Watch ALL the How To Bike episodes below! Ep 1: How To Actually Learn New Skills On Your Bike - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eK2jgdmVnqvMpoU.html Ep 2: Pro Mountain Bike Setup Guide - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hsyFrLFn39SqY5c.html Ep 3: Decoding The Best Mountain Biking Body Position: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n7x8faymvt27j5s.html Ep 4: Absorbing Trail Features & Maintaining Speed: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f9tko8-d2ru6pHU.html Ep 5: How To Use Your Brakes To Actually Ride Faster: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6yTnZphnJ7LpHU.html Ep 6: How To Get More Speed From Trails With Pumping: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZpqVktZqxLLUhnU.html Ep 7: Line Choice Is Easier Than You Think With These Rules - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bpiEY9CQ2tDFZJs.html Ep 8: How To Corner Properly - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kLWhedyorNLQdqs.html Ep 9: Stop Crashing On Drops - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q7B6dLphzrTMhY0.html Ep 10: Make Jumping Easier - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f6hletB6sZbXnJs.html

To any newbies, I broke my neck 6 months ago while dropping off a 3ft drop and going too slow. I held on and my front tire just dropped off while my back tire hung up and I slammed myself headfirst into the ground. I crushed my C5, and had hairline fractures to my C4 and C6. Lost all feeling in my hands for a few minutes, and got super lucky as I was alone in the woods of BC, and I am finally back on the hill. Bottom line, this video is gold, and don't be like me. ;)

I'm always amazed by the knowledge of Ben and the way he can explain the techniques so eloquently.

It must have been sooo scary to demonstrate all the death methods. Especially hopping and catching the rear on the lip! That stump landing is hawt!

Cathro is the coach that everyone needs! 10/10 for most understandable free bike lessons

Ben once again goes over every technique and myth out there, debunks them and shows us the clearly best option backed by some physics in a very well explained manner

Cant wait for the jumping tutorial. Hope it will have at least 30 minutes

OMG, this is incredible! Until now I was using the hop technique. Not being comfortable with the manual technique, I settled with the hop. But when I tried the push technique my landings were so smooth, I couldn't believe it. So I tried a few more times and it seemed as if the drop I was practicing it was suddenly half the height 😲 . I used a drop that is about 50 cm high (not rollable) with a level landing, so with the hop technique the landing was not nice. When I tried the push technique the landing was so smooth it seemed as if I, somehow, did a much smaller drop. The part about going so low and so close with your face to the handle bar is somewhat counter-intuitive, but it works.

Honestly the best video on this topic in the whole Internet. Too much Trainers explain the "push" as "manual light". A manual comes from the legs, a push from the arms. I learned this the hard way.

Very good video, with lots of fine pointers. The most important is "the principles are the same" that is key to helping learn the basics and then how to apply the techniques as needed. I'm an old guy - 73- and love having added riding single track after years of road riding. Thanks, now a new subscriber!

These videos are so good , every time I jump on my bike a Scottish voice inside my head goes “boss stance , boss stance BOSS STANCE ‘. Thanks Ben 👍

I have to watch this video series again and again, maybe best even in a loop, before the next bike season starts. Thanks Ben! You're the best!

I can't tell you how glad I am to have found Pb & Ben. Appreciate all the hard work that goes into these vids...

Great video as always. The pushing the bike off a drop is something that I do work on but the pushing the bike at the same angle as the slope is a new one to add and will be really helpful.

Ben is killing this series. Stoked to see him do more with the channel, maybe see him on PBA?????

Great video on a complicated subject... I've had 2 hard crashes on 4-5' drops recently, this video really helped me understand what I'm doing wrong on specifically the landing component... cheers Ben, thanks for the breakdown!

Best MTB teacher in the world! 🙏🏼

Love watching Ben, he was made to present. Need to rewatch this series. I would love to see him on PBA!

I absolutely love the presentation of these tutorials. Fantastic work folks

Dude, I've been riding longer than you've been alive lol! Very well done. I learned something and I was entertained I can't wait to get out tomorrow for a practice! :)

For me is crucial to be in the mood ... so I don´t start the ride with drops etc, I start easy and if you are in the right mood and enjoing the ride ... all comes, you feel that you can do it and feel the terrain and the reactions of the bicycle and the strenth of your body.

This mans a legend, I’ve been riding for years and this is the first time I’ve watched technique videos. I’ve never been the best at drops can’t wait to try the push technique always used the front wheel lift can’t wait to watch the rest of the series 5 stars

Love the explanations. My riding is at another level because of Ben.. Thank You

Ben, you are the Brian Cox of the mtb universe

Thanks Ben! All these tips were so helpful. I have been working on drops for years, always doing one of these three techniques without really having enough knowledge about which one was best, so drops always felt awkward. The day after I watched this video, on that next ride, it finally clicked. This video has put my biking to a slightly higher level, since I finally have a knowledge framework for this approach to drops, if that makes sense. Looking forward to your next video!!

Awesome video as always. Ben is killing it while keeping it light and funny. Unlike other drop technique videos on KZfaq that take two or three iterations of convoluted explanation, this video clearly explains all the techniques, the good and the bad in such a concise way. Thanks Ben, love it. By the way, I can confirm your findings about riding down under! :P

Love that series! Helped me to make so much progress. Especially the absorbing techniques! Thanks!

Great video as always. Only thing missing that a Trail Boss video covers is the front wheel preload/unload when there is a bump/rock/obstacle at the edge of a drop to minimize its effect. Looking forward to next one

My friend shared this technique with me which he learnt from this video. I've been practising it and it's really cool! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing skill!

Brilliant! I have watched hundreds of MTB videos, but nothing comes close to this technique demonstration. Thanks!!!

The level of details and explanations were incredible. Thank you!

Very cool. These same techniques have been applied in downhill and Super-G ski racing basically forever. Pre-jumping drops and rollers, up-unweighting and down-unweighting, etc. It's interesting how the same physics apply in both sports.

Looks like my famous faceplant has made another appearance

I have been riding for a long time and still get a bunch out of these videos. Great work.

Slinky science guy! Great breakdown as usual from Professor Cathro 🤘🏼

These videos are gold! Have waited half of them and learned tons so far

There’s some great drop tutorials out there, that this literally shows each bad technique and what not to do helps the most.

Simply brilliant!! Love the vibe as well!

Late to this but fantastic advice from a guy with a style that just makes you want to listen. I used to drop by lifting the front wheel thinking is was cool - and it was, until one day it wasn't.

Thank you for putting your laugh back into the opening:)

Great vid man! You did a fantastic job of explaining techniques! I cant wait to try this out!

Ben Cathro you are a legend, this explanation was super clear and helpful!

what a genius, so clear and complete, love it

In the end it's all about timing . If you screw that up the better at knowing how much to recover is key and why I like how you incorporated that into your teachings

This series by far is the best how to mtb series on youtube; way better than previous pinkbike editions and GMBN. Only other that's decent is Kyle&April, but this really knocks it out of the park!

Nice work, Well described this is a difficult thing to describe but once you done it you can use it anywhere. I rode motocross for about 20 years and we used the technique as a habit on all jumps because it mitigates any kickers or irregularities in the face / take-off of the jump and allows you to control the bike and not get thrown off your line. One of the most useful skills you can develop as a rider 🙂.

Great explanations Ben. i always struggle when explaining this to people. Now i'll just suggest they watch this. Cheers mate

the scariest part about this whole video is Ben showing us the wrong way to ride a drop without dying!

This is brilliant, thanks Ben - up until now I've no idea what I've been doing - now I know what I should be doing. Time to progress 😬👍

Hilarious but so informative and good… love this guy for learning!!🔥🔥

Awesome! He's hilarious and explains stuff very well at the same time. Love it.

Thank you BEN! You are a delightful host as always. Love to hear you on just about anything!

This video explains the physics of a drop the best of any video I've seen before. THX

Sweet! The "push" is what I've naturally arrived at as a drop technique. I kind of think of it as sliding my bike forward to touch down level with the ground. It works on short notice drops too...

For someone who just came from XC to a Trail/Enduro bike this series is pure GOLD!

Extremely useful guide..... thanks mate!

BEST "how to bike series" on youtube!

An amazing channel I have learned so much from these guys and girls love them! They helped me pick out my bike as well the Giant Trance X1 and I love it!!

I wish this how-to series was available when I started riding. I still have lots of learning to do though - thanks.

Ben, thanks for the excellent video. There are many confusing drop videos out there and, following one, I have been bunny hopping off the edge of the drop wit inconsistent results. I feel out of control and way too high. Every time, it scares me. Now I know what I was doing wrong and will fix it. Great job!

Love the level of technicality and detail....well done

There are a couple of other YT channels that do good skills videos but this series has been the best I've seen. Ben explains everything so well and I like the examples of the other techniques. It's definitely going to help me "level up" my riding skills. Could this be the end of Friday fails?

Brilliant Ben I'm off to push now ! That was great will actually transform my riding

Another great video. I really like the presentation style: the way you talk through and demonstrate many of the poor techniques. More please!

My new favorite channel to binge watch!!!!!😮

An absolute delight watching these videos

Thanks for dropping this vid, you really pushed the limits of explanation. Away to work on my floppy drop.

Very good tutorial. Perfect job. Thanks a bunch.

More to include in future.- Bike fit for taller riders 29er vs 27.5 taller riders Things like bike set up so stack height spacers on steerer tube, chain stay lengths, handle bar rise, rear sag 25% vs 30% pop support or all round trail, bottom bracket height, cause all this plays a huge part on how a bike will handle drops and jump and body positions required when hitting bigger drops and lips ect Sitting in the bike rather than on top

Pure Entertainment and a lots of knowladge. Thanks a lot!

Fantastic info vlog..got to love Bens way of teaching...makes it funny and that with me makes me remember

Thanks for this video as this is one of the next skills I'm hoping to work on this season!

neat good man, thank you for this. Really really useful as I have seen quite a few videos but nothing as technically simple yet clear as this one.

Really appreciate! I am also really excited for the How to Jump episode😁

Awesome instructional video… thanks for this!!

One of the best explanations, well done mate!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Know that all your efforts have helped thousands of riders . We all Thank you.

Very very clear explanation.. I'm Italian, but i understood more in this english video than an italian video. Many thanks Ben. Great!!!! 🤟🤟

i have seen 10s of videos about how to do drops but this is by far the best.

I’m Australian, the whole video I was wondering what he was talking about until right at the end

The best series of Pinkbike!

Great explanations, great delivery - cheers Ben!

Ben explains things with plenty of detail and humour and these are the best tutorials I've found. I think I have a man crush.

Truly inspiring video! Thank you for sharing.

Great video Ben!! Love these videos and Ready to Drop now and that was detailed and the only thing that was missing was some line database!!

Super Vids Ben. You're presentation and writing are spot on!

Great tutorial, as they all are. The only minor differences vs. what I've learned are the push is more via feet than hands (just think of shifting hips back - the motion will take care of itself), and the velocity, duration, and distance of the push are matched to the time between the front wheel leaving the drop to the back wheel leaving. Once off the drop your hands will automatically apply pressure back on the bars, bringing the bike back underneath you. Pretty minor tweaks, not really necessary. Glad Ben addresses the "pre-load/jump" unweighting approach that a lot of sites show. You really do land a lot harder that way.

I'd define a drop as a feature where you get airtime naturally off of a flat takeoff, which is either level or pitched downwards. Your elevation in the air only decreases. Jumps generally have curved lips, but can have flat take-offs if they are pitched upwards (e.g boner logs). The major differentiator between a step-down and a drop is gaining elevation in the air before you lose it. You could also differentiate on the technique needed, e.g if preloading is required to get air safely.

Very entertaining and well explained tutorial. Congrats!! 👌🏽

Great teacher and video editing...keep up the great work!

I just started doing drops, and my technique so far is just to keep up speed, and do a very slight pull up on the handlebars, just enough to keep the bike level. Your push technique sounds interesting, but also confusing, because before I figured out the speed/pull-up technique, I was just going over (small) drops slowly, and the problem of course was that the front wheel just goes straight down, which is how you get into trouble. So "pushing" forward/slightly down seems like it's going back to that bad form...

Thank you. Good vid! But as a single father/63-year old/solo cyclist (nobody to aid of injured) who loves to shred & climb my best technique to drops is to stop, get off the bike, and walk down the drop!

Thanks for droppin that knowledge on us

Loved the overlapped videos showing the lines of all 3 drop techniques

dude, those videos are amazing. keep up the good work! cheers!

You're a great teacher, Ben. Good on ya. :)

4:18 this explanation unlocked in my brain what I’ve been doing wrong trying to manual bikes for a decade.

Ben is awesome at explaining thing. Love these videos

Big thanks for creating this video❤️‍🔥

I wish I would have seen that turorial before my last drop crash. Would have helped me a lot ;) I am challenging your guys distribution strategy! This course is pure gold, and you give it to us in pieces! xD