Drop Offs

A drop-off is a step down in the trail. The easiest drop-off is one that can be ridden at speed. Speed hop at the lip to prevent the front wheel from dropping. This can result in a very smooth landing and is one of the easiest types of jump to perform. Practice it from a curb, try to get both wheels to contact the ground together. A very small, flat hop (both wheels in the air together) is all you need.
Where the drop-off has to be taken slowly, on a steep trail for instance, push the handlebar in front of you as the wheel goes over the edge. The idea is to get the wheel to go over before you do. Don't grab the front brake but instead feather both brakes to avoid locking the wheels and sliding. The aim is to keep your weight centered over the balance point of the bike. When you are on flat level ground, the balance point will be in the centre between the 2 wheels. On a up-hill, the balance point shifts forward, therefore the hovering over the front of the saddle. BUT, on a steep downhill, the balance point shifts to the rear. And you will sometimes even have to shift your weight behind the saddle! In extreme cases you can go so far back that your saddle will touch your stomach! Try not to lock your elbows when going over the actual drop, as you will need your arms to absorb some of the bump at the bottom. After the drop move forward on the bike as soon as the steepness of the trail allows. If you stay way back on the bike too long, there won't be enough weight on the front tyre to steer with.