Downhill Mountain Biking: Preventing Endos with a Seat Drop

Of the small number of easy but valuable mountain-biking skills that separate those who crash from those who make it down fast, rocky downhills unhurt, none is easier to learn than a seat drop. A simple skill, seat drops are easy to learn in an hour or so, and are one of the best ways to prevent an endo.

Here's how to do it.

Point your bike down a relatively steep hill free of obstacles -- one without rocks, ledges, boulders or drops.

Descend. As you gain speed, check that you've placed one pedal directly in front of the other, or one set of toes pointed at the heel of the other foot (known as level cranks/chocolate foot). Keep your knees and elbows relaxed and loose.

As you pick up speed, lift your butt off the seat and slide back, towards the rear wheel, until your butt hangs over the rear wheel. Pressure your brakes slightly, to slow the bike, then release the brakes and shift your butt forward.

Chances are you'll feel very stable moving your weight and butt back and forth over and away from the rear wheel. The weight shift back prevents endos, the dreaded catapulting of rider over the handlebars. Even if you lose your balance after a seat drop, you won't get thrown forward. Rather, you'll fall to one side or the other.

Even on mildly bumpy downhills, balance is paramount, especially to help prevent your weight from getting thrown forward. With one smooth, simple move, you prevent inertia from getting the best of you. A seat drop is an excellent way to negotiate downhill sections that include abrupt changes in slope angle, stair-step cobble, loose sand, deep mud, or shifts from steep to so steep that a hill seems to become vertical.