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Drop-off from the rear wheel

As soon as you will be able to hop on the rear wheel, you will be tempted to jump off obstacles, landing firmly and well balanced over the rear wheel. This frontal drop-off technique gives you plenty of control and visibility over your landing target.

A powerful drop-off technique

Nicolas Agyemang lets the rear wheel drop.

Giacomo Coustellier lowers the front wheel.

You can even combine this with a firm pedal kick to hop over a gap as you drop to a different level (the famous drop gap).

First, you should be confident about approaching the edge of any kerb or step with a few hops on your back wheel.
Balancing over the back wheel, adjust your tyre right on the edge of the obstacle with a few hops or with one controlled pedal kick.

The full move explained

Kenny Belaey getting ready for a big drop.

Maximiliano Vicario just off the edge.

When ready, brakes fully locked, lower the front wheel to the horizontal and crouch on the bike. This ensures that you start the drop with your centre of gravity as low as possible.

Release the rear brake and give a slight stroke in the pedal so that the rear wheel rolls off the edge. Let the rear wheel drop first and extend your limbs to adopt a standing posture in mid-air.

You can control the vertical tilt of the bike and the rear wheel position beneath you by pulling more or less on the handlebars. Upon landing, lock the rear wheel again to secure your position and crouch progressively, resisting smoothly with your legs and arms to damp the impact on the rear wheel first.

Lower the front wheel progressively, stretching your arms further as you crouch back. Check out our tips to land smooth.

Click on any photo and use the scroll-wheel to animate the move.

Rear wheel drop-off

1° Balancing over the back wheel, adjust your tyre right on the edge of the obstacle with a few hops or with one controlled pedal kick.

2°Brakes fully locked, lower the front wheel to the horizontal and crouch on the bike to bring your centre of gravity as low as possible.

3° Release the rear brake and give a slight stroke in the pedal so that the rear wheel rolls off the edge.

4° Let the rear wheel drop first and extend your limbs to adopt a standing posture in mid-air.

5° You can control the vertical tilt of the bike and the rear wheel position beneath you by pulling more or less on the handlebars.

6° Upon landing, lock the rear wheel again to secure your position and crouch progressively to damp the impact with your legs and arms.

Biketrial video Watch this move in slow-motion

Minimizing the drop-off height

Abel Mustieles lowers his center of gravity.

Andrei Burton stretches to reach the ground sooner.

Once your rear wheel is well positioned, and especially if you are jumping from high, make sure you lower the front wheel and crouch on the bike as much as you can before releasing the rear brake.
Then in mid-air, you can fully stretch your legs again, just accompanying the bike down to reach the ground sooner. This tucking/un-tucking exercise will dramatically reduce the total drop-off height of your centre of gravity compared to a high standing position with your front wheel lifted.

Even when jumping from big steps as high as your handlebars, you could virtually reach the ground by simply extending your legs, from a crouched horizontal position.

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