The SAFEST Way To Learn MTB Drops

[@sapinva]

Funny thing is I've never screwed up a big drop, but I'll blow it about half the time on with curbs and sidewalk cracks.

[@bawbag3715]

going bigger or fast seems the easy stuff, when ever iv fell off the bike and hurt myself its always been at walking speed

[@SuperRiderTV]

Same, even when it feels second nature, my focus definitely changes when the consequences are slightly higher.

[@bawbag3715]

think that my issue aswell, when going slow i dont pay the same attention as i do when im going faster, i never learn lol@@SuperRiderTV

[@si0054]

Same, just did 4000ft of techy descent no issues. Fell off over the bars in a farmers field and smashed my wrist. Couldn’t make it up

[@Prisoner_jeff]

Thanks for the breakdown, you make skills a lot more approachable.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thank you, glad this was helpful!

[@Sunspot-19]

Aaron, I was exlploiting driveway aprons in the late 60's with an OG Schwinn Stingray. Those were good times! Did the same thing in the 70's and later with the 26" version. Trials would come into the picture ~mid 80's. Seeing the changes in what was considered rideable, Priceless!! Really enjoy seeing you share the art with folks that are desiring to learn and progress in the game of bikes!

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thanks!! Curb cuts = OG launch ramps!

[@Sunspot-19]

So much does revolve around one's imagination. Observing features in our environment and incorporating them into our riding experiences is where it's at. I must admit, I take some of it for granted since it has been going on for many years.

[@omahamtb6580]

This is exactly how I taught myself how to drop! I constantly used any ledge 6" or bigger to practice! 4 years later (I'm a slow progresser) I can hit 10' drops with (almost) no fear! 🤘

[@SuperRiderTV]

Awesome!!

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Definitely one of my go to instructional riders for tips like this. This is extremely helpful, as always.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thank you so much!

[@CapnAhabChannel]

Always look forwards to a new video from Super Rider! Learning drop-offs - scary until you've done a few. I'm not there just yet myself - hence, I love these videos!!!

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thank you! Hope this video helps you conquer drops!

[@Durwood71]

I followed this advice today and had probably the smoothest drop I've ever experienced. Granted, it's only about a six to eight inch drop at my local trail, but it flowed like water. I almost couldn't feel the landing!

[@SuperRiderTV]

That's awesome!

[@martinschwartz7342]

Thanks, Aaron for another great video. You do a great job at making mtb skills easily understandable.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thanks Martin!

[@kadishkrongking3733]

Thanks, brother! I will try it!

[@serjturischev9557]

you are so happy man, live in a region where bike season never ends.

[@SuperRiderTV]

So stoked! Even in the rain, it's not too bad. :)

[@mat155k]

I used to do drops this way, well, because most of youtubers teach this way. It works for single drops though, but when you do a more technical descend where one drop/feature comes after another you simply don't have enough time to recover from that backseat position and you lose control. What I do instead now, is a pop or half pop and my body stays centered without losing control.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Yup! There are so many different approaches to drops, depending on speed, takeoff and landing. Never really one way to do every single one, but this one comes in handy for sure.

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

by pop, do you mean preloading the fork and popping off the rebound ?

[@mat155k]

@@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo Yes, but usually I preload both wheels/suspension.

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

@@mat155k so you preload both and pop off both like an English hop ?

[@mat155k]

@@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo Full English hop is a bit excessive in most cases, but yeah. It depends on speed.

[@boybusilakbikes]

This is awesome. Thank you.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thank you!!

[@And-Show]

hi, can you please give your opinion about Marin Rift Zone 2 29

[@SuperRiderTV]

I'm having a blast with this bike, highly recommended! I was originally concerned that moving from 27.5' to 29" wheels was going to be more challenging, but the way the geometry on this bike is set up, I feel like I can do anything on this bike.

[@And-Show]

@@SuperRiderTV Thanks

[@dmitryandreew8582]

just thank you. subscribed !

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thanks for subscribing - glad you’re here!

[@MaskedskillaWinner]

Ty

[@ts122231]

Top, as always!

[@SuperRiderTV]

Thank you! 🙏

[@JosephBank]

I noticed you got some push back on this one and am going to have to agree with a bit of that. Your explanation here is detailed and as usual you have some well described drills. My critique here is just that this is a great technique if you already have the ability to manual in a controlled way and generally have the ability to shift your weight to control your front wheel from dropping. But the vast majority of riders can't manual and don't know how to adjust their weight reliably to correct a diving front wheel. So done at slow speeds there is a lot of risk that you are going to drop your front wheel at just the wrong time. For slow speed drops, I've seen your video on a pedal driven technique which I think is going to be much more reliable and lower risk for the vast majority of MTBers. High speed drops the manual thing of course works, but so does just lowering your chest to the bars at the edge and pushing the bike into the drop (I'm not describing it well, but there are some other good youtube videos that do). I do think this is a valid technique, it is just a bit more advanced IMHO.

[@SuperRiderTV]

I think the one thing I really wanted to get across in this video - and I’m not sure if it landed - is “the worst time to learn how to drop is on a drop”. The goal here was to give riders something to practice so they could work up to building confidence and control. There are a handful of different ways to drop, but this was the only way to teach it on flat ground. But yeah…I’m not sure if it landed like that?

[@JosephBank]

@@SuperRiderTV ok, that makes a lot more sense. The safest way to learn MTB drops is practicing with lines and/or curbs. Not the safest type of drop technique is a manual. Seems that exact message didn't quite hit.

[@SuperRiderTV]

@@JosephBank Correct. I've been thinking about it a lot since I posted this video, and I'm not sure how to approach this topic...but I definitely want to come back to it, because I think this is a super valuable skill to have.

[@Durwood71]

@@SuperRiderTV I'm not a very skilled rider, can't manual, but I perfectly understood the intent behind this video.

[@biodegreaser4009]

Currently got a broken collarbone and hand from messing up a drop off at Xmas 😂 annoying thing is I had previously done much steeper ones …. But , this was not a flat landing so I fucked up…. (Learning the hard way 😢)

[@denisrogers4358]

Thanks for cool content Aaron. My family just moved to Portland, can you recommend any easy trails in the area ? 🔨🤙🏼

[@SuperRiderTV]

Right on! Welcome to Portland! Gateway Green has a bunch of mellow/short trails. Sandy Ridge is one of the local favorites (just outside of town) and Rocky Point is fun, too!

[@rock_machine01]

I’d like to see you do this all on a gnarly hard tail

[@amtamt5560]

You are making this 60 year old man feel like he is 20 again. Thanks

[@SuperRiderTV]

Awesome!! So stoked to hear it!

[@DimitriosKanellopoulos]

This is how i see all young riders trying to drop and going over the bars.

[@nataliebutler-yu4fi]

Just cant coast on back wheel

[@SuperRiderTV]

Practice makes progress 🙌

[@guidospanoghe8896]

Making a decent drop with a downhill landing spot with all your weight behind the BB seems quite dangerous to me! A low position with your weight in the center of the bike and extending your armsat take off is supposed to be the safest way.

[@SuperRiderTV]

I think you may be misinterpreting some of the details here. I’m not advocating for landing with all your weight off the back of the bike by any means. I’m confused how you’d extend your arms out (like you mentioned) while also staying low and centered on the bike?

[@guidospanoghe8896]

@@SuperRiderTV kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6GbkHmBjZejr5Isi=E34Nzl66Ue8sx1Lk&t=450

[@Desperado070]

Actually you just need to know how to pull a wheelie and keep it there. Then you also know how to keep you weight enough to the back to not pull a wheelie but also not to go nose down.

[@SoftStoneXD]

I would never reccomend this technique for beginners at all Resson : when u pull ur bike backwards sometimes ur bar can get turned and while landing the cycle stearing could mess up 95% everytime u try this technique so yeah dont try this unless ur a professional.

[@WilliamBeaver-tb9nt]

I've been doing that since childhood and I'm 55 now, not really hard

[@junka1975]

Probably also hope your hands don't slide off the bars on landing, crash and roll your ankle.....that's not fun, I have video evidence to back it up too. 😜👍

[@SuperRiderTV]

😳😳

[@jaad7562]

It's one of the worst ways to do drops - it is good to have that option in your pocket if your speed is too low, but definitely not to use on "any kind of drops" at least not in normal conditions at regular speed.

[@SuperRiderTV]

Interesting, I’d be curious to hear your recommendations for learning basic drop techniques. Feel free to share them here, everyone is here to learn and progress on two wheels.

[@jaad7562]

@@SuperRiderTV I think there's an overall agreement that the easiest, safest and the most efficient way to do drops at speeds around and faster than let's say walking speed is using a push-through technique. You're getting low while approaching, with your weight over the bottom bracket and your chest almost over the stem, then just while you're leaving the edge, you're pushing your handlebar forward or forward and down at right speed to match the slope of the landing. It's better to land your front wheel first to regain control as soon as possible and be ready for a next feature.

[@mmodtomic7119]

​@@jaad7562Absolutely. The above described is how someone who has Not done drops should be taught (i.e. a Beginner). Later when they are more skilled and have more bike control, they should be taught the "Wheelie drop" or "Manual drop" like the video. I couldn't Imagine trying to teach my beginner girlfriend how to both Manual AND take a drop safely at the same time! But the manual drop IS an important technique to have in your quiver.

[@Bananpelikan]

This video is not good. This technique should be explained togheter with riding faster but also different edges. It's a very bad technique if going slow on a technical trail where backwheel get stuck. You don't want to much weight on the back wheel and you gotta come off the back wheel at the right moment or you get rotation forward as backwheel is pushing down.

[@SuperRiderTV]

There are a lot of different ways to drop - but the worst time to practice drops is in the middle of your first one. Practicing on small curbs and obstacles (or even mimicking it on flat ground) is one way to start the process.