Battle pug is correct. The teaching where very simple and direct. Loved the 3 fingers on handlebars demonstration. That's exactly what I needed to see is that most of the work is on body position and not your arms. Thank you
I agree! I think Simon is one of the most underrated coaches/MTB experts around. Super appreciate your videos, your time and effort Simon. Clear, concise explanation of technique and good visuals. 👍
It is absolutely insane to me how far this content has come in the last 3 months. I really dug the old tutorial style, but this has such a different appeal, not to even mention the production values. I'm loving this!
Wow this means so much to us - thanks for the awesome feedback. We have a videographer (Andrew!) on our team now and he's crushing it. Lots of new videos in the pipeline :)
This guys fundamentals seem soo easy, but also easy to not remember, know or even to think about. Love how he breaks it down to a T. Great video my friend!
I watch many similar videos but these are so easy to follow as they are well spoken clear and precise, both rider and teacher are easy viewing, great work, and it will no doubt improve a 50 year old(who feels 25) who has been riding since 2012 when we got our Local MTB XC track made for the 2012 Olympics which was handed over to the public after the games, Thanks for the vids.
I really enjoy seeing her progress. I agree that your method of teaching is awesome and she applies everything you suggest. Thank you both for sharing.
Wow, thanks for the kind words. Perhaps one day our paths will cross. Know you guys got it good down there, but if you ever make it up to the PNW, we'd love to have you in class!
Holy Smokes. I think I just realized I need to pay for a coach like this. I tried something like this to flat and crashed. Black & Blue on my left oblique and hip, twisted my bar, rashed my left side helmet and forehead, and tore my pads. It seemed simple and I thought I was relaxed. Being a 220lb ex jacked gym rat gravity is not my friend. I just subscribed.
Oh dang! We're bummed to hear this. Hopefully these videos give you some new techniques to try and help you diagnose what might have happened. We're also hoping to get a video submission tool up in the next couple months so riders can get personalized feedback. Wishing. you a fast and full recovery, then then back to conquering drops!
I just wish we had access to places to practice like this where I live. Time to join the local association and try to get the city to change their policies on risk. Great content. I'm on the right track, but some really good tips in this series.
Nice coaching! Funny story about that section of trail. I hit the drop no problem first time I rode it. Then I hit the hip after like a regular gap, clipped the tree right after with my bar as I went into the scrub. :D
I wish I'd seen this last week before I went up to Duthie. I worked on riding all of Luna Drops most of my time there. I hate those split cedar drops though. So janky when you're on them. Thanks for breaking it down Simon.
Great video! I actually stay away from wooden features because they give me bad anxiety. The drop ramps at Swan and Duthie stress me out so I end up staying away from them.
In the video, there is some of both. Ideally, focus on just shifting rearward (hips parallel to ground). If you are traveling faster, you can get away with a hip shift that moves back and up a bit, but better to practice just going straight back!
Pushing the bike forward will result in a similar posture. There are not a lot of times that we teach riders to push the bars forward. The one exception I can think of is when you are about to roll off something that might catch your front wheel, like a step that is too tall to roll, but where you are not able to hip shift and treat is as a drop. Other than that, we don't teach that technique a lot. But yes, it will put you in a similar position. Hope that helps. -Simon
Wish I had a skill place like that near by. I'm hitting bigger stuff than this video, but didnt know how to describe what I am doing. Probably still making mistakes and some tips to remember.
We're hoping to offer video review at some point in the next month or two so we can give riders personalized feedback. Maybe we can help you find those little tweaks! It sounds like you're already off to an awesome start 🥳
do you also push the hand forward a bit along with the hip shift and do you aim for a certain distance right before the edge of the ramp, before you do your move? thanks
There should be no hand push. The pressure should be on the front of the bars, not the back (as you would get with pushing). This technique brings the bike back under the rider seamlessly. The rearward move is done as the front of the front tire is breaking the plane of the drop (contact point of the tire is about a foot from the edge). There is a lot more info on our online channel which is simply www.fluidrideonline.com. It's free for 14 days, so you could get good info there at no charge.
The rearward hip shift begins as the front wheel is leaving the lip of the drop :). If you go earlier than that, you'll need a more dramatic hip shift to hold the wheel up extra long (and risk the front wheel dumping too early). Let us know how your practice goes!
Is there a chance of riding those trails with a local person maybe? I would love to come over from germany and have some fun there for a couple weeks! I would consider having a teacher with me as well! Great stuff guys! P.S. If anyone has ideas or suggestions on hospitalities or where i can stay for vacation, please let me know! THANKS and greetings!
Hey Phillipp.We have lots of classes offered all summer long at www.fluidride.com. You can take classes with me or another instructor. There are a lot of places to stay on AirBnB in the area, which is Issaquah, Washington. There are so many amazing places to ride in the area there like Raging River and Tiger Mountain. It's well worth a trip! -Simon
@@Fluidride Hey Simon, that’s awesome, thanks for the quick answer! Really appreciate it! Can i rent bikes in that area as well? Because it would be really expensive to bring my own bike on a plane!
@@Philipp_Gonzales You can rent for sure! Progression Cycles near the park has great bikes. You can also contact Linnea for help with anything you need. Her work email is Linnea@fluidride.com. We are happy to help!
Go for 8 paces and drop a cone on one side, then 8 more paces and drop another on the other side. Walk straight but drop cones in alternating directions at full arms length after each 8 pace walk. Hope this helps!
Hey Colin. The movement rearward simultaneously puts pressure into the palms of the hands on the fronts of the bars and pressure into the pedals. Having a slight bend in the knees at the drop edge then allows the feet to effectively 'chase' the pedals, resulting in a solid connection. The pressure in the palms of the hands also ensures the bike returns under the rider with the rider centered over the bottom bracket upon landing.
This guy is best instructor in the MTB world. Its weird he only shows up in other people's video. 19 year PSIA L3 + in skiing, and if this guy is nt writing stuff on how to teach MTB he should.
Currently Simon hosts in-person coach trainings twice a year. But we love the idea of having this as written content! And thank you for the awesome feedback about Simon :)
Yes! With what we call Squashing, or Racer Style. It's and advanced way to go quickly and not go too far off the drop. Not sure we have that on this site, but there is more about it at www.fluidideonline.com, which is free for 14 days (easy to bail if you want), then less than $10/month. The technique I mention is an advanced one, so if you are just staring to drop, it might not be for you. If you are comfy on drops then it might be a great thing to learn!
@@Fluidride what do you mean by "lifting up", even on small drops my feet always disengage from my pedals, can you elaborate a bit more😁 Nice vids and tutorials by the way, keep 'em comin'👊👊😁
@@ryanalbino1245 I mean rising upward. Most riders who lose their pedals are moving their body up instead of rearward on takeoff which often separates the feet from the pedals. A rearward shift at the hips with a slight knee bend will allow the feet to naturally 'chase the pedals' as the bike leaves the drop edge and the legs naturally extend. Let me know if you have more questions. I'll try to answer as quickly as I can but am in the French Alps and sometimes gone for the day. I'm so happy you are enjoying the content! -Simon
I've been doing drops like this for over 20 years, but now a lot of clinics teach other technics and go as far as saying "never pull your hips back" "don't do manual drops ever". I understand timing is pretty critical but to me the movement is natural and seldom get into trouble. So why has this kind of technique become controversial all of a sudden when historically is the one so many riders, including most pro riders use?
Well it's the way pros actually ride. I don't look at anyone else's content so I didn't know it was being challenged. Until I see pros stop using this technique, I'll keep teaching it. No better way to drop out there that I've seen! Thanks for checking in Jose! -Simon
It's pretty rare that landing with both wheels at the same time is better - usually leads to a harsher, bouncier landing! But there are always special cases
Definitely correct! She's been riding for 6 years, so these skills are picking up at her current skill level and taking them up a notch. However, we are starting to film a beginner series here shortly with a brand new rider, so we'll have that too :)
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
There's a lot of people that do a good job teaching mtb skills on UA-cam but this guy is on another level. A master of skills and coaching
Wow. Thank You. This means a lot to me - super appreciated - Simon
Battle pug is correct. The teaching where very simple and direct. Loved the 3 fingers on handlebars demonstration. That's exactly what I needed to see is that most of the work is on body position and not your arms. Thank you
@@AV-im6dv This totally made our day - thanks for your awesome feedback. We're happy this teaching style is effective and helpful!
I’m a little confused on the “knees to heels” comment... is that just the motion of straightening the knees?
I agree! I think Simon is one of the most underrated coaches/MTB experts around. Super appreciate your videos, your time and effort Simon. Clear, concise explanation of technique and good visuals. 👍
The phrase "knees to heels" was a breakthrough for me.
Awesome - stoked to hear this!
SAME!!!!
Holy crap, yes!
He needs to move to bentonville AR
@@thisoledad1946 No he doesn’t 😀
It is absolutely insane to me how far this content has come in the last 3 months. I really dug the old tutorial style, but this has such a different appeal, not to even mention the production values. I'm loving this!
Wow this means so much to us - thanks for the awesome feedback. We have a videographer (Andrew!) on our team now and he's crushing it. Lots of new videos in the pipeline :)
Well explained and presented. I like the calmness in his voice. Didn't take the usually amped up, make the student nervous approach.
We love this comment! Simon's presentation and communication style has been incredibly effective for our students. We appreciate you noticing!
This guys fundamentals seem soo easy, but also easy to not remember, know or even to think about. Love how he breaks it down to a T. Great video my friend!
He’s a great teacher and she’s a great student.
These videos are very helpful, easy to understand and then apply these skills when I practice. Plus Duthie is a great place to ride!
I watch many similar videos but these are so easy to follow as they are well spoken clear and precise, both rider and teacher are easy viewing, great work, and it will no doubt improve a 50 year old(who feels 25) who has been riding since 2012 when we got our Local MTB XC track made for the 2012 Olympics which was handed over to the public after the games, Thanks for the vids.
Thanks for this awesome feedback Sean! We're happy it's useful content that's helping people progress. So cool that your city has that track too!
Simon = best mtb teacher / mentor / master on Internet. Period. :)
Pumped that you're loving the content. Thanks @bouzouki2006! Lots more coming through the winter
@@Fluidride These are great news! I can't wait to see all you have in store. Keep up the great work! :)
Simply the best MTB tutorial videos on YT! Great content!
Thanks so much for watching - and for the awesome feedback! We'll keep it coming
I really enjoy seeing her progress. I agree that your method of teaching is awesome and she applies everything you suggest. Thank you both for sharing.
Thank you Rob for watching, and for this great feedback. We're pumped that this teaching style resonates well
Wow, this is incredible, I finally had the correct instruction to do my first drop.Thank you!
Best "how to" I've seen. If it wasn't 10000km from here in NZ I'd want this guy as my instructor - no ?
Wow, thanks for the kind words. Perhaps one day our paths will cross. Know you guys got it good down there, but if you ever make it up to the PNW, we'd love to have you in class!
Holy Smokes. I think I just realized I need to pay for a coach like this. I tried something like this to flat and crashed. Black & Blue on my left oblique and hip, twisted my bar, rashed my left side helmet and forehead, and tore my pads. It seemed simple and I thought I was relaxed. Being a 220lb ex jacked gym rat gravity is not my friend. I just subscribed.
Oh dang! We're bummed to hear this. Hopefully these videos give you some new techniques to try and help you diagnose what might have happened. We're also hoping to get a video submission tool up in the next couple months so riders can get personalized feedback. Wishing. you a fast and full recovery, then then back to conquering drops!
Try the underpants that have hip and thigh padding. I took a spill on my bike and it totally cushioned the fall on my hip
wow that was good. im an old (64) XC racer who for some reason has become terrified of drops. great video
Love your videos! Thanks for sharing your work.
This channel is fantastically helpful.
Same here ✋🏾 Finer points that actually works 🙂
I would love to have such a trainer. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching, Matthieu!
In case you wondered this park is in Sammamish Washington it's next level amazing
We couldn't agree more! Simon was one of the original founders of the park. We're so grateful to have a place like this
100% legit, and combined with all the trail systems within say ~10 miles, it's world class. So lucky to be here.
Good education, watching every video, sometimes small adjustments makes big difference. 👍🏻
Yes it's so true! And we're pumped you're enjoying the videos
Another awesome video! Thanks for sharing!
Wow... just wow !!, Subscribed
Brilliant.
Thanks guy's.
Good job! Thx for all this stuff, it really helps 👌
I just wish we had access to places to practice like this where I live. Time to join the local association and try to get the city to change their policies on risk. Great content. I'm on the right track, but some really good tips in this series.
Hey Alan. I was essentially the founder of this park as well as another park. If you put in a deliberate effort, it can be done! Patience is the key.
Nice coaching! Funny story about that section of trail. I hit the drop no problem first time I rode it. Then I hit the hip after like a regular gap, clipped the tree right after with my bar as I went into the scrub. :D
OY! I've seen some of that happen there. Lots going on with the turn, gap, trees etc...videos never do it justice!
I wish I'd seen this last week before I went up to Duthie. I worked on riding all of Luna Drops most of my time there. I hate those split cedar drops though. So janky when you're on them. Thanks for breaking it down Simon.
Another great video...thanks!
Thanks for watching, Lance!
Excellent instruction
Yeah. Nice job and good teaching. And yeah I subscribed
This series is awesome!
Thanks so much Adam! We're happy you're enjoying it! -Linnea
That was pretty helpful!!
damn,..... I finally figured it out thanks to this clip.
awesome! We'll be posting an in-depth drop video shortly, and have a lot info at FluidrideOnline.com as well!
What a great video! 👍
Great video! I actually stay away from wooden features because they give me bad anxiety. The drop ramps at Swan and Duthie stress me out so I end up staying away from them.
Me too. And I want to be a good jumper so bad. More practice I guess.
im gonna try your tips.. when i jump or drop most of the time my rear wheel lands first.. thanks fluid ride mtb
She did awesome. Wish the transition mentioned @1:05 was described, as the video doesn't show her doing this.
Great call! Coming in a video soon :)
Awesome!!
Do u pull the handle bar up as u take off the drop?
I couldn’t tell, was the hip shift up and back, or just back?
In the video, there is some of both. Ideally, focus on just shifting rearward (hips parallel to ground). If you are traveling faster, you can get away with a hip shift that moves back and up a bit, but better to practice just going straight back!
What is the difference between shifting our hips back and pushing the bike forward?
Pushing the bike forward will result in a similar posture. There are not a lot of times that we teach riders to push the bars forward. The one exception I can think of is when you are about to roll off something that might catch your front wheel, like a step that is too tall to roll, but where you are not able to hip shift and treat is as a drop. Other than that, we don't teach that technique a lot. But yes, it will put you in a similar position. Hope that helps. -Simon
Did you see the part where he only had three fingers on front of handlebar? That illustrates this but made me queasy to watch
KNEES TO HEEL!
🤣 it's sinking in!
Wish I had a skill place like that near by. I'm hitting bigger stuff than this video, but didnt know how to describe what I am doing. Probably still making mistakes and some tips to remember.
We're hoping to offer video review at some point in the next month or two so we can give riders personalized feedback. Maybe we can help you find those little tweaks! It sounds like you're already off to an awesome start 🥳
do you also push the hand forward a bit along with the hip shift and do you aim for a certain distance right before the edge of the ramp, before you do your move? thanks
There should be no hand push. The pressure should be on the front of the bars, not the back (as you would get with pushing). This technique brings the bike back under the rider seamlessly. The rearward move is done as the front of the front tire is breaking the plane of the drop (contact point of the tire is about a foot from the edge). There is a lot more info on our online channel which is simply www.fluidrideonline.com. It's free for 14 days, so you could get good info there at no charge.
Epic video - also are u at duthie hill MTB park?
Edit: yup yup u are that’s my local MTB park hope I see u there!
Oh sick you're local! Yes we're there often :P
should i do the hip shift when the front wheel start to fell of the edge, or before?
The rearward hip shift begins as the front wheel is leaving the lip of the drop :). If you go earlier than that, you'll need a more dramatic hip shift to hold the wheel up extra long (and risk the front wheel dumping too early). Let us know how your practice goes!
Is there a chance of riding those trails with a local person maybe? I would love to come over from germany and have some fun there for a couple weeks! I would consider having a teacher with me as well! Great stuff guys! P.S. If anyone has ideas or suggestions on hospitalities or where i can stay for vacation, please let me know! THANKS and greetings!
Hey Phillipp.We have lots of classes offered all summer long at www.fluidride.com. You can take classes with me or another instructor. There are a lot of places to stay on AirBnB in the area, which is Issaquah, Washington. There are so many amazing places to ride in the area there like Raging River and Tiger Mountain. It's well worth a trip! -Simon
@@Fluidride Hey Simon, that’s awesome, thanks for the quick answer! Really appreciate it! Can i rent bikes in that area as well? Because it would be really expensive to bring my own bike on a plane!
@@Philipp_Gonzales You can rent for sure! Progression Cycles near the park has great bikes. You can also contact Linnea for help with anything you need. Her work email is Linnea@fluidride.com. We are happy to help!
@@Fluidride Thank you so much!!! Hope to see u guys one day!
What are the measurements for the cones slalom please?
Go for 8 paces and drop a cone on one side, then 8 more paces and drop another on the other side. Walk straight but drop cones in alternating directions at full arms length after each 8 pace walk. Hope this helps!
@@Fluidride thanks so much
You hit a bit of a tree 😂
My mom watched this and said; "oh, someone hit a tree!" 🤣 yes, someone... 😅 -Linnea
Anyone knows the song name? Thank you
Linnea is using flats, correct? No worries pushing backwards and staying on the pedals?
Hey Colin. The movement rearward simultaneously puts pressure into the palms of the hands on the fronts of the bars and pressure into the pedals. Having a slight bend in the knees at the drop edge then allows the feet to effectively 'chase' the pedals, resulting in a solid connection. The pressure in the palms of the hands also ensures the bike returns under the rider with the rider centered over the bottom bracket upon landing.
where is the dream mtb playground? i wished our has these obstacles to practice with locally.
Duthie Hill Park in Issaquah Washington (near Seattle). Such an incredible place to learn and ride! -Simon
you guys are lucky you have nice bike
Yes it makes a big difference - we're very grateful for the modern bikes as they're so forgiving and make it easier to try new skills
NICE!!
thx that helped a lot
This guy is best instructor in the MTB world. Its weird he only shows up in other people's video. 19 year PSIA L3 + in skiing, and if this guy is nt writing stuff on how to teach MTB he should.
Currently Simon hosts in-person coach trainings twice a year. But we love the idea of having this as written content! And thank you for the awesome feedback about Simon :)
Woww i like it...
Could a person go to fast on a drop ??
Yes! With what we call Squashing, or Racer Style. It's and advanced way to go quickly and not go too far off the drop. Not sure we have that on this site, but there is more about it at www.fluidideonline.com, which is free for 14 days (easy to bail if you want), then less than $10/month. The technique I mention is an advanced one, so if you are just staring to drop, it might not be for you. If you are comfy on drops then it might be a great thing to learn!
I wish my feet would stay on the pedals during air time...
Be sure you aren't lifting up at take off. That is the main cause of losing the feet in the air. A rearward shift typically fixes this issue. -Simon
@@Fluidride what do you mean by "lifting up", even on small drops my feet always disengage from my pedals, can you elaborate a bit more😁
Nice vids and tutorials by the way, keep 'em comin'👊👊😁
@@ryanalbino1245 I mean rising upward. Most riders who lose their pedals are moving their body up instead of rearward on takeoff which often separates the feet from the pedals. A rearward shift at the hips with a slight knee bend will allow the feet to naturally 'chase the pedals' as the bike leaves the drop edge and the legs naturally extend. Let me know if you have more questions. I'll try to answer as quickly as I can but am in the French Alps and sometimes gone for the day. I'm so happy you are enjoying the content! -Simon
I've been doing drops like this for over 20 years, but now a lot of clinics teach other technics and go as far as saying "never pull your hips back" "don't do manual drops ever". I understand timing is pretty critical but to me the movement is natural and seldom get into trouble. So why has this kind of technique become controversial all of a sudden when historically is the one so many riders, including most pro riders use?
Well it's the way pros actually ride. I don't look at anyone else's content so I didn't know it was being challenged. Until I see pros stop using this technique, I'll keep teaching it. No better way to drop out there that I've seen! Thanks for checking in Jose! -Simon
I always like to double drop
From the top let it drop. That's some wet...
teach us drops with two wheels at the same time landing
It's pretty rare that landing with both wheels at the same time is better - usually leads to a harsher, bouncier landing! But there are always special cases
How to drop ? Stop bike . get off and walk around the " drop " . Get back on bike and continue .
Nice, but she isnt't a beginner 😉 never.
Definitely correct! She's been riding for 6 years, so these skills are picking up at her current skill level and taking them up a notch. However, we are starting to film a beginner series here shortly with a brand new rider, so we'll have that too :)