3 Simple Steps | How to Drop on a Mountain Bike

[@TheButlerNZ]

For a mediocre MTB'er past 50 like myself (from a motorbike background)... I am using a method that is not only EASY... but reserved the push out for emergencies... At the same "Right Speed" on the same drop.. I can comfortably ride the drop with little more than a preload bump on the front. This lifts the front as you leave the lip. If you end up getting the speed too slow, you can add the push out and perhaps save what could be a nasty nose dive. (I just uploaded a video I took wayyy too long producing and at the start I deliberately 45 a near 1m drop... but the day before (no recording) there was an accident on the jumps ahead (knock out) and I paused on the drop then rolled off without thinking.. immediately bumping and pushing out at probably only 5-10kph yet landing better than the deliberate one I recorded later (at near twice the speed). I've found the bump method works for me at average to fast pace and worked great on a 1m to flat. Go give it a try on a 1ft rollable or even just a curbing... and a bonus... you land centered on the bike, not back or returning from the rear. It also tends to land either flat or nose 1st which is WAY more preferable than a rear landing if you over cook the push or (please don't) pull up on the bars. I tried to get a few different types of drops in my vid.. and spent so many hours making the music/text etc fit the action... I won't give up my day job...

[@JustMe-ug2cz]

In general, if your speed is correct you should be able to just push your bike out in front of you. That moves your weight back relative to the bike, which unweights the front so it doesn't just fall off the end of the drop. In a manual, you're thrusting yourself back with locked arms, which pulls on the bars. It's different. Drops, push the bars forwards; manuals, lock your arms and pull the bars back using your shoulders/lats.

[@Projectnortheast]

Agreed, pretty much my point in the video. Speed is #1 and dictates the amount of technique

[@googlepresent5431]

Love your videos, Thanks for the tips!!!

[@Projectnortheast]

Thanks! And your welcome!

[@UpHillWill]

Nice video, this seems like it will help beginners. keep up the good work.

[@chiefsilverback]

Useful video, and makes me realise I need to get to Highland and session those drops to develop my technique and confidence. It has occurred to me that it would be pretty cool if Highland color coded those three drops in the skills area, and then flagged the drops on the trails so you know if it's a size you are comfortable with.

[@johnwilkins3995]

Very good and detailed video, thanks for highlighting the dangers involved with different techniques. I’ve learned a lot but even my “safe technique “ like you did I see can definitely get me into trouble if I put my butt down on rear wheel. It’s funny bc that’s not even a conscious thing but split second where wheel comes up and butt within inches of it and boom you’re stopped and going over the bars. Videos like this are super important as we progress to bigger drops and realizing how risky it gets.

[@Projectnortheast]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@richchin5163]

Nice job on the tutorial. I assume it probably wasn't easy doing this given your crash and the crazy comments you can get on the internet. You showed that even the best of us have our off days and learning from our mistakes is what makes us better. Judging from your other videos, you're certainly an expert rider!

[@Projectnortheast]

Ya its never easy putting yourself out there but honestly I'm confident in my abilities. But also always learning and progressing as a rider. Each person needs to accept a level of risk they are comfortable with... because there are 2 kinds of riders if your honest, those that have been down and those that are going down

[@Frank-gp6qr]

I agree, great video... only comment, I don't think his confidence is there 100%... backpedled a few time explaining it

[@mikephelps145]

Great video! I'm working on the same thing. I raced with you at Arrowhead (the old lady in 5th place).

[@SoGoMTB]

TQ for sharing. SUBSCRIBED!

[@Projectnortheast]

Thank you my friend!

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

So in the ryan leech online drops course , he mentions that there are 2 extremes in body motions - 1 is rhe manual that reversed L movment. And 2 . The front wheel lift which is a fully vertical up motion . The technique you mention is what ryan leech coined as the manual infused front wheel lift , which is somewhere in the middle of the 2 extremes

[@drumlessons833]

Yo you can't just surprise me with brutal crashes like that when you're preaching about the importance of confidence. That fall made me want to sell my bike haha

[@Projectnortheast]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Frank-gp6qr]

I just commented that... confidence

[@stanford135i]

@projectnortheast mtb ... what speed do you approach each one of those three drops in your video?

[@steveinoz8188]

I've only been doing MTB for a year. I've crashed a few times - down rock roll and over over double step drop (who in the F came up with this?). My problem is because I am having too much fun I just charge thrugh the feature without thinking too much on it. Each time after a crash I take the 2 steps back (to bike paths and blue trails) then look at going forward again - hopefully 3 steps. On drops I try to get a pop going - enough so the front wheel wont drop till after the back wheel is over the edge. In the air I try to stand up tall so I can use my legs to help cushion the landing. I mainly try and do what Ben Cathro says to do.

[@topspot4834]

I see a lotta guys do that pop before a drop, and if it works for you cool, but that's definitely not the right technique (and I'd take Ben's advice with a grain of salt). You just stay in your attack position, and control your bar so it doesn't drop. It's not a pull and it's not a hop (assuming you're going the right speed) ... Wooden drops or something with a smooth run in it'll work fine, but an uneven surface like a rock drop, it's a good way to go OTB.

[@Frank-gp6qr]

​@@topspot4834 nnnnnnice, good point

[@federaldelii]

💯💯👍🏻👍🏻

[@Truth-teller3]

How do you know what the right speed is

[@Projectnortheast]

Honestly experience... or learning from someone better than you that has that experience. Some of my biggest features I've had a buddy that I fully trust lead me in

[@andrewyeah3143]

Came here to ask the same question!

[@kristianrabor458]

Hi question In a normal trail we should be always on a attack position? specially if your running fast? or slow?

[@Projectnortheast]

Not sure I understand the question here... if going down hill then yeah you should be in attack position ready for any obstacle that's coming

[@Blanch1792]

Where in NH is this?

[@Projectnortheast]

Highland

[@x12Mike]

Came here to ask the same. 🙂

[@useport80]

crash reel looks like the shed

[@Projectnortheast]

Good eye!

[@bobwitt305]

Personally I like a little bunny hop before a drop.

[@Projectnortheast]

And that's a great way to plant your face some day right into the landing...

[@topspot4834]

Should narrate as your showing going over drop. Would make an easier tutorial. Nice job though! TON of bad advice out there. With the right speed it's effortless, just gotta hold the bars up a little ... Hold not pull, so your just controlling the front end!

[@Mcmartinshreds]

imagine having a really good bike but not knowing how to drop

[@Projectnortheast]

Everyone needs to start somewhere...

[@kuyagoldtv6321]

i will know that only if i have bike

[@mmodtomic7119]

Uhg. Teaching drop technique to someone who is a beginner should never include anything like manual or wheelie actions. Those have their place when teaching Advanced drop technique. A proper beginner drop is so simple. It's little more than a faster roll. If you get in the "ready" position and have the correct speed, you can't get it wrong. Just be low on the bike, let the bike fall while extending your arms and legs then use that extension to absorb the landing.

[@Projectnortheast]

UGH. Wow you clearly didn't even pay attention to the video did you? 🤦‍♂️

[@TheMadStrater]

I really feel like you've "dangerously" misled people here by saying drop technique is in any way like a manual technique. The movement and force required to enter a manual is much more severe than the gentle (and very slight) shifting of your weight back to complete a drop. Honestly, if your speed is correct you really don't even have to shift your weight for a drop...

[@Projectnortheast]

Did you even watch the whole video? Lol I say the movement of the hips to shift weight is similar to the movement of a manual. But, I say literally the same exact thing you said in your comment almost word for word that technique does not Trump speed, and the proper speed needed to do the drop correctly. Speed is #1, it dictates how much technique you need. The expert rider can go off a drop extremely slow by actually manual manualing off the drop but the risk factor of doing that is very high! I covered all that in the video but it seems like alot of people's comprehension is very pointed instead of comprehending the video as a whole

[@TheMadStrater]

@@Projectnortheastyea I did. You just shouldn't have even gone there imho...if you're gonna leave it in there you should replay the clip (where you catch your ass on the seat and nearly break your neck) like 3 times with big RED text overlay saying don't do this.

[@Projectnortheast]

@TheMadStrater I mean... I did say don't do this... I think honestly we are talking semantics at this point.

[@rangerbuckley9174]

My question is how do you know what speed to use

[@Projectnortheast]

Honestly that's a tough question and for me it comes down to the fact that I've been riding so long that it comes with experience. But even with experience I've made mistakes and paid dearly for it. I've never been seriously hurt by going too fast (although that can definitely happen) but I have been seriously hurt by not heaving my head in the game and going too slow. The best thing is learning from a more experienced rider and matching speed