I just read that book earlier this year! And to answer your question, depending on the size of the drop, if its a big one I tend to put the pedals father back on my foot and hold them neutral, not as much stress on my ankles that way.
Technique Help: Do you "Toe Down & Claw Pedals" with Drops?
I was watching an instructional video yesterday, and in the chapter where they talk about drops, the instructors talk about what to do with your feet. What they recommend is to drop the toes down, push down and up a little your feet, which they call "clawing." They say that it gives you "control" over your rear wheel in the air. Not sure what kind of control this gives you in a drop.
This picture of Brian Lopes doing a drop from his book shows his feet doing just that. Some of the other videos/pictures of other riders that I researched, they seem to be neutral with their feet in the air.
What are your thoughts on this? Is this what you are supposed to do? Only in certain situations?
Also, how do you guys get the bike to match the landing angle? I usually stay neutral and end up with the front wheel touching down on the landing first slightly. But when I don't take off correctly, I land heavy front or back because I don't make lot of adjustments in the air. Do you guys push down on the bar and/or touch the rear brake? Thanks as usual.
This picture of Brian Lopes doing a drop from his book shows his feet doing just that. Some of the other videos/pictures of other riders that I researched, they seem to be neutral with their feet in the air.
What are your thoughts on this? Is this what you are supposed to do? Only in certain situations?
Also, how do you guys get the bike to match the landing angle? I usually stay neutral and end up with the front wheel touching down on the landing first slightly. But when I don't take off correctly, I land heavy front or back because I don't make lot of adjustments in the air. Do you guys push down on the bar and/or touch the rear brake? Thanks as usual.
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I can't say I have ever made a concious effort to do it, but I do. I only know that from seeing it in pics...
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Here's Chris Canfield doing a big drop. Notice how level his feet are, unlike some of the others above.
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Yeah, I do that a bit, but generally more so on jumps or anything that requires a bit of "pop" and lifting the bike. For drops, it depends. On a slow drop, I huck it (in which case I do want to pull the bike up a bit in the air to level it out), on faster drops I use more of the "DH" technique, in which case my feet will probably be a bit more neutral.
As for the landing, nose first or neutral is really almost always the best option. Gives softer landings and puts you back in control of the bike much sooner. I don't really think much about HOW I get the bike int he right position for landing, but generally it involves pushing forwards on the bars a bit (and yes, maybe "scooping up" the rear with those "clawed" feet every now and then...
). I find that practicing jumping (as opposed to dropping) is the best way to get confortable moving the bike around in the air, and getting used to setting up properly for the landing tranny. That then helps when you hit drops as well.
As for the landing, nose first or neutral is really almost always the best option. Gives softer landings and puts you back in control of the bike much sooner. I don't really think much about HOW I get the bike int he right position for landing, but generally it involves pushing forwards on the bars a bit (and yes, maybe "scooping up" the rear with those "clawed" feet every now and then...
). I find that practicing jumping (as opposed to dropping) is the best way to get confortable moving the bike around in the air, and getting used to setting up properly for the landing tranny. That then helps when you hit drops as well.
I love thatk1creeker said:
I've never really thought about how I move my feet in the air. However recently I was forced into realising I do 'claw' my pedals when the front end needs to be dipped down for a level landing. This was because upon landing in a rockgarden I jammed my toes into one of the rocks...
Anyway, as shown in the photo of Mr. Canfield up the page, you don't always 'claw' the pedals. It is only when you are trying to drop the front end of the bike that you do so. The rest of the time your feet can be free to do whatever feels natural.
Never clip in, never wear disco slippers.
Anyway, as shown in the photo of Mr. Canfield up the page, you don't always 'claw' the pedals. It is only when you are trying to drop the front end of the bike that you do so. The rest of the time your feet can be free to do whatever feels natural.
Never clip in, never wear disco slippers.
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