MOUNTAIN BIKE DROPS FOR BEGINNERS. DON'T MANUAL OFF DROPS!
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Mountain Bike Drops for Beginners was inspired by a request from a channel subscriber, Robin. Robin asked me to make a video with Lee from Lee Likes Bikes. At first I didn't see the need. There are a lot of videos on how to ride drops on a mountain bike already out there. But as I looked through them, it was obvious that many were suggesting techniques too advanced for beginner/intermediate riders (manuals) and even my favorite videos from Kyle Warner and Rich Drew might not be perfect for a rider like Robin looking to simplify and build confidence. I asked Lee if he was up for making a video on how to do drops for beginner mountain bikers and he saw the same potential to focus on beginners and intermediate riders who wanted to build up their confidence. I rode a hard tail mountain bike and Lee used his full suspension just to show the technique works equally well.
Kyle and April's drop video:
• Better Drops In 1 Day ...
Rich Drew's drop video:
• The Ride Series How To...
Lee's bestselling MTB book with Brian Lopes
www.amazon.com/Mastering-Moun...
Check out Lee and get some coaching at leelikesbikes.com
0:00 Discussion on other CZcams drop advice
3:13 How to roll a 15-inch drop
5:14 How to roll a 2-foot drop
6:00 How to air a small drop with a gap
8:29 How to air a 4-foot drop
I've been waiting on this video for 30 years!!
I hope it's better late than never. : )
98
28 years for me.
It's tough when everyone on CZcams seems to be saying something different. But this looks right, so I'm giving it a go.
Cheers
Thanks for this, helps alot. Making it simple and easy for a newbie like me 👌🔥🚴♀️
@@JoyOfBike Thanks For this Alex and Lee!! I'm 50 and will be getting my 1st Mountain Bike soon. I want to do flow trails and jump trails mainly due to back injury. Just cant take the continual jarring of the rock tech stuff. But a suspension bike should be able to soak up the landings if I do them right.
Alex + Lee = the BEST mtb duo on CZcams. I first heard about Lee on The MTB Podcast with Jonathan Lee and Steven Lewis. Lee's advice on the Triangle of Awesome and the hinge transformed my riding and I've been scouring the web for Lee's content ever since! I'm blown away by Alex's good vibes, humility and skill...having Lee as a regular feature on these vids surely makes this channel the gold standard for MTB progression!
This is so great to wake up to. Thank you! Very motivating!!
Absolutely!
Lee coauthored a book with Brian Lopes outlining all of these techniques. Mastering Mountain Bike Skills. I would highly recommend it.
True!
Instructive AND fun? - in a word: educational!
Guys. I'm 54 and like many others, just got into mtb'ing. I've watched the same videos you mentioned and although I learned from them, I got the most from yours. Simple and something I can take to the trail without having to pull out my phone to review all the steps again before I attempt it. This is the 3rd of your videos that I watched and I'm loving them. Thank you.
Thank you Nelson!! This got me thinking. I met a couple yesterday at a skate park and they were brand new to MTB. They were asking how to manual and some other stuff and I was offering some tips. Finally I asked if they could bunnyhop and they couldn't. I'm not a coach. Lee is. But we worked on that and I could see that that move has everything you need to learn in one place. As I worked with them I realized they couldn't get it if their body placement was wrong. So we had to get them centered in a good low hinge. Then the hop itself is a row and anti row. Wow. 10 minute later they were doing small flat (english) hops and beaming!!!! And I think it was because it was the first time that they had really integrated with the bike and got that feeling.
Turning 54 this year also, I mtb a waaaaay long time ago in my 30s, stopped due to work, just getting back again.
Thanks fellas. I am 46 and haven't been mountain biking for nearly a decade so considering that I now live in Alberta and will be visiting Whistler Bike Park this summer, this is a good refresher. I used to manual off jumps all the time--in fact that is how I always did it. Never really crashed much but at my age I need to rely more of technique instead of just using brute force to throw my bike around. Cheers.
I am 56 and I am just now learning to research these things. Thank you SO very much for your methods of descriptions, presentation, generosity of thoughtfulness and effort.
You are welcome!
An older chap here says thanks - I watched Rich Drew's video and Kyle & April's, and this pulls them together as well as explaining the missing bits. I don't want to do anything massive, avoiding injury while having fun is my main aim, so I'll try to follow your advice and practice - with video camera to review how I get on.
Still the best freakin' drop video on CZcams! Watching it again before I hit Mountain Creek, Vernon, NJ
Over 50, started mtb'ing in August last year. Just know you guys are keeping me alive at the moment (although I am sat here with bruised ribs at the moment :D)
This is a great one. “Make the angle” is the key missing ingredient on other vids. It’s not robotic technique, it require some pilot adjustments. I’ve watched all of the videos you cited and they work, but this highlights a few great points. Always balanced, not back, get low, make the angle. The Kyle video gets you here but without that last bit. I just rode the drop festival that is the whole enchilada in Moab, and once I found my zen I was basically riding exactly how you are instructing here. I like the three steps because when I am in technical terrain I actually talk to myself through the fundamentals to ensure I’m on point technique wise. Simple, easy to remember simplification is what it’s all about. Same when approaching a jump. Great stuff!
Oh man, I know the feeling on Whole Enchilada. You get in that drop groove state of zen and namastoke and you start going so fast. It's beautiful. Glad you liked the video! I sometimes make up songs about riding when I'm in that state. Seems to allow the subconscious to do the processing. Goofy but so fun!
I have an Enduro XL. If I don't lift the front wheel a bit or do a manual then I always land front tire heavy... I'm new to mountain biking and I'm just tackling 2- 3 foot drops at the max.. The one good attempt I did have on the 3 ft was when I did manual a little bit right before the drop and it was the smoothest landing.. also when we're in tight conditions and we don't have a lot of speed if the trail is winding you have to manual because it's just not enough forward momentum to ride over the drop and use these techniques....
I find Alex and Lee's videos hilarious and they offer the best, most logical, simplest techniques of any videos I've watched. So, here it is: I'm 71 started mountain biking 3-4 years ago and go off small platforms and enjoy single track rocky trails and berms. I learned it from these two guys and enjoyed ever minute of their videos. Kudos to you guys. Great stuff.
This warms my heart. Feeling honored and blessed to be a part of your journey.
Been a bit quiet but I see recent replies so great to see you haven't gone MIA.
There's a million over skilled riders doing over skilled videos... Always a pleasure to watch your (over skilled self) making videos for us average riders.
I'm somewhere above medium mediocre and try and pop in videos of slow runs of local tracks for just the same reason...
There's plenty of riders out there better than me.. hopefully I can help some go and ride that track that otherwise looked like you had to be world champ to attempt.
Guys I love your straight forward common sense approach in all the videos you’ve posted. Lee’s technical knowledge and teaching ability along with Alex’s soft calm delivery make for some of the best MTB videos on CZcams. I regularly come back and rewatch your videos over and over but we need more, come on guys get the camera out and get posting again; we miss you 🤙
Your videos have taught me to always check the weight on my hands and always hinge at my hips. It's made me a much better rider! Thanks!
I love how you are not overthinking things, and break it down to simple steps
I really liked this video and I think the key is to start small, do a lot of reps and slowly get higher as you get the feel. So much of this is feel. Just my thoughts.
Just sent my first ever gap like drop! Man this tutorial is very easy to understand! Ive watched many tutorials on youtube but this clicked to me! I hope you’ll make how to’s on drops that have semi flat landings 🤟🏽
For what it's worth, I've done Rich Drew's clinic. Your techniques completely agree.
Mmmmore luxury low! Love it 😁 It's the same as if you were not on your bike, you don't jump up or with a straight body and legs to jump down a drop, you squat and step off to reduce the impact and height. Nice work fellas 👍
I’ve learned a lot today in what I’m doing wrong on drops
This seemed way safer and smoother than the 'pop' video I just watched. This gave me a feeling of idiotproof-ness.
The best. I have just watched many channels as I have just bought first mtb and this channel gives so natural and simple explanation.
It takes a lot of practice but your videos help a lot. Greetings from sinaloa mexico
So true about other videos being confusing. This is the best drop video out there...period.
Drop with jump mechanics - really would love to see a video on this..
Excellent Video 😎 I Started Mt.Biking 50yrs Into Riding Bikes . I was going over 100mph on DirtBikes in the 80s lol . With my CF Warden My FIRST Awesome MtBike . I Find When Riding Its Best To Stay Closest To Center Point Of The Bike .... If You Operate In That Zone ALL SMILES 😎
Thanks Raheem. Glad you got something out of this video and welcome to the channel. Congrats on the manuals too!!
I’ve got a playlist full of drop videos, but this is the one I had my son sit down and watch. However in trying to apply the technique, I realized that most naturally occurring drops have a downward angle. This requires some adjustment of your neutral position. As the bike slopes down, neutral position will need to move back. If you maintain the level ground neutral position that you would use on man-made features such as shown in this video on a downward sloping natural drop, you’ll actually wind up with your weight forward and the bike rolling the drop.
Simplicity - yes please. My head is so full of technique and advice that I am just over thinking so much and the result is sometimes a bit chaotic !!!
Totally loving both the content and production quality. Super well done and many thanks!
Lee nailed it, I am not the same person when my wheels leave the ground! I become nervous, stiff and scared...
Breath out slowly right before you hit the ramp or drop. It's a game changer.
I watched this video before going out to ride today. Rode a trail for the first time and it had a lot of (mostly) little root ledges (a few were bigger) ...which is a feature I always enjoy. I've been mostly doing little manuals (with occasional pops), and executing them fine, but tried this technique today and really liked it. It seemed to make the landings even smoother, which my 63yo neck and back always appreciates. I don't really have a place to practice bigger drops, but am looking for one, and look forward to using this technique there.
You guys are awesome. The way you explain the physics of everything really helps me to understand why I need to do the things I need to do. Great video!
My new favorite channel. Thanks guys for giving this old man confidence.
Your videos are just so great. The advice you give to improve technique just immediately makes so much intuitive sense!
Some odd years in the past I had no brain and I was getting up on cheap Chinese bikes not fit for the purpose (or for anything for that matter). I (stupidly) had no fear and was doing all kinds of jumps, drops and fast descends. I even used a full steel, no suspension, no front brake and a dodgy rear V-brake on dancing wheels to go down a rather difficult trail. I just based everything on instinct, but MAN I was wrong. I think I was just lucky because I never got injured.
Fast forward to today, I just got a proper mountain bike and gotten back on 2 wheels, however my age obviously stopped me from doing trails even half as difficult as the ones I had no problem with before. Every peak made my heart race as I was looking down on it and I bailed on most of them. Gotten into looking on mtb channels and I've started to build my confidence back up, but nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING, compares to you guys. The level of information you provide and the way you provide it is flawless. Every person starting to mountainbike should definitely start watching you even before buying that wrong bike. That's the only thing I regret, not finding you before I bought my bike, it's just a tad too big for me. I'm a strong dude however so I'll manage until I get a more suitable one.
Either way, THANKS! your channel is everything and I hope it keeps going. Wasn't too late for me ! I'm off to practicing now, see ya!
Interesting...enjoyed the banter and the logic was sound. I'm looking forward to trying it out. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Thanks guys! You've straightened out a whole lot of contradictory teaching I've been watching & having mixed results with. This is much simpler & more effective 👍
Good points and video. By saying hinge/angle and get low you are basically saying position the majority of your mass at or behind the seat, which slows down forward rotation. I think one of your other videos actually taught me that. Your arms may not be pulling the bar, but will naturally hold some tension. In the air you then do push forward a bit or stand up in the air to match the landing, which is what is really screwing me up at this point. If you remain crouched you have no where to let the bike move, and no way to absorb the jump with your body. You need to end up neutral and match the landing, but that can be really hard to learn. Too far forward and your weight is thrown forward; too far back and you have no control of your front tire, and can wash it out.
Excellent video without being overwhelming. Explained direct with lots of right information but still keeping it simple. Thank you
So excited going to work using these techniques on my next attempt at drops thank u☮️
One of the best teaching i have seen in years
Thank you guys. I watched ton of videos before attempting first time drops at the bikepark. But i watched this one the day before i went to try them out for the first time (just yesterday) and your advice really got in mij head and now its in my lizzardbrain! good stuff!
As Tina turner sang - simply the best !! you guys changed my riding completely , in a way that no one did - online or real life lessons . the very idea that you are both over 40 - I'm guessing with a business to run and a family to take care of - and not some 25 year old kid who lives in a van and jumps cliffs in Utah and Oregon on a daily basis , makes you much more reliable for me . I downsized my bikes , changed my body position to hip hinge, and of course treated myself to some luxury low posture :-) the change was overwhelming ! I've finally learned how to jump off ledges safely and I ride so much smoother that I can even take my gravel bike to local single tracks and not get hammered !!!! since my 46th birthday is on the 28th, you have to do one on climbing obstacles properly ...... ;-). I can't thank you enough , keep on going .
Samuel taiber
Israel
All our subscribers seem to be psychic. We shot a vid today on technical climbs. : )
Excellent advice! Can't wait to try it!
Let me try that this weekend and see ! Been trying to teach my 11yo daughter how to do drops so this will help us both !
Absolutely the best tutorial on drops. Thanks
SIMPLY AWESOME video instruction combined with confidence building for a nube mountain biker like me. Thanks!!
Just found you yesterday. Second video. Thank you soo much. I’m always looking to improve my skills
Idk I’ve watched all 3 videos and it seems like when you actually watch the videos they are all doing the same thing, even if they talk about it differently. The good riders just automatically adjust to the situation and the body mechanics end up looking the same.
Anyway really good content on a nice variety of cool stuff! :)
Super video! Thanks for making these!
Professional, funny, and very enjoyable video,the way you explain, the way how you ride on a bike, makes me think it's easy to do the same. You're motivation😀 Respect!
Great video! It proves what I tell my customers for so many years. Keep it simple. No fancy technique. Just roll over drops the way it's shown here.
я с огромным трудом, через ломанный переводчик, пытаюсь постигать основы MTB катания. Спасибо тебе, мужик
Thanks Guys, been riding now a little over a year, to advance on some of the trails I want to ride , I need to get this down, this was very helpful thank you.
Very well explained. THANK YOU!
The "Go To Guys" of mountain biking. Thanks guys for unselfishly sharing your knowledge to all of us over 50 who started at this sport very late.
Right on!
I'm pretty new to riding drops. I recently rode a drop, probably 18 inches or so, but it was so smooth I spent the rest of the day with a grin on my face. I left the lip and the landing felt like I never left the trail and went airborne. The smooth factor was amazing. If only I could reproduce that every time! Videos like this will help make that happen. Great vid, guys! Thanks much. 👍👍👍
When you get the technique right, drops are so smooth and easy.
@@meep6188 until they're not...
@@colincoulthard3021 cope
Loving all your videos. Very relatable for "older" riders. I gotta start practicing some of the stuff you're teaching.
The practice is really fun. We are doing a vid on bunny hops and the last two days i did more bunny hops than the last two months!!! Start a CZcams channel if you want lots of practice. LOL.
Kamusta!? Hello from 🇵🇭
After few years of busyness, came back to biking and I really love the trails. Came across to one of your videos and found "how to bunny hop". Started to learn it.
Practical and simple.
Great explanation. So clear!
Thank you so much! I REALLY appreciate discussing the mental stuff, it’s like you’ve done this video just for me. Cheers and happy riding!
Thanks Clive!!
"Luxury Low" - Love the advice👍👍👍
👍
Guys
I watched your video this morning before going riding this morning and it helped me so much practicing my drops.
Thank You Guys.
You guys are simple, straight to the point without the extra fluff. EXCELLENT!
Appreciate the kinds words Jimmy!!
Thanks so much. As same as you watch a ton of videos and I watch your video today and finally did a 5 feet drop👍👍
Alex and Lee - wow - your videos are so easy to understand , and zen - I think you've distilled MB to its essence! I'm from long Island and wish I found your channel before I visited Park City last july. I had a blast ( great cross country and some downhill at deer valley - woo hooo ! ) but I think I would have had fewer white knuckle moments if I had seen your videos before hand ! Keep them coming ! ( BTW 64 years old , achy but loving it!)
In defense of Rich Drew, he did a second video to describe more in depth that you don't shove the bike down on longer drops and actually he does bigger drops the same way you all are doing here. That said, your videos have been awesome and I'm super happy I came across them. Lee has such a great way of describing situations.
I have watched Rich Drew drop videos numerous times, and you are correct. Not a dimes worth of difference between Rich Drew technique and these guys techniques. The guy from the PNW--Simon Lawton-- does exactly the same the thing.IMO.
@@deanransom2350 Yeah I think if you watch only the first video Rich Drew put out I kind of understand why people didn't like his style, which is why he had to do a second video explaining in more detail for bigger drops. To me though seeing Lee Rides Bikes do the same thing actually validates Rich Drew's video on it too, and also doubles down on the idea that I should give this style a shot. It's so weird to me though to push the bike down on drops that are bigger than maybe a foot, it feels so unnatural.
Today was my third time out riding and trying to learn how to drop using the tips in this video. I got very comfortable doing 2’ and 4’ drops. So much better than I was just a couple of weeks ago. I’m no longer hesitant about them and I’m feeling much more confidence and consistency. I still haven’t hit the big 6 footer yet but I can see my skill level building up to it. Thanks guys
👍
I have made some mistakes of mis-interpreting step down jumps with a minor incline as an opportunity to use Lee's drop technique with not great results though. I'm glad you mentioned this at the end of your video.
Thank you for this video! I watched it once this morning and it transformed my ride in the afternoon! I finally had fun on harder trails. Perfect instructional. Thank you again!
Heck yeah. Stoked!!!
nice detailed info...THANK YOU!
What really helped me on drops technique is to visualize pushing the bike forward, rather than pushing my weight back
This is really helpful. Thank you guys, looking forward to more videos from you!
Dude...amazing videos! So much content out there and you, nailed it!!!
Appreciate it!!
Thanks y’all! I’ve been practicing the tips in this video for the last week or so and got out on some really challenging trail today. I focused on centering my weight getting low and neutral hands - and had so much more confidence and controle. I rode tons of stuff I used to walk and had a blast. Thank you for showing this concept so clearly.
Great to hear!
Okay so when then say 'just push', it should really 'just push forward' (i.e., not downward). Wasn't all that clear, until I tried :)
THANK YOU! I couldn't wrap my head around being so far forward on the bike in Rich Drews video
Rich flat shreds. But in any sport there is more than one right answer and we all have our own styles. Glad this clicked for you.
Alex (and Lee) thank you so, so much! This was just what I needed to make sense of the so many videos (and it made the photos in Lee's book come to life). You probably saved a bunch of people some hospital bills and a lot of frustration with this!
Also, asking for this and then getting it wins the internet for me. Thanks again.
Robin Walker So stoked you dig it. Feels like making a video for one person in mind is the perfect way to make a video that a lot of people can relate to. And those orthopedic doctors will just have to make their money off somebody else!!!
Nice video! I was also confused by all the different approaches. You and Lee make a good team! I’m 61 and not as fearless as I used to be. The hinge low and center yourself in the bike makes a lot of sense and feels right. Thanks! Just subscribed.
Thanks Dan and welcome to the community. There are a lot of approaches and we've even done videos on other approaches but this is the go-to for us.
51 year old here. I discover this series only after I move 1000 miles away from Boulder! What an idiot I am. 🤦♂️ Ironically when I lived in Colorado I didn't feel the need to learn these techniques but now I am in the midwest, anything technical is man-made drops and jumps, so I need to learn how to bike again! Good series.
This vid is great, love the advice. So helpful 🤘🏽Thanks for sharing
No problem!!
Great vid! Thanks for the tutorials & advices 🙏💯
Ahh...you guys did it again. Made it simple, consistent and understandable - and it works! Kudos to you and Lee. Best MTB learning channel on CZcams hands down!
You are too kind!!! So excited for your progression!!! Keep smiling.
Brilliant. Thanks guys👌
You two are great teachers! thanks, charlie m. from illinois
I'm 45 and started riding 3 years ago. Your instructional style and content is so understandable, I'd swear you make these videos for me only, thank you!
You're onto us Blair. We have been making them for you. : )
Great tutorial, thanks
Hello from Australia! Keep up the great videos, I find you guys have the best videos for explaining how to ride with an easy to follow technique backed up with technical knowledge, my 10 year old son also loves watching!
Hello from Colorado! Thanks!!
Great video guys. Cannot wait to try it next time I’m out
Great stuff for us older guys🤙🤙body position is critical.. especially hips
Simplicity... I like that! You just gained a subscriber!
Thank you for these videos. I'm just learning how to get off the pavement and even though I have ridden a lot of miles on a bicycle , I haven't done any real mountain bike stuff and I see how easy it is to overestimate my abilities. Your vids are very helpful for me and inspire me to enjoy the challenges and have insight into the right way to get down the hill in one piece.
Appreciate the kind words!!!
great video, makes me much more confident. thanks!
Thank you guys, this really educate me 👍
I love Valmont Bike Park. I’m all over these tips; thanks! Now if I could just manual my way through the pump park(s)...
Luxury low and compressing the bike has improved my riding dramatically. You guys are the best keep up the great videos. Wheelies next!!
Our pleasure!
Brilliant again!
love this video, i always have riders (especialy less experenced ones that watch videos) going "oh you have to compress the suspension and pop a little" or go "you have to manual of the drop" apselutely not! i mean look at racers, sometimes they will use the same method (sometimes even scrubing to get even lower), it keeps you lower, you get less impact, you can hit the feature with more speed, and you keep your speed better! i use the same teqnique on the smallest of drops, and +2 meter drops, fast and slow, its the safest and fastest way to ride a feature.
Great video - thanks guys! I'm just learning and was so confused from different videos I'd watched. It makes much more sense now. I'm off to build myself a ramp at home to practise small drops over and over until I'm sure I've got it.