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The drop is so easy thanks to the motor boost

Markus Greber

 · 27.11.2020

The drop is so easy thanks to the motor boostPhoto: Markus Greber
The drop is so easy thanks to the motor boost
It's guaranteed to come at some point: the step that you can't simply ride down. Now it's time to get off. Or: drop! EMTB riding technique expert Stefan Schlie shows you how.

Our EMTB riding technique expert Stefan Schlie shows us here how a classic drop and a boost drop can be achieved with ease:

CLASSIC DROP

Extremely steep steps can be mastered with the E-MTB. Thanks to the low centre of gravity, it even has an advantage over the classic mountain bike. But at some point, physics also sets limits for the E-MTB. When riding is no longer possible, only one thing helps: dropping. The aim is to prevent the front wheel from tipping downwards. To do this, you pull on the front wheel just before the step and shift your body weight back towards the rear wheel. This completely relieves the front wheel. The secret of success lies in the interplay of starting speed and a well-dosed pull on the handlebars. Important: The pull is not achieved by pulling on the arms, but by stretching them and thus shifting your own weight backwards. Timing is also crucial: If the impulse is not forceful enough, you run the risk of tipping downwards. If you pull too hard, you will quickly lose control.

The advantage of this move is that it is easy to practise - on kerbs, for example. It's best to start without any steps: get out of the saddle, go low over the handlebars, build up tension, then dynamically stretch your arms and push your hips backwards.

Image 1: Stalking in the basic position. Constant speed, body centred over the bike, arms and legs slightly bent, eyes already on the landing. The parade foot is in front.Photo: Markus Greber Image 1: Stalking in the basic position. Constant speed, body centred over the bike, arms and legs slightly bent, eyes already on the landing. The parade foot is in front. Image 2: The edge is getting closer. Now it's time to build up tension, bend your arms and legs further and move your upper body forwards over the handlebars. Keep your eyes fixed on the landing.Photo: Markus Greber Image 2: The edge is getting closer. Now it's time to build up tension, bend your arms and legs further and move your upper body forwards over the handlebars. Keep your eyes fixed on the landing. Image 3: Now it's all about timing. As soon as the front wheel rolls over the edge, stretch your arms energetically and push your hips backwards/upwards. If the timing and dosage are right, the bike now remains horizontal in the air.Photo: Markus Greber Image 3: Now it's all about timing. As soon as the front wheel rolls over the edge, stretch your arms energetically and push your hips backwards/upwards. If the timing and dosage are right, the bike now remains horizontal in the air. Picture 4: The rear wheel has passed the edge and we "drip" down the step.Photo: Markus Greber Picture 4: The rear wheel has passed the edge and we "drip" down the step. Fig. 5 (top) and 6 (bottom): It is best to land with both wheels at the same time. You should not leave the work to the suspension alone, but also absorb the impact with your body's own suspension travel - i.e. bend your arms and legs.Photo: Markus Greber Fig. 5 (top) and 6 (bottom): It is best to land with both wheels at the same time. You should not leave the work to the suspension alone, but also absorb the impact with your body's own suspension travel - i.e. bend your arms and legs.
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bike/M3828738Photo: Markus Greber

BOOST-DROP

This is the king of drops and works particularly well with the E-MTB. You need it when the approach is too short or too bumpy to build up enough speed. Pedal management is the be-all and end-all.

Image 1: Here, there is only about one wheel length of space in front of the edge to bring the bike from almost zero to the right speed. At the same time, the leading foot must be in front (in my case the left) as soon as the bike goes over the edge. The trick is to choose the right gear. I then cover exactly one wheel length with half a turn of the crank. It's best to try out which gear that is beforehand on gentle terrain. So now I start with the wrong foot (my right foot). The support level should not be set too aggressively. The Bosch E-MTB mode is very suitable for this move. The bike accelerates and, ideally, the front wheel goes over the edge at exactly the right speed. Of course, simultaneous bodywork is also important here.Photo: Markus Greber Image 1: Here, there is only about one wheel length of space in front of the edge to bring the bike from almost zero to the right speed. At the same time, the leading foot must be in front (in my case the left) as soon as the bike goes over the edge. The trick is to choose the right gear. I then cover exactly one wheel length with half a turn of the crank. It's best to try out which gear that is beforehand on gentle terrain. So now I start with the wrong foot (my right foot). The support level should not be set too aggressively. The Bosch E-MTB mode is very suitable for this move. The bike accelerates and, ideally, the front wheel goes over the edge at exactly the right speed. Of course, simultaneous bodywork is also important here. Images 2 (above), 3 and 4: Arms and legs are maximally bent before the jump. As already mentioned, the parade foot is now in front again. From now on, the movement sequence is identical to the classic drop described above. Extend your arms and bring your upper body backwards/upwards.Photo: Markus Greber Images 2 (above), 3 and 4: Arms and legs are maximally bent before the jump. As already mentioned, the parade foot is now in front again. From now on, the movement sequence is identical to the classic drop described above. Extend your arms and bring your upper body backwards/upwards. Picture 3Photo: Markus Greber Picture 3
Picture 4Photo: Markus Greber Picture 4 The landing (image 5) is also done in the same way as the classic drop. If you have mastered the boost drop in difficult terrain, then you are already one of the riding technique cracks.Photo: Markus Greber The landing (image 5) is also done in the same way as the classic drop. If you have mastered the boost drop in difficult terrain, then you are already one of the riding technique cracks. Stefan Schlie, EMTB riding technique expertPhoto: Markus Greber Stefan Schlie, EMTB riding technique expert
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