[Monkeywrench]

Hello everyone -
just got in from a (night) ride (courtesy of that bright halogen bulb... what a good idea that thing is).

I had a quick question for riders good at hopping down hills: I wanted to see if I'm doing this right...

When you're coming up on a "pit" (meaning running from the level of ground you're currently on, down into a lower level of riding area), what's the best way to keep speed and skip right over the drop, without having to slow down to let the tires ride down the hill itself? This particular drop is about 5-feet down, and there is a steep hill I'm able to ride down into this pit, but it's far more fun to just jump down into it.

Here's what I'm doing (and need help on). As I approach the drop, I'm standing... maybe doing 20 mph, not too fast. Just as the ledge of the drop meets where the front fender blocks my view of it, I gas it some.

Should I be waiting for the front to pass over the lip first? Or would that create a "wheelie down the hill" result?

I appreciate any help. At odd times, I'm nailing this perfectly and I don't seem to be able to realize what I'm doing right. The times I don't nail it cause me to feel like I've just gone over the first drop of a roller coaster and noticed my shoulder harness isn't on!

[crfsonly]

hi matt,

i'm not sure i understand what you're talking about but i think you're talking about is riding at a higher level and then 'dropping in' to a lower level. am i correct?

[Monkeywrench]

Yes, that's it. Like you're riding along, and are coming up on a sharp drop-off maybe 5-feet deep, which leads into a whole other riding area.

[ev]

if your decline is steep enough
treat it like a downhill jump
guess this is what you meant with 'create a wheelie'
lift the front untill the bike is level

[crfsonly]

ok...the technique is different if your not on a slope than if you're on a slope. also, if it's truely flat and drops off that's different then there being an obstacle in front of the drop off like a small/large jump face or such. i'll describe what i do if it is flat and drops off.

no slope on the approach or landing...
i'll approach at speed, blip the throttle as my front wheel approaches to loft it just enough so when i land my back wheel lands first. right before my rear tire lands i'm on the throttle enough to have the bike squirt forward but not enough that it will bring the front end up any further. at the same time i shift my weight towards the front which allows me more throttle and reduces the weight over the rear shock. the entire manuever is done while standing of course.

down a slope on the approach and the landing also has a similar or greater slope...
i treat these like the landing face of a jump (similar to a step-down without a jump face). the difference is you have to watch your speed, especially if the landing area has a greater slope. i can't tell you how fast is too fast, each situataion is different. the general idea is to carry as much speed as possible to clear this obstacle while getting back to mother earth as quickly as possible so you can get back on the throttle while being able to control your bike. as i approach, watching my speed, in a neutral standing position, being careful not to loft the front end, i'll leave the platform trying to push the front end down so that the bike's attitude is parallel to or slightly nose down to the landing surface. as a word of caution you have to know in advance what you're landing into or this can be very dangersous. if there's a bunch of trail trash (rocks, ruts, etc.)you may be better off (read: safer) not leaving the ground so you staying in control. if you do end up in the air with trail trash for a landing, keep the front light, land on the rear tire, and pray hard.

good luck!

[ev]

ok...the technique is different if your not on a slope than if you're on a slope. also, if it's truely flat and drops off that's different then there being an obstacle in front of the drop off like a small/large jump face or such.

little difference, same basics

do not confuse Matt with too much input at once
give him a direction, let him try and come back with more and more detailed questions

[Monkeywrench]

Thanks for the input - I'm headed out tomorrow to the same area to give this a try. From what I can remember from the other day, I liked the feel of landing with the back tire just before the front, and better yet landing both tires at the same time.

The drop-down does have a slope I can use, but I like "airing" the bike over the slope. It's fun.
I did come down front tire first a few times, which did make me thankful that my prayer life is going pretty well (thanks Ken ) and also that the drop down wasn't much more than 5-feet.

Will let you's know how it goes. Looking forward to it.
This little area is neato, but may end up being turned into a strip-mall before this time next year. grrr... just what we needed -- another one of those.