how to do a drop off

[sundial]

I love riding down a little bridge and dropping off it. However, no matter how hard I try, I can't land with both tires, just the front one. I lean over the handle bars to compress the shock and then just as I leave the bridge, I pull up and still the bike lands front wheel first. I've practiced going off our deck as well and I can't seem to nail it. What's the secret to the technique?

[bounceswoosh]

I love riding down a little bridge and dropping off it. However, no matter how hard I try, I can't land with both tires, just the front one. I lean over the handle bars to compress the shock and then just as I leave the bridge, I pull up and still the bike lands front wheel first. I've practiced going off our deck as well and I can't seem to nail it. What's the secret to the technique?

How much of a drop?

I don't / haven't really done drops like this, but my bet is that you need to get your center of gravity further back by moving your butt behind the seat.

But, again, I really haven't done this, so this is pure conjecture. On descents you want to get your CoG back to prevent flipping the bike, so that's where I'm coming from.

[bouncybouncy]

I can do it but have a hard time explaining things...but BW is right about getting your weight behind your seat!

Hope someone will chime in with explicit details. It took me days to "get it"...keep at it!

[SadieKate]

Perhaps you need to learn a bit more of a wheelie technique to help lift that wheel? Or just not pulling up properly? I like instructional videos like this one.
http://westcoaststyle.net/mountainbiking.php

But for immediate gratification …..

I just think of lifting my front wheel as if I were actually going over an obstacle
http://www.mountainzone.com/videos/p...o.asp?vid=7623

Over even just bunnyhopping with no obstacle.
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Bun...our-Bike-10142

More extreme is an actual manual or wheelie
http://ibikeride.com/Mountain-Bike-S...elie-drop.html

The big thing is learning each bike’s behavior. Some bikes are easier to bunnyhop evenly. It was easier to lift the front wheel on the hard and softtail bikes I’ve had. I have to think a bit more about keeping my front wheel higher on my FS bikes which means I should probably go practice more.

[sundial]

How much of a drop?

It's roughly 16 inches or so. And the ground does not slope down after I drop off the bridge.

It took me days to "get it"...keep at it!

Yeah, I was pretty sore the afternoon I practiced riding off our deck. Congratulations by the way!

Perhaps you need to learn a bit more of a wheelie technique to help lift that wheel? Or just not pulling up properly? I like instructional videos like this one.

Thanks Sadie! I have been watching a few You Tube videos but I think these will be more helpful. Thanks everyone for your tips. I've got to practice some more.

[sundial]

Here's one video that I thought clearly demonstrates one method. I thought because he's on a free-style bike that it was easier to do a drop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExnEE...eature=related

If you play this video at work, turn the sound OFF. (Some of the lyrics are lewd.)