Mastering Drops: Choosing the Right Technique for Every Situation
Riding drops can be a huge confidence killer. Many riders learn just one technique and struggle to adapt it for different scenarios, leading to frustration and crashes. The key to successfully handling drops is understanding the fundamental principles and proactively adjusting your movements to suit the situation.
The Fundamentals of Drop Technique| Weight Shift & Rotation
To ride a drop smoothly, you need to control the rotation of both you and your bike as the wheels leave the edge. As your front wheel rolls over the drop, the bike naturally wants to pivot forward. If you do nothing, your weight will shift onto the back wheel, causing an abrupt forward pitch when the rear wheel follows. Each drop technique aims to counteract this rotation in a different way and is best suited to specific conditions.
Three Key Drop Techniques
1. Dropping a Drop | Manual Movement to Counteract the Rotation
This technique uses the manual to counteract the bike’s forward rotation. A common mistake is relying on shifting weight backward to create the necessary rotation. This works to an extent but becomes ineffective on slow, large drops.
Instead, focus on precise and controlled manual movements to lift the front wheel. Effective manual movement will use a weight shift forwards, then back as well as strong precise straightening of the legs.
Best for:
- Big drops at moderate speeds
Downside:
- Can result in heavier landings, making it unsuitable for rough or chunky runouts
2. Rolling a Drop
When rolling a drop, you allow your bike and body to rotate over the edge but apply pressure to the front wheel immediately after it clears the drop. To execute this properly, shift your weight forward and bend your arms before reaching the drop.
A common mistake is failing to move forward before the drop, which places too much weight on the rear wheel and causes an aggressive forward pitch on landing.
Best for:
- Slow-speed, small, or rough drops
- Situations where maintaining wheel contact is important, i.e low grip.
Downside:
- Limited by drop size and approach speed
3. Squashing or Absorbing a Drop
This technique is similar to absorbing a jump. To prevent forward rotation, unweight both wheels as you go over the drop. Success with this method requires being centered on the bike and maintaining speed.
Best for:
- High-speed drops with steep exits
- Situations where a light, controlled landing is necessary
Choosing the Right Technique
- Dropping a Drop – Ideal for large drops and moderate speeds, but requires a precise manual technique.
- Rolling a Drop – Works well for slow, small, or rough drops, maintaining stability and wheel contact.
- Squashing a Drop – Best suited for high-speed drops with steep exits, allowing for smoother landings.
Final Thoughts
Mastering drops isn’t about sticking to just one technique—it’s about knowing when and how to adapt each method to different situations. By practicing all three techniques and understanding when to apply them, you’ll gain confidence and control over any drop you encounter on the trail. Happy riding!