Drop Offs

[Capricorn]

So whith a proper drop (retaining wall type), you essentially should be doing a manuel unless you hit it fast enough to just hit it with your weight back?..how fast is fast enough then?

a manual is performed by moving your weight back as opposed to pulling on the bars with  your arms. The timing of when you do this manual/weight back movement is what helps you get over the drop and land with both wheels at the same time.

 

Similarly, at higher speeds, the timing of when you move back is similarly important. It's this timing that you are trying to achieve.

 

But as myles said, go fast enough, and you won't need to move your weight back at all, as both wheels will be off the edge before the front drops any appreciable distance.

 

Try it on a bit of pavement. you'll get to understand it quickly enough.

Go over really slowly, and your front just plops down. you generally don't want that to happen.

So you manual to keep the front wheel up long enough so the back goes over the edge with the front wheel still up, and hopefully, both wheels land at the same time. perfect.

 

Now try it again, going faster and you'll see you dont need to manual as hard to ensure you land with both wheels at the same time.

 

Once you understand it there on that pavement edge, the same approach applies to any other height.

 

The timing takes practice.

The height takes balls.

[RockCoach]

For me manualling off a drop will result in a face-plant at some point. Mostly because I can't manual or wheelie 

 

The method I've learnt is to preload the fork just before the exit point of the drop.

Preloading the fork is a quick push on the fork to compress it a bit then using the rebound of the fork to take some weight off (or lift) the front wheel.

The preload is just about timing and you get a feel for that timing by riding various drops at various speeds. As mentioned above going off drops slow is more technical as you have to keep that front wheel light for longer.

 

I aim to land pretty much every drop, be it from curb height upwards on both wheels.

 

Umm, that's what I believe to be a manual (if you include shifting your weight back)... You only have to hold it for the length of your bike's wheelbase to clear the edge of the drop.

[Uni]

I have never manuelled into a drop..always went in front first and weight back.

So is the correct technique to do Manuel as you approach the drop and have the back wheel go in first.?

And by drop off do we we mean the ground suddenly just falls away and not dropping into a sloping drop?

You and me both. Any time I've gone over something that I couldn't roll down, it involved slowly nose diving and hoping for the best.

[Peach.]

How about we refer to it as "floating" the front wheel instead of the normal manual, you not really trying to get up to the balance point.

slow = more pop/ longer float

fast = small float needed.

 

Most NB thing is just to shift your weight onto your back wheel and your front wheel will automatically float for a certain time, the little pop just helps.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

How about we refer to it as "floating" the front wheel instead of the normal manual, you not really trying to get up to the balance point.

slow = more pop/ longer float

fast = small float needed.

 

Most NB thing is just to shift your weight onto your back wheel and your front wheel will automatically float for a certain time, the little pop just helps.

good point, thanks peach. 

[Peach.]

Float like a butterfly

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

G1312079.jpg

Float like a butterfly

It's funny. I can drop that properly to flat. But remove the downslope and I quiver in my boots

[AlanD]

G1312079.jpg

Float like a butterfly

Did rider do a manuel or simply shift his weight back before the drop and pull up on the bars?

[Eddy Gordo]

It's funny. I can drop that properly to flat. But remove the downslope and I quiver in my boots

Yeah, those are the easy ones, the ones that more more like a huge step is a major issue. 

[Super_mil]

From curb size to as big as your brain can handle the technique is the same.

 

Light front wheel off the exit and once in 'flight' your weight centered over the bike so you don't rotate (forward or back). Aim to land both wheels at the same time. Start small aim to get your technique dialed so that when you start to do bigger drops you can stack the odds in your favour. 

 

Landing heavy on the back wheel on a drop this size will result in you possibly having a bad time.

 

 

[hayleyearth]

Did rider do a manuel or simply shift his weight back before the drop and pull up on the bars?

 

It looks like a "her" to me...

[AlanD]

It looks like a "her" to me...

Yes, you right. Didn't look that closely but the pink socks should have been a clue...lol

[hayleyearth]

If one had to do a manual before every drop I would never have even gotten to doing a drop. Ever.

 

For me there is nothing linking the two, unless to keep ones front up in the air after leaving the edge is called a manual.

 

 

I think it was Super_mil that mentioned the pre-load and the rebound kicks in just before you leave the edge...ya, that why I choose what I ride, it saves me where my skills lack

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

From curb size to as big as your brain can handle the technique is the same.

 

Light front wheel off the exit and once in 'flight' your weight centered over the bike so you don't rotate (forward or back). Aim to land both wheels at the same time. Start small aim to get your technique dialed so that when you start to do bigger drops you can stack the odds in your favour. 

 

Landing heavy on the back wheel on a drop this size will result in you possibly having a bad time.

 

 

 

I would say back wheel is better than front!!!

I know what you mean though, back wheel at an angle of more than 30deg will have you on your a$$ pretty quick!!!!

[Peach.]

Did rider do a manuel or simply shift his weight back before the drop and pull up on the bars?

 

Yes it is a lady, as super M describes, just before the edge you compress and pop the front up just before the front goes off the edge, at the same time shifting your weight back (by pushing the bike forward). This is the start of a manual but you are not lifting as high.

[AlanD]

Yes it is a lady, as super M describes, just before the edge you compress and pop the front up just before the front goes off the edge, at the same time shifting your weight back (by pushing the bike forward). This is the start of a manual but you are not lifting as high.

I see what you mean. Practiced a little on a section at home, have a ledge section from my lapa that i use.

 

Most times i seem to get both wheels to touch some time but there is another retaining wall section i have thats a bit more challenging as the front wheel still hits before the back but it is a bit hard to get some reasonable speed on this section.