Video: How To Hit Drops with Wade Simmons
Wade Simmons and his trusty trail sidekick, Luna, head to Fromme for a quick session on how to do drops. Progressing through different types and heights of drops, the Godfather gives you all the tools you need to safely and confidently hit any drop – choosing your favourite line, the difference between natural and built-out drops, spotting landings, and more.
Whether you’re a beginner gearing up for your first drop or a seasoned rider looking for more hang time, there’s something for everyone in the latest Pick-A-Part video.
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m.pinkbike.com/news/throwback-thursday-ride-to-the-hills-with-wade-simmons-thomas-vanderham-andrew-shandro-jordie-lunn-and-more.html
25:00
"Washed, man that hurts. Kids these days are viiiicious"
Proceeds to Fromme and casually rolls off Digger's Rock...
youtu.be/uJJAW0iNhUY
The Wade Simmons video recommends a manual be used to handle drops. This requires highly tuned technique which is very reliable. If the technique is not reliable, a medium size drop can be very dangerous at slow speed.
My experience with this is that it can be risky. I have multiple bikes and each requires different effort to manual. If I don't practice consistently with the bike prior to a drop, attempting a medium size drop slowly would be dangerous because I may short the manual and go OTB on impact.
He wheelie dropped out of the truck. If he was on the trail and accidentally picked the wrong gear, that probably wouldn't have worked and he'd have crashed badly.
Ben cathro recommended a *push* technique (interestingly, it seems related to absorbing bumps) instead of the previously mentioned manual. I have not tested this myself but it appears less risky in many situations. If it is indeed simpler to do properly, then it seems a better and safer recommendation.
I do know other racers such as Neko Mulally use this *push* technique as well. All these techniques are very subtle and look similar if you don't watch carefully.
Regardless of what technique you use though, be confident you can do it on que reliably.
But he's no Wade Simmons when it comes to drops. No one is really, to be fair.
dirtmountainbike.com/features/mountain-bike-photos/wade-simmons-moreno-valley-gap-2002-moment-time
@emptybe-er: I've ridden for years and I'd never heard of the push thing until I saw that video.
If I had to guess (based on almost crashing multiple times), manualling at slower speed is more risky and push perhaps safer and simpler to do correctly.
Suspect both are easier at speed.
I don't have an opinion about which is ideal based on the grade of the landing. I'm only concerned which way is simpler to land reliably. A determined person would probably perfect both ways because they are interested.
That pic is bonkers. That's freaking massive, and that was in 2002?!
What doesn't work is panicking right at the last minute and doing it wrong or not at all... tried that one too!
The full video clip shows Bender hitting it multiple times too and unable to ride it out.
Wade was head and shoulders above everyone else in smoothness and style.
Totally agree with you statement, I was thinking the same thing. I don't think he watched the video or has a very short attention span
Actually...probably the entire late 90's, early 2000's was a game of bike between them, all documented on VHS haha
It was close, but Tippie definitely left more blood behind.
It took me a while to hit one of the two well known drops on a DH run at my local, but once I’d done it a few times, I no longer think anything of it. The other drop however, remains one that I’ve still not attempted. Seen too many riders break themselves on it, I think.
Wade's clearly a good teacher, but yeah, 1' drop was too easy for him, 10'+ drop was too easy for him...