If you were forced to ride off of an object, where should you move your weight?

• A. Toward the rear wheel
• B. Toward the front wheel
• C. Stay centered
• D. Lean away from the object

Answer: (A)

When you’re forced to ride off an object, the goal is to keep the front end light and maintain balance as the edge is left behind. Shifting your body weight toward the rear wheel unloads the front end, which helps prevent the front wheel from catching or diving into the drop and keeps the bike more stable as the rear wheel continues to roll off. If you move toward the front wheel, you load the front end more, increasing the chance of a loss of steering. Staying perfectly centered can keep you balanced in normal riding, but in this situation you want to bias weight backward to protect the front end. Leaning away from the object moves mass off the rear, making control harder and increasing the risk of a loss of stability. So, move your weight toward the rear wheel.