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[How To] Drop in
by Trimix | 02 Oct 2005 10:20 am
[How To] Drop in
I decided to put this in the beginners section as it is not a trick, but beginner park skill. A fundamental skill that gets asked a lot by riders starting out. I thought it would be better suited in this forum, let me know if you all think otherwise.
This is lengthy, if you can already drop in don't read it, this is very basic.
“How To – Drop In”
This question is asked so frequently by new riders, but seldom detailed in a How To. I made this how to, to describe the methods and tips to help people get over their initial fear of rolling over the coping and into a park quarter. It is fairly easy to describe, and quite easy to do. Once you do a few of them, you will realize how simple it actually is. This is not really considered a trick, but it is paramount to being able to at least flow around a park. If you cannot drop in, a park can be frustrating. If you want to ride parks, this will be one of the first things you are challenged with. This ‘How To’ does not cover hopping or jumping into the tranny, that will come later for you as you get comfortable with the area around the coping of a quarter pipe, and you become a better judge of where things are.
First off, find a park quarter five feet tall or less. Four foot seems to be the ideal quarter for learning as it is not too high, and not too steep. Dropping into pipes taller and steeper than this, ‘can’ be different. It also helps if the quarter has some deck behind it. You don’t need a lot of deck, and you don’t need a lot of speed, but it helps to have say at least 3-4 feet of deck depth back from the coping. Once you get good enough, you can fly out to a 1 foot deck and drop right back in not really needing much deck.
The only reason I show this photo is so you can get a “feel” of where you might start from. Again, you do not need a lot of speed, and just enough room to stand up and roll slowly and stably toward the coping with a slight push of your pedal. What is shown in this photo is ideal, and pay attention to the angle at which my bike is sitting as this is the “angle of approach” I recommend. This angle is important, and rolling over the coping and into the transition at this angle will cut the angle of the ramp down. It will make it less steep than if you tried to roll straight in. You can roll straight in, but it will be harder.
Ok, you are rolling toward the coping now, stable (front wheel solid and not sketchy, as it would be if you are rolling too slowly) and about ready to commit. Make sure that both pedals are level, keep your body loose and your legs flexible. Just as your front wheel approaches the coping, and gets just a few inches away, turn the front wheel slightly. At this point, you are on the ‘edge’ of commitment…and you should start leaning slightly toward the ramp. Notice how my head is actually out over the coping and ramp at this point, not my entire body…just head and front wheel turn at this point.
Here is a good shot from the back. Just as your front wheel hits the coping, lean a little more (just continue smoothly with that lean you had when you initially turned the wheel) Notice how my weight is now committed to the ramp, everything above my waste is out over the ramp now, and I am looking at where my front tire is headed. This is a critical point, because at this point you’re going in whether you like it or not. A tip here – a very slight push on your pedal just as the front wheel hits the coping will give you a little “boost”. When you view the video below you can see this “push”. This is an important.
Note about the lean – Think of it as leaning into the turn, and not leaning into the ramp. If you lean TOO much into the ramp, you will indeed fall into the ramp. Going too slow, and leaning too much is a common error when learning. Going too slow and not leaning enough is the other mistake, as you will then slide in the ramp. This is more desirable than falling (leaning too much), but you have to find that perfect compromise.
Ok. Now your front wheel is over the coping and in the ramp. If you look at the above image, you can see how if I was not moving fast enough I would just fall in the ramp. If you also notice, the angle of turn of the front end is really not much different than when I first turned it on the deck. If you are going to fall, this is probably where it will happen. If you do, go a little faster and don’t lean/turn as much. Keep in mind that your ‘forward momentum’, is what keeps you from falling.
Now from the back. Notice above as my front tire moves into the ramp, all I have to do is keep my head straight with the front tire, and the back wheel will follow. DON’T worry about the back wheel as much, if you do your part properly it will follow. If you look closely, my back wheel is still on the deck, but I am already straightening out the turn I made into the ramp, straightening the bike out. If you are going to slide out, this is probably where it will happen.
Once the back tire makes the coping, you are home free. From here it is just a matter of continuing to slowly and smoothly straighten out the front end.
Ok, you’re in the ramp entirely now, the worst is over. It is simply a matter of straightening out the front wheel as your ride out. Dropping in is NOT difficult, but just like any rider, who thinks they are ready for that “certain trick”, you may get some butterflies in the belly. In my opinion, more speed is better than not enough. Going to slow, again, is one of the errors initially made.
Quick video of some angles you can watch. Remember – keep your body loose, and your legs flexible.
Video
Hopefully this will make the park more useful to those brand new riders trying to get started. Good luck, and by all means….have fun!
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