm pretty much just learning as I go. Had some pretty bad wrecks. Would love to actually take some instruction from someone who knows what they are doing. Anyways take care!!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Hi and welcome Joshua! You can visit me in Boulder, or we can work together via Zoom, which works really well: www.llbmtb.com/product/remote-coaching/ Also, you can learn all the yummy skills at one of our web MTB schools: www.llbmtb.com ridelogic.bike

[@Gaz_511]

Lee, as expected this is awesome advice. I'm an engineer and detail obsessed geek. I love how you analyze these things and explain the physics. I got into MTB about 9 months ago having been a competition skydiver for many years. Your videos and your coaching method have inspired me to Shred hard, assess, debrief and shred harder. My riding has progressed at a crazy fast rate and I keep searching for perfection, efficiency and all whilst having fun. Thank you sir.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Thank YOU!! And have fun out there.

[@jimmylopez2015]

Breaking the cardinal rule!? Blasphemy!! Burn him !! 🤣🤣 Great Video Lee 🤘🏼🔥🔥

[@bigmigvk]

Very true!!!

[@JoelZieve]

Hey there Lee - personally for me, I don't need the fancy editing. I'd rather see videos like this - same awesome content and you'll be able to crank them out faster. Thank you!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Namastoke to you, fine Sir.

[@jbroaders]

Had a bad OTB yesterday on exactly this type of challenge. A gnarly root was a magnet to my front wheel on landing. Nursing a dislocated finger. I should have gone lower and pushed further. DAMMIT. Or / and line choice was a bit dodgy 😭.

[@redbullet1982]

Happy 20th. Just last week I practised this a lot. On a natural incline in my neighborhood steps are made with logs, around 1m50 apart. On the bottom part there are some bigger steps in rocks. In between the steps are some nice roots, so you need to pick a line. Some steps you can take fast, other needs to be handled slow. I did the incline 4 times in one afternoon, so that's about 60 drop-ins. Getting low is key, especially on the big ones, but now I'm way more confident on them. Hopefully this way I'll regain my confidence for 'regular' drops.

[@minimutt1000]

Hi Lee Nice video! I found the exercise band exercise video very helpful in the past. I couldn’t find it or remember exactly what was done. Might you redo it or post a link? Thanks!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3arkqWort2Unrc

[@kenshomi2]

Is Joy of Bike over????? Thank you so much for posting.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

For now, yes. Alex is doing other things right now. We talked the other day. It was like, hmm ... how do we top what we already did?

[@elysemeaney9333]

It's a good thing I've got super long arms, lol.

[@Claudiovvv85]

great Kung Fu lesson! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@GameplayerSolCley]

9:10 nice

[@erane4514]

Hi. Great video. But I have a question about the technique. I'm not a pro. But when I asked pro riders how they approach drops like in this video. They said that they do the row (pulling the bar a little bit) and at the line of the drop, when the wheel starts to go over the drop, they do an anti-row (pushing the bar forward). They hinge before the drop and when they are do the anti-row they push themselves a little forward (as you mentioned) to give themselves more arm stretch. the difference with what you showed is that there is more roundness in this technique like you do in a rowing boat (Not that I ever rowed) instead of just pushing the bar down (I hope the explanation is clear). Do you recommend doing it like they do? and if not - Why?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

it's hard to answer without more detail, but the key is to stay balanced and manage the angle changes with your arms. pros will sometimes go off balance, but they can handle that better than typical riders can. full details at www.llbmtb.com and ridelogic.bike

[@sporkcrx]

When doing drops like these, how do you know if your chain/crank area will clear, and not hang up on the rock/ground etc?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

One easy way to to get off your bike and roll it along the feature. The other, more useful in the real world, is to develop a feel and awareness. That comes with time .. and future videos!!

[@henriklantzhedstrom6709]

I love Joy of bike! ❤️ Did you give it up?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Henrik! Alex took a hiatus from video production. But stay tuned....more may be in the future!

[@henriklantzhedstrom6709]

@@lee_likes_bikes Tell Alex I miss him badly! But I’m happy to see you are still here. I’ve learned so much from you guys. ❤️🙏👊🤙

[@f1nch_13]

is that a hint of ADHD I'm picking up (no offense if not)? I've been riding about a year now, recently diagnosed and it does wonders for me when I can get out and ride. love your content!

[@lee_likes_bikes]

I've never been accused of or diagnosed with ADHD, but no question: MTB is a great outlet for energetic folks. BTW: I hate the "D." Why does it have to be a dysfunction because someone is atypical? I feel the same about OCD. How about OCSP? Obsessive compulsive super power!!?? We're all made how we're made; let's leverage our abilities! (end of rant :)

[@Todd_Monson]

Great info! Is there tee shirts like yours available?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

You can order the joy of bike channel.

[@JoelZieve]

@@lee_likes_bikes ​​, how about a Lee Likes Bikes jersey?

[@arquimedesrivero]

If you don’t have the Riprow machine, what do you recommend?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

The F6 workout precedes the invention of RipRow. 6 moves for MTbers who don't wan't to go to the gym. www.llbmtb.com/product/f6/ Available at no cost with a membership to our online MTB school. www.llbmtb.com

[@topjmmi]

demo forest or UCSC?

[@GameplayerSolCley]

8:52 HAHAHAHAHAHA nice one! hahaahaha 😅🤣😂

[@jh-kx6kj]

When will you get a UK riprow distributor?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

first we need to get costs to a point where there's enough margin for a distributor. right now the machines are hand made here in ColoRADo, snd margins are way low.

[@michaelmann3636]

And they need to work on communication levels.

[@martincairns4323]

Great question, been after a riprow in the UK for ages!

[@METEORA_47]

GURU...where can me buy your "RIPROW"?and im from malaysia

[@lee_likes_bikes]

hi! you can order one from RipRow.com, and we'll send it to you. we are still working on international distribution.

[@METEORA_47]

@@lee_likes_bikes nice.thanks guru 🙏 it is very useful for mtb skill you teach

[@lee_likes_bikes]

@@METEORA_47 indeed. it truly is a great tool. plus it gets you strong!

[@GameplayerSolCley]

0:48 LOOK AT THE SIZE OF YOUR LEG RO! IS THAT YOU THERE? i NEED TO GO BACK AND TRAIN, I NEED TO BE STRONG AS YOU AT THE SAME TIME OF GETTING OLD, "YOU ARE NOT OLD OK?"I AM 38 NOW AND i DO TRAIN BUT YOURE ON A NEXT LVL.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

You are kind! I'm kinda built for this. Plus I put in a lot of work. Bike, RipRow and a bit of weights. 52 years old and just now starting to understand how to be a person and rider.

[@GameplayerSolCley]

@@lee_likes_bikes Hi, I Had a ride this morning and just do what I remember you say to do... push and pull/ row entirerow man It make the ride so different It felt like if I had shocks on. Thanks for you time my friend :) I am venezuelan so I speak english SO sorry for the bad spelling if there is any. I will keep at the videos and start lifting againg.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

@@GameplayerSolCley ¡Tu inglés es mucho mejor que mi español!

[@brentmagerowski7886]

For every action there’s a reaction so if you can control that reaction it’s less subliminal stress gotcha

[@rinky_dinky]

8:08 this is exactly like rich drew's drop technique .to me at least

[@lee_likes_bikes]

I will not comment on Mr. Drew's riding or teaching here. As I mentioned, that is a special exception, and I'm breaking form on purpose. In the most important part of the drop-in I'm perfectly balanced and safe.

[@rinky_dinky]

@@lee_likes_bikes fair enough guru !

[@GameplayerSolCley]

0:30 here no bike parks

[@richardkaz2336]

You missed an important point. Don't stay seated. While in practice you got off your seat. Many new riders and some that have not learnt to ride correctly remain seated and as the back of the bike goes over the hump, and often the humps and some drops may have a bit of a kick up at the end. The tensd to cause the seat to give the rider a bit of a up and over nudge that results in the rider getting bucked up and over and accelerting their body centre of gravity over the bars. Depending on on the drop-in hover you bum well abobe the seat so you don't get smacked or hang over the seat so it doesn't come in contact with you. Personally my legs are long and I've never needed to use my dropper post, but if you have one and your torso is longer than your legs then use the dropper just before the drop. if you encounter the drop-in before you can drop your seat then keep your bum well off the seat as you launch. Riding a hard tail is a good training for bike handling and developing these techniques.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Thank you for your insight!

[@rodnera8374]

Alex Bokusky quit?

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Alex is taking a break from video life. Stay tuned though, you never know if/when he’ll pick up the camera again!

[@rodnera8374]

@@lee_likes_bikes Thank Lee Yes 👏

[@truman4956]

Love your videos, but be careful of back lighting because it washes out you and your face.

[@lee_likes_bikes]

great point. i'll gain skill in this.

[@matthewbloom19]

Sometimes you need to stop overthinking things and just figure it out, this is excessive..

[@lee_likes_bikes]

Not helpful.