Steep Descent, Drop off at the end, limited stopping space

[roachcoach]

Afternoon

After some advice here - any tips on the best way to handle a steep, loose descent which ends in a drop off of maybe 12-18" with no option of overshooting the narrow gauge landing zone?

Basically the slope does this kind of thing:

\
 \
  \_
    ___    <<drop is the gap in on this line>>
       \
        \
         \<<here be monsters>>

Effectively the descent bisects a path and overshooting would put me in a world of trouble: rocks/rivers/falls.


My problem is that I can't hit it straight as I'd skid and overshoot (or just plain overshoot) the landing and the hill is so steep steering is desperately limited once you're comitted.

Last time I tried a zigzag style approach to create an oblique angle of attack at the drop (it runs the length of the path) but again I find the steepness of the hill (makes turning very, very difficult) coupled with the loose terrain (lots of fallen leaves/loose earth) causing me slippage problem. It went better but it was criminally slow and I felt like a proper little girl (I've had an off there already so slightly nervy around it)


I'm no stranger to decent sized drop offs (this one is piddling) and general quick descents but I just can't get this one right.

Any tips from any MTB folks having similar situations?

(Apologies for the ascii art, I've no photos of it )

Edited by roachcoach on Monday 2nd April 13:09

[anonymous-user]

I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say the only option is a rolling endo into a 360 tailwhip with superman seat grab.

[roachcoach]

That hadn't been considered...




.... up until now....

[Roman]

pablo said:

I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say the only option is a rolling endo into a 360 tailwhip with superman seat grab.

And you also need to team up with 'Angel Summoner':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFuMpYTyRjw

[ewenm]

Control your speed more down the steep and then do the drop-off at walking pace?

[roachcoach]

ewenm said:

Control your speed more down the steep and then do the drop-off at walking pace?

Worth a shot, I've hard problems in the past of hitting ones too slowly and just tipping with the angle so I try to hit them with a bit of speed.

Perhaps just practise.

[AyBee]

pablo said:

I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say the only option is a rolling endo into a 360 tailwhip with superman seat grab.

It's the only way!

[mdavids]

Arse right out over the back of the bike and just roll it? Or is the drop too high for this?

[BOR]

possibly "pre-jump" the edge - ie bunny hop over the lip so you arc back onto the downslope.

[New POD]

The Elf, From the Elf and Safety and Nvironment Deptartment, says "No"

He says "That sort of slope needs a Safety Rope and Crampons, and an Experienced Mountain rescue team on Standby"

The Nvironment lentilist says "Try riding your bike on a smooth trail, so you don't create rock falls"

but the Safety Guru says "Just do it and claim on your insurance for a new neck"

I say "are you mad ?"

[FloppyRaccoon]

Does riding the brakes up until you can let go of them not work? Bikes pick up speed really quite quick, it's amazing how many new riders don't realise this and overshoot things.

Forgive me for the simple answer, it's just what I see myself doing in similar situations. You're obviously not a new rider at all

[roachcoach]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try it out next time I hit it.

It's not that high at all, I know I tend to inflate stuff in my head (it always feels bigger at the time!) so I've commanded myself to be conservative in my guesstimate of 12-18" - the steepness of the hill before it distorts how hard you land and how far the forks travel.

The last time I came off I'd tried going directly at it slowly then lifting of the brakes at the last minute as suggested and pulling up the nose just before the drop to mitgate the lower speed (no-one likes imitating a lawn dart!), I was trying to basically land horizontal with the plan to slide the back end around to a stop on the path. It worked pretty well but when I landed I kinda panicked as I couldn't swing the rear and had to hammer the brakes to stop going over the edge... the front wheel skidded out and that was all she wrote

I suspect a good part of the problem is me not having the nerve just to nail it, but I'd be more confident if I could find a decent approach vector or, perhaps more importantly, a wider margin for error on landing.

My brakes may be getting on a bit, they can hold it, but it's tough - I'm right back to shift the CoG and if I lift off the brakes them for a moment they have a hard time arresting the momentum gained even in that short time; it skids and slides a lot. Possible its the steepness but again - don't want to over-egg it and sound like I'm trying to pretend I'm some sort of legend/hero; it's one of those ones where you look back up and think...how can that have so badly gone wrong!? Although if it is the slope I remember (there's a lot where I ride) I'm pretty sure it was tough to walk down when I was wandering with the kids one afternoon.

It may just be I need to man up and get on with it (I find a lot of jumps/obstacles are like that) if there was more space to land at the other side I'm sure I would be fine but overshooting weighs heavily on my mind...but wondered if I was missing a trick.

Appreciate the inputs, I might see if I can get some pics next time I'm out (if I remember my phone).