Hi all,

 I have a slight problem in that I hate tackling drop offs and would like some advice how to tackle them, however hard I try I seem to chicken out of going over them and if I do try usually end up heading over the handle bars!  anything over say about 10 inches and Im off my bike one way or the other (usually involuntarily).  I have the same problem with steep/short decents, I tell myself weight back, light on brakes but I my gut reaction usually ends up with me stopping and walking it.  It doesnt help that I had a rather spectacular trip over the handbars at Cwmcarn the other weekend which has knocked my confidence.....  any advice welcome!  Hopefully see some of you Sunday at Marin! 

Rule number one drop your saddle

Rule number two drop your saddle properly (like at least 10cm) 

Rule number three If you don't feel it don't do it it's that simple.

Rule number four Start small (around 40 cm)

Rule number five Try in follwing someone quite closely and you'll see that will happen.

If it all happened in the flow you wont even notice it. Then once you got the 40 cm step sorted, try bigger there is absolutely no difference.

Hope it helps. 

what foxy boy said  

also, try to look ahead as far as you can, instead of at your front wheel or at where your front wheel is going to land.

seat down, stand up and hang back - look ahead and feel confident (relax)that your'll make it & you will.

Keep practising Emma, as much as possible until it isnt an issue for you. Then you can start enjoying them  

Try to get your backside nearly touching your rear tyre - if its not too high a drop then just plop over front wheel then back. If its too high for that then try hopping off - keep a little speed and bunny hop trying to keep both wheels level.

Same for very steep - you need to get well behind your saddle or drop it well out of the way. 

hum I might have got it wrong what do you call drop off??

That is what I call a drop off

Like going from the top of a table to the floor. But from what I have read I might be wrong.

Don't apologies I am not english that why I asked. But you just confirm it's a step like stuff...

Not a compression thing because I got confused about the sitting on the tyre and though you were talking about compressions (in wich case Rachel is correct) 

Emma - how's it going with the drop-offs?

I'd agree with Alice, there's nothing like a course to boost your confidence.

Whereabouts are you? If you are anywhere need Chicksands and fancy meeting up there are some really good drops to practice on, ranging from about 5inches to about 6 ft. And they are away from the main area so pretty quiet.

One thing I would say is not to put too much pressure on yourself to do it, kind of echoing what others have said, but being relaxed and enjoying it is the key... 

And I think that (within reason!) speed helps,particularly with keeping your front wheel up. A bit of advice I was given is to push the bars out (not down!) rather than pull up hard... (not sure if that makes sense, it's hard to explain!)