leading trad

Question
I have a question on leading a trad route.  Say you start a route placing gear as you go.  You get halfway up and can't get past a crux, so you drop down. Now, how would you get the gear out thats on the in the wall? (i.e. the top peice that you came down on.)  

Answer
Christopher,

You don't. Unless, you can walk to the top and rappel down to retrieve your gear.
Be careful when lowering off climbs on one piece of equipment, that fails, you die!

Better to lead trad routes several grades below your ability level.

Jeff