You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Im having a real issue with drops on my new 29er (first 29er) being short of arse and having big wheels is causing me comedy falls especially on downhill drops. Usually id try and push the bike out from under me to get over the drop and lift the front a little but as i try this the rear wheel hits my arse as my front wheel goes forward. It then halts the back wheel and i plummet face first.
How can i stop this apart from smaller wheels 🙂
Sounds like the bike is too big, or you have poor technique.
Smaller bike and/or skills day?
Smaller arse or greasy shorts.
HTH
Good thread juxto there:
Getting bummed
It hurts. It really bloody hurts.
How short are you? I reckon you're getting too far back over the rear wheel
Have you got a dropper post ?
I think we need to see a video of one of your comedy falls before we can offer advice on technique.
seat post too high, dropper. Get it down. I think the'trend' for longer top tubes dont help. A bike has to fit, were all different sizes. In some makes Im a medium others a small. Ive got small legs, 27.5 makes a lot of sense for me 😉
If your weight is already all over the back wheel then your get out of jail free card has already been used.......
Skills day. That technique doesn't sound right but I am no expert.
Relax?
Nothing wrong with getting right over the back for certain drops. However getting bummed is one reason some World Cup folk have stuck with 650b, and much more mincey folk (me) have done the same
what frame size is it? What type of bike is it? XC racer etc?
russyh to the thread, please... 😉
I had trouble with this on a 26, 27.5 and 29, I'm not tall either. I saw a description somewhere that you need good manual technique and that is that you need to make an L with your butt. You drive your boy or lady bits straight down at the saddle and before you hit it you go straight back, with your legs essentially straight. I think I was going back first and then going down too far, which, against my instincts, was the opposite of what you need. I've never done the physics but I susoect larger wheels raise the weight of the bike so you actually need to start out higher to get the leverage to get that tall weight point up and back. Like the taller the thing you put on a dolly, the higher up the handle you have to pull to get it back in the wheels.
This has improved my abilities immensely. I still end up like the photo as the bike comes up to meet me.
When I first got my 29er I tyre buzzed the first couple of rides but soon adjusted and have never done it since .
Try going out with just one other person I'm thinking (mugboo ) who can watch you on certain situations and offer some help .(razzy woods)
Getting used to a new bike whilst riding in a group can be daunting.
You may simply be getting too low and too far back on the bike which is what we were all told (needed ) to do ten years ago but modern day bikes allow you to be more neutral than you think so I think it's technique .
The drop end of Elland n/s is a good example especially when there's an audience.
P.s I thought the weds group had gotten a little over friendly when I read the title
The elland drop is fine. Its stuff like the razzy wall drop that's an issue.
Attempting to lure mugaboo out with beer when it gets nice weather.
Nothing like a mate calling you to a thread with this kind of title! Cheaps Mboy!
So I can relate to this! I have had a few 29ers. But really suffered on my Hightower. I have little legs but im not overly short at 5’9 (29” inside leg) on my medium Hightower it was a constant issue. I percevered but after taking some proper advice was told that the bike was to small for me. Trouble is when I sized up the bike felt like an absolute tank. I don’t buy the 29ers are for tall people thing, look at Katie Winton. But in the end I went back to 650b and I have not looked back since, nor have i has my scrotum used as a third brake. So win, win! Incedentlu what bike is it OP?
Awesome
I look at Katy winton and without coming across rude I wonder how she makes a living riding bikes as a elite rider
She's struggled last couple of years in ews but I thought she was just getting smoked by 2 incredible female athletes
We did a Christmas ride in Scotland and I was shocked at how small she is on her bike but just how much she struggled on the tech .
Yes I know she's a wee small gal but there has to be a limit as the bike does dwarf her
When did 3rd overall become struggling?
Is she still not ranked 3rd in the EWS global rankings? Can’t be that bad surely!
Worst rear wheel hit was on an old 26" heckler, friction burn to the ball sack getting stuck in between the frame and rear wheel.
Sounds like a technique issue, seen plenty of short riders doing really tech stuff quick on 29r's
She’s struggled last couple of years in ews
3rd overall 2 years in a row is struggling?
I wonder how she makes a living riding bikes as a elite rider
Because she's come 3rd in the World, 2 years in a row.
without coming across rude
Too late
yup its technique.
going at speed its fine. its the slow ones im having issues with.
Plenty of discussion on the topic went on here... https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/so-how-do-you-ride-a-drop/ but the best answer is get some professional coaching.
its going to be another trip to whoosh then i guess when the weather warms up...
Bizarre views of 'struggling' from Big-Bud there....
but the best answer is get some professional coaching.
Of just a little bit of time practicing a drop
Pedals at quarter past 9 to get some height, legs slightly bent and tensed for impact.
Pull up the front to ensure the back wheel lands first, but only just, both wheels same time is ideal but front first is when I get 'bummed'.
Practicing bunny hops might be a good idea to help nail the technique.
*Waves*
I can help with your bumming problem Andy!
... what do you mean “when the weather warms up” - If you’re waiting for some sort of “summer” I think we just had it!
Weirdos get off the back of the bike for drops.
You can do almost any drop - pretty much dead centre in the attack position. I don't think I bother changing my body position that much all. You certainly don't want to be doing what Mashr was doing in that pic - you can be more centred, chest out and looking down the trail to the next entry point.
.....you don't need to pull up on the bars either....unless you're sending it big but came up short and need to lift the front wheel over something mid air. Not off the lip...
You certainly don’t want to be doing what Mashr was doing in that pic
That’s from a Bike Radar article 🙄 Go have a google and you’ll find plenty of riders better than any of us will ever be with a tyre dangerously close to their arse
Here’s Loic Bruni doing it wrong to start with
Because after Cecile and isabeau it's about as competitive as a school sports days egg and spoon race so third in the women's ews isn't what I'd call a success .the margins in time between her and the top two are embarrassing
poor technique innit
Look at the video of captain crash at the FOD , he does the same. Stalls the rear wheel with his crack at lift off.
Drop heels below pedal axles , pedals level at 3 o clock and 9 o clock
push pedals fwd and up aiming at the headset , whilst straightening / pushing the arms
If you start maybe 2- 3" fwd of normal riding and end 4-6" back that is usally enough
Think that pic of LOic is him projecting the bike fwd to clear the rough landing and get him down onto smoother ground , like if you misjudge your entry speed to a double , so rather than case it you try to gain distance by a big shove mid air
third in the women’s ews isn’t what I’d call a success
shouldn't feed the troll but, wow.
care to share your own roots n rain results?
It never fails to amaze me the amount of god like riding legends we have on STW. We really are blessed. I’m surprised by the choice of usernames chosen by vouilloz, Peat and Hill mind.
If he was wanting to clear something he’d be sending it, not squashing as per the photo
Here’s Minaar doing it wrong too, with nothing to clear
There are different techniques for different situations. Some situations will need effort to keep the bike level(ish), faster can be squashed as per the various pictures above. Squashing the bike is more likely to lead to arse buzzing. If, however, you just put you’re weight right back and flop off something, you’re likely to leave via the front door
There are different techniques for different situations
Which is why I'd much prefer somebody to advise me on the situation at hand and look at my overall technique rather than listen to the riding gods on here 😉
Both of them are looking down the track, both of them still have their arms bent. They are giving the bike a little push - that's all. Loics arse isn't hanging past the rear axle. First rider has simply thrown himself behind the bike and hoping for the best.
Both Bruni and Minnaar look to be pushing the front wheel forwards and down a bit to get the steering working again quick. The speed they ride at being in the air 0.25 seconds longer means no steering possible for another couple of metres - with there likely to be some kind of corner coming quickly, this is a good idea.
As for the STW riding gods - why don’t you just cut the chase and get your cocks out and measure them. Save a bit of time like.