What's the difference between a step-down and a drop?!
In this episode, Jason helps @linnearooke conquer a step-down that's been in her head for a long time.
When the landing is lower than the takeoff, you're looking at either a step-down jump or a drop. The key things to consider are:
1. Does the takeoff have a lip?
2. What speed will you have upon takeoff?
3. Where do you want to land?
If there's a lip, it will force compression into your bike so it's automatically a step-down jump. The ideal technique will be to use jumping form, with your knees over your toes and your body centered over the bike. This will allow your bike to have even compression through your front and rear suspension, not get bucked, and create a nice arc through the air.
If there's no lip, then it can be either a jump or a step-down, depending on the landing:
DROP: If you can get to the landing using the drop technique (a simple rearward hip shift), this is ideal. This will get your bike on the ground (and in control) sooner, allowing you to take advantage of the full downward slope of the landing and be ready for the next corner or feature on the trail. Adding compression in this scenario will only make the landing harsher and will delay your ability to prepare for the trail ahead.
STEP-DOWN: If the landing is further out, or if you need to clear an obstacle, you may need to add compression on the takeoff to get the extra distance or height. This compression turns it into a step-down as you are now using a jumping technique.
Speed matters! There are some instances where the same feature on the trail may be either a drop or a step-down, depending on trail speed. If you are coming into a drop extra slowly, you may need to use jumping technique (compressing off the takeoff, knees over toes) in order to make the landing.
Want to learn more? Check out the full episode (25:19) on fluidrideonline.com/
🎥 Filmed and edited by Kyle Ilenda
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ABOUT LINNEA ROOKE
Linnea has been racing locally in the pro category, but until this year she had almost no formal training and was held back by major gaps in her technique. While she was able to carry speed well on straight downhills and high-bermed turns, she lacked foundational cornering skills and was timid in the air. In Feb 2020, she met up with Fluidride to help with a filming trip in Baja, and was fascinated by Simon's teaching methods. Wanting to be part of this mission, she left her career in healthcare in July 2020 to officially join the Fluidride team as COO. We started filming this series to document her journey of cleaning up bad habits, adding new skills to her toolkit, and chasing her dream of riding with style.
Linnea rides for Evil Bikes: www.evil-bikes.com/
ABOUT JASON GAINEY:
Recently joining the Fluidride team, Jason is an accomplished enduro racer in the PNW. Following many years in BMX and dirt jumping, he picked up mountain biking at age 39 and was soon bringing home pro podiums in enduro! His experience in multiple disciplines also brings a uniquely fun and playful style to his riding.