drops, jumps and injury

General
1

I’m getting a desire to get better at jumping and dropping, and was
wondering if anyone had any tips for technique, as well info on what ways
I am most likley to injure myself.

Last night, I made a 2 foot drop – the highest I’ve done so far. (I did
get it no problem on the first try, though.) The next convient place to
drop from by my apartment is about 4 feet tall, and I did not want to risk
injury, not having my safety gear on at the time. So, if I increase in
height, how am I most likley to injure myself, that I might prepare? Also,
is there a rating for how likley I am to damage my uni? (Currently, a Sem
XL 20", my weight is a few pounds shy of 160) So far, I just ride to the
edge, hop in place a few times, and hop down… are there other techniques
I should try? Places I’ve been tend to have grass or dirt below… would I
be better to land on pavement?

Also, in dropping, I feel I have more control if I jump while sitting on
the seat. At what height should I be pulling the seat out, that I might
bend my knees and avoid injury?

How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach a
picknick table bench. Are there any suggestions in increaseing my height
farther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump without
substantially decreasing the vertical?

thanks, Jeff Lutkus

Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

2

When doing big drops, if I’m a bit off centered (leaning forward for
instance) say after a speedy jump off an edge, from time to time I’m just
ejected from the uni - roach legs needed. Not a problem most of the time,
except when landing hard on small surfaces (ie boulder top, stairs,ect…)

  • the resulting fall could be hazardous. I’m always trying to land on soft
    ground grass, sand, peebles,ect… landing on concrete reverbs the impact
    force a lot more.

-----Original Message----- From: Jeff Lutkus
[mailto:lutkus@unicyclist.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 8:32 AM To:
unicycling@winternet.com Subject: drops, jumps and injury

I’m getting a desire to get better at jumping and dropping, and was
wondering if anyone had any tips for technique, as well info on what ways
I am most likley to injure myself.

Last night, I made a 2 foot drop – the highest I’ve done so far. (I did
get it no problem on the first try, though.) The next convient place to
drop from by my apartment is about 4 feet tall, and I did not want to risk
injury, not having my safety gear on at the time. So, if I increase in
height, how am I most likley to injure myself, that I might prepare? Also,
is there a rating for how likley I am to damage my uni? (Currently, a Sem
XL 20", my weight is a few pounds shy of 160) So far, I just ride to the
edge, hop in place a few times, and hop down… are there other techniques
I should try? Places I’ve been tend to have grass or dirt below… would I
be better to land on pavement?

Also, in dropping, I feel I have more control if I jump while sitting on
the seat. At what height should I be pulling the seat out, that I might
bend my knees and avoid injury?

How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach a
picknick table bench. Are there any suggestions in increaseing my height
farther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump without
substantially decreasing the vertical?

thanks, Jeff Lutkus

Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

3

Jeff Lutkus wrote:
> How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach
> a picknick table bench. Are >there any suggestions in increaseing my
> height farther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump >without
> substantially decreasing the vertical?

Doing a double jump is an effective way to add horizontal without
sacrificing vertical. Start from a standstill about 30 inches to the side
of what you want to land on. Initiate a lean toward the obstacle, when
you’re leaned over enough do a small hop just a few inches in the air and
10 or 12 inches to the side. This baby hop gives you the vertical preload
you need for maximum height, and gets your lateral momentum moving in the
right direction. Then BAM push the tire against the pavement as hard as
you can and next thing you know you’re on top. Well, theoretically.

Chris

4

Jeff,

Well, the Adam Ryznar approach would recommend finding the highest
possible dropoff (at least 10 feet would be a minimum), and hurl yourself
off it. After this everything else will seem trivial.

Seriously I think that drops are overrated for actual practice. Practicing
jumping (much more difficult and much more interesting in my opinion)
invariably involves enough drops that they come naturally. Also MUni
riding often involves lots of drops without actually pursuing them.

Having said that, the main thing for regular drops is to keep the wheel
rolling. There is an initial tendency to come to a wrenching halt when a
drop is landed. Much less stress is put on the axle if the wheel is
allowed to roll out immediately following the drop.

See this URL: <http://home.earthlink.net/~dmhopkins/kris/krisdrop.html>

For situations where you can’t roll-out, seat-out-in-front drops are
really good. However they are technically a harder drop. Often this
technique works well if you are specifically dropping to a hollow between
two objects that the wheel can nest into.

-Kris.

— Jeff Lutkus <lutkus@unicyclist.com> wrote:
> I’m getting a desire to get better at jumping and dropping, and was
> wondering if anyone had any tips for technique, as well info on what
> ways I am most likley to injure myself.
>
> Last night, I made a 2 foot drop – the highest I’ve done so far. (I did
> get it no problem on the first try, though.) The next convient place to
> drop from by my apartment is about 4 feet tall, and I did not want to
> risk injury, not having my safety gear on at the time. So, if I increase
> in height, how am I most likley to injure myself, that I might prepare?
> Also, is there a rating for how likley I am to damage my uni?
> (Currently, a Sem XL 20", my weight is a few pounds shy of 160) So far,
> I just ride to the edge, hop in place a few times, and hop down… are
> there other techniques I should try? Places I’ve been tend to have grass
> or dirt below… would I be better to land on pavement?
>
> Also, in dropping, I feel I have more control if I jump while sitting on
> the seat. At what height should I be pulling the seat out, that I might
> bend my knees and avoid injury?
>
> How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach
> a picknick table bench. Are there any suggestions in increaseing my
> height farther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump without
> substantially decreasing the vertical?
>
> thanks, Jeff Lutkus
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only
$35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

5

To what’s been said already I’d add a bit about your foot positioning on
the pedals…

When learning drops the tendency is to land completely motionless still
and not ride out of it. I’m still doing this on some occasions. There’s
been more times than I’d care to remember when I’ve had the balls of my
feet (do I need to point they’re on my feet?) over the center of the
pedals, dropped down and hit the ground with some force. The upshot of
this is the force of the landing forces my feet to bend upwards as the
rest of my body weight pushes down and jar my ankles. So best to have the
arches (of your feet) centered over the pedals rather than your balls (no
mention of feet this time).

Neil

“Jeff Lutkus” <lutkus@unicyclist.com> wrote in message
news:20010612123133.E03FD36F9@sitemail.everyone.net…
> I’m getting a desire to get better at jumping and dropping, and was
wondering if anyone had any tips for technique, as well info on what ways
I am most likley to injure myself.
>
> Last night, I made a 2 foot drop – the highest I’ve done so far. (I did
get it no problem on the first try, though.) The next convient place to
drop from by my apartment is about 4 feet tall, and I did not want to risk
injury, not having my safety gear on at the time. So, if I increase in
height, how am I most likley to injure myself, that I might prepare? Also,
is there a rating for how likley I am to damage my uni? (Currently, a Sem
XL 20", my weight is a few pounds shy of 160) So far, I just ride to the
edge, hop in place a few times, and hop down… are there other techniques
I should try? Places I’ve been tend to have grass or dirt below… would I
be better to land on pavement?
>
> Also, in dropping, I feel I have more control if I jump while sitting on
the seat. At what height should I be pulling the seat out, that I might
bend my knees and avoid injury?
>
> How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach
> a
picknick table bench. Are there any suggestions in increaseing my height
fa rther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump without
substantially decreasing the vertical?
>
> thanks, Jeff Lutkus
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

6

Very good point. I strained my Achilles tendon a bit several times before
learning to move both feet forward so that the arches are over the center
of the pedals. Now I routinely do this before sections of trail that
contain drops.

I haven’t been able to land and immediately spin out of a drop yet, but
plan to work on it. I don’t think it matters that much up to 2-3’ (my max
is somewhere around 3.5’) but clearly it’s a must to learn for higher and
will only help for lower ones.

—Nathan

“Neil Dunlop” <neild@roachmill.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:992382020.5356.0.nnrp-10.c2de7fe2@news.demon.co.uk…
> To what’s been said already I’d add a bit about your foot positioning on
the
> pedals…
>
> When learning drops the tendency is to land completely motionless still
and
> not ride out of it. I’m still doing this on some occasions. There’s been
> more times than I’d care to remember when I’ve had the balls of my feet
(do
> I need to point they’re on my feet?) over the center of the pedals,
dropped
> down and hit the ground with some force. The upshot of this is the force
of
> the landing forces my feet to bend upwards as the rest of my body
> weight pushes down and jar my ankles. So best to have the arches (of
> your feet) centered over the pedals rather than your balls (no mention
> of feet this time).
>
> Neil

7

Kris,

What do you have to say about pedal positioning? The motion tends to blurr
things there a bit, but it appears that while in the air, you positioned
the pedals to a horizontal position. Are you specifically shooting for the
horizontal position, or are you just spinning the pedals so motion doesn’t
stop when you land?

I can roll off curbs, stairs, and other very short drops because I am not
worried about a focreful impact. For greater height, I stop and hop down
because I can be confident I will land with the pedals horizontal. So, if
you make a proper rolling drop, is it necessary to get the pedals
horizontal, or can you roll your way out or an otherwise painful landing?

Jeff Lutkus

— Kris Holm <danger_uni@yahoo.com>
> wrote:

>Having said that, the main thing for regular drops is to keep the wheel
>rolling. There is an initial tendency to come to a wrenching halt when a
>drop is landed. Much less stress is put on the axle if the wheel is
>allowed to roll out immediately following the drop.
>
>See this URL: <http://home.earthlink.net/~dmhopkins/kris/krisdrop.html>
>
>For situations where you can’t roll-out, seat-out-in-front drops are
>really good. However they are technically a harder drop. Often this
>technique works well if you are specifically dropping to a hollow between
>two objects that the wheel can nest into.
>
>-Kris.
>
>
>
>— Jeff Lutkus <lutkus@unicyclist.com> wrote:
>> I’m getting a desire to get better at jumping and dropping, and was
>> wondering if anyone had any tips for technique, as well info on what
>> ways I am most likley to injure myself.
>>
>> Last night, I made a 2 foot drop – the highest I’ve done so far. (I
>> did get it no problem on the first try, though.) The next convient
>> place to drop from by my apartment is about 4 feet tall, and I did not
>> want to risk injury, not having my safety gear on at the time. So, if I
>> increase in height, how am I most likley to injure myself, that I might
>> prepare? Also, is there a rating for how likley I am to damage my uni?
>> (Currently, a Sem XL 20", my weight is a few pounds shy of 160) So far,
>> I just ride to the edge, hop in place a few times, and hop down… are
>> there other techniques I should try? Places I’ve been tend to have
>> grass or dirt below… would I be better to land on pavement?
>>
>> Also, in dropping, I feel I have more control if I jump while sitting
>> on the seat. At what height should I be pulling the seat out, that I
>> might bend my knees and avoid injury?
>>
>> How about getting up there? In pure vertical height, I can almost reach
>> a picknick table bench. Are there any suggestions in increaseing my
>> height farther, or adding a horizontal component to the jump without
>> substantially decreasing the vertical?
>>
>> thanks, Jeff Lutkus
>>
>> _____________________________________________________________
>> Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only
>$35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

8

— Jeff Lutkus <lutkus@unicyclist.com> wrote:
> Kris,
>
> What do you have to say about pedal positioning? The motion tends to
> blurr things there a bit, but it appears that while in the air, you
> positioned the pedals to a horizontal position. Are you specifically
> shooting for the horizontal position, or are you just spinning the
> pedals so motion doesn’t stop when you land?
>

If you hop off a drop then your pedals are already horizontal; if you are
riding along and then roll off the drop, it may be necessary to reposition
the pedal position in the air. The best landing position isn’t actually
completely horizontal; if your rear foot is somewhat below horizontal you
can roll into the most powerful braking position right after the initial
impact. Somewhere in this URL is another hop, onto the top of a Van, that
shows a rollout of a bigger drop:

<http://www.foxsports.com/media/000620/ac0620kris.sml>

-Kris.

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9

I agree with what was said about ankles. I once landed with all my weight
coming straight down and put lots of stress on my ankles. Ouch! I still
don’t move my feet forward, but I always tighten my ankles and calves just
before landing. Also, rolling out the drops will help protect your ankles.
IMHO, rolling drops look a lot cooler than just hopping down, and you
don’t lose any momentum. I sometimes just keep rotating the pedals in
mid-air. This helps to keep moving on contact with the ground.

Jeff

On Tue, 12 Jun 2001 16:07:44 -0700 “Nathan Hoover”
<nathan@movaris.com> writes:
> Very good point. I strained my Achilles tendon a bit several times
> before learning to move both feet forward so that the arches are over
> the center of the pedals. Now I routinely do this before sections of
> trail that contain drops.
>
> I haven’t been able to land and immediately spin out of a drop yet, but
> plan to work on it. I don’t think it matters that much up to 2-3’ (my
> max is somewhere around 3.5’) but clearly it’s a must to learn for
> higher and will only help for lower ones.
>
> —Nathan
>
> “Neil Dunlop” <neild@roachmill.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:992382020.5356.0.nnrp-10.c2de7fe2@news.demon.co.uk…
> > To what’s been said already I’d add a bit about your foot
> positioning on the
> > pedals…
> >
> > When learning drops the tendency is to land completely motionless
> still and
> > not ride out of it. I’m still doing this on some occasions.
> There’s been
> > more times than I’d care to remember when I’ve had the balls of my
> feet (do
> > I need to point they’re on my feet?) over the center of the
> pedals, dropped
> > down and hit the ground with some force. The upshot of this is the
> force of
> > the landing forces my feet to bend upwards as the rest of my body
> weight
> > pushes down and jar my ankles. So best to have the arches (of your
> feet)
> > centered over the pedals rather than your balls (no mention of
> feet this
> > time).
> >
> > Neil
>
>
>

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10

Has anyone experimented with using shoes with shocks, like the nike shox?

I have had repeated problems with my ankle and wonder if something like
that would offer good support.

-Dan — jeff d tuttle <moosebreath1@juno.com> wrote:
> I agree with what was said about ankles. I once landed with all
> my weight coming straight down and put lots of stress on my
> ankles. Ouch! I still don’t move my feet forward, but I always
> tighten my ankles and calves just before landing. Also, rolling
> out the drops will help protect your ankles. IMHO, rolling drops
> look a lot cooler than just hopping down, and you don’t lose any
> momentum. I sometimes just keep rotating the pedals in mid-air.
> This helps to keep moving on contact with the ground.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Tue, 12 Jun 2001 16:07:44 -0700 “Nathan Hoover”
> <nathan@movaris.com> writes:
> > Very good point. I strained my Achilles tendon a
> bit several times
> > before learning to move both feet forward so that the
> arches are over the
> > center of the pedals. Now I routinely do this before
> sections of trail that
> > contain drops.
> >
> > I haven’t been able to land and immediately spin
> out of a drop yet,
> > but plan to work on it. I don’t think it matters that much
> up to 2-3’ (my max
> > is somewhere around 3.5’) but clearly it’s a must to
> learn for higher
> > and will only help for lower ones.
> >
> > —Nathan
> >
> > “Neil Dunlop” <neild@roachmill.demon.co.uk> wrote
> in message
> >
>
news:992382020.5356.0.nnrp-10.c2de7fe2@news.demon.co.uk…
> > > To what’s been said already I’d add a bit about
> your foot
> > positioning on the
> > > pedals…
> > >
> > > When learning drops the tendency is to land
> completely motionless
> > still and
> > > not ride out of it. I’m still doing this on some
> occasions.
> > There’s been
> > > more times than I’d care to remember when I’ve
> had the balls of my
> > feet (do
> > > I need to point they’re on my feet?) over the
> center of the
> > pedals, dropped
> > > down and hit the ground with some force. The
> upshot of this is the
> > force of
> > > the landing forces my feet to bend upwards as
> the rest of my body
> > weight
> > > pushes down and jar my ankles. So best to have
> the arches (of your
> > feet)
> > > centered over the pedals rather than your balls
> (no mention of
> > feet this
> > > time).
> > >
> > > Neil
> >
> >
> >
>

> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet
> access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

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11

Hi Dan,

yes, and no on Nike shox.

I have bought a pair for training for Red Bull as there is a 2 mile run
start. They have helped with my knees while running and I will test them
on the first lap of red bull.

I do have a problem while I am running though, I have a clicking sound in
my ear every time my right foot hits the ground, does anyone know what
this might be and should I worry about it?

Roger

                     The UK's Unicycle Source
                   <a href="http://www.unicycle.uk.com/">http://www.unicycle.uk.com/</a>

----- Original Message ----- From: “Dan Heaton” <danheaton22@yahoo.com>
To: <unicycling@winternet.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: drops, jumps and injury

> Has anyone experimented with using shoes with shocks, like the
> nike shox?
>
> I have had repeated problems with my ankle and wonder if something like
> that would offer good support.
>
> -Dan — jeff d tuttle <moosebreath1@juno.com> wrote:
> > I agree with what was said about ankles. I once landed with
> > all my weight coming straight down and put lots of stress on
> > my ankles. Ouch! I still don’t move my feet forward, but I
> > always tighten my ankles and calves just before landing. Also,
> > rolling out the drops will help protect your ankles. IMHO,
> > rolling drops look a lot cooler than just hopping down, and
> > you don’t lose any momentum. I sometimes just keep rotating
> > the pedals in mid-air. This helps to keep moving on contact
> > with the ground.
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > On Tue, 12 Jun 2001 16:07:44 -0700 “Nathan Hoover”
> > <nathan@movaris.com> writes:
> > > Very good point. I strained my Achilles tendon a
> > bit several times
> > > before learning to move both feet forward so that the
> > arches are over the
> > > center of the pedals. Now I routinely do this before
> > sections of trail that
> > > contain drops.
> > >
> > > I haven’t been able to land and immediately spin
> > out of a drop yet,
> > > but plan to work on it. I don’t think it matters that much
> > up to 2-3’ (my max
> > > is somewhere around 3.5’) but clearly it’s a must to
> > learn for higher
> > > and will only help for lower ones.
> > >
> > > —Nathan
> > >
> > > “Neil Dunlop” <neild@roachmill.demon.co.uk> wrote
> > in message
> > >
> >
> news:992382020.5356.0.nnrp-10.c2de7fe2@news.demon.co.uk…
> > > > To what’s been said already I’d add a bit about
> > your foot
> > > positioning on the
> > > > pedals…
> > > >
> > > > When learning drops the tendency is to land
> > completely motionless
> > > still and
> > > > not ride out of it. I’m still doing this on some
> > occasions.
> > > There’s been
> > > > more times than I’d care to remember when I’ve
> > had the balls of my
> > > feet (do
> > > > I need to point they’re on my feet?) over the
> > center of the
> > > pedals, dropped
> > > > down and hit the ground with some force. The
> > upshot of this is the
> > > force of
> > > > the landing forces my feet to bend upwards as
> > the rest of my body
> > > weight
> > > > pushes down and jar my ankles. So best to have
> > the arches (of your
> > > feet)
> > > > centered over the pedals rather than your balls
> > (no mention of
> > > feet this
> > > > time).
> > > >
> > > > Neil
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet
> > access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only
> $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

12

Roger –

I, too, have heard a clicking sound, just as you mentioned (with every
step on a certain foot) … but it only happens when my neck is out of
alignment. It “clicked” just yesterday, after I tweaked it playing
baseball with my son. If you get headaches or stiffness in your shoulders
and/or neck it, you may want to have it checked out. (I have a bad neck
… arthritis and bone spurs - possibly caused from injuries - started
when I was in my early 20’s, possibly before that.)

I HOPE your ear “clicking” is more of a goofy, coincidental thing, you
know … something to laugh at.

Amy Offenburger amyoftenbirder@home.com (remove Ü in reply address)

“Roger” <Roger@unicycle.uk.com> wrote :

> … I do have a problem while I am running though, I have a
> clicking sound
in my
> ear every time my right foot hits the ground, does anyone know what this
> might be and should I worry about it?
>
> Roger

13

Roger –

I, too, have heard a clicking sound, just as you mentioned (with every
step on a certain foot) … but it only happens when my neck is out of
alignment. It “clicked” just yesterday, after I tweaked it playing
baseball with my son. If you get headaches or stiffness in your shoulders
and/or neck it, you may want to have it checked out. (I have a bad neck
… arthritis and bone spurs - possibly caused from injuries - started
when I was in my early 20’s, possibly before that.)

I HOPE your ear “clicking” is more of a goofy, coincidental thing, you
know … something to laugh at.

Amy Offenburger amyoftenbirder@home.com (remove Ü in reply address)

“Roger” <Roger@unicycle.uk.com> wrote :

> … I do have a problem while I am running though, I have a
> clicking sound
in my
> ear every time my right foot hits the ground, does anyone know what this
> might be and should I worry about it?
>
> Roger

14

Roger –

I, too, have heard a clicking sound, just as you mentioned (with every
step on a certain foot) … but it only happens when my neck is out of
alignment. It “clicked” just yesterday, after I tweaked it playing
baseball with my son. If you get headaches or stiffness in your shoulders
and/or neck it, you may want to have it checked out. (I have a bad neck
… arthritis and bone spurs - possibly caused from injuries - started
when I was in my early 20’s, possibly before that.)

I HOPE your ear “clicking” is more of a goofy, coincidental thing, you
know … something to laugh at.

Amy Offenburger amyoftenbirder@home.com (remove Ü in reply address)

“Roger” <Roger@unicycle.uk.com> wrote :

> … I do have a problem while I am running though, I have a
> clicking sound
in my
> ear every time my right foot hits the ground, does anyone know what this
> might be and should I worry about it?
>
> Roger