Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - skidding problem?

is there any reason why i cant stop fishtailing on my skids? am i taking to much weight off my back wheel. it usually happens worse the faster im going which makes since but it is really rediculous. any tips?

i have a skidding problem too... I don't know how. :D

If anything I'd say you might be putting too much of the force on one pedal? (speculation) The idea being that maybe you're shifting more of your weight to one side, rather than keeping it more in the middle while pulling up on one side and pushing down on the other.

i have a skidding problem too... I don't know how. :D

be a lot easier when you get those pedals ;)

be a lot easier when you get those pedals ;)

that might be what it is. :D

i would agree with fugazi dave, if your locking your right leg and whatnot try countersteering and pulling up more with your left...

I always fishtail slightly when I start out most of my long distance skids, but I usually straighten it out pretty quick. In reality when you innitiate the skid one leg will almost always pull harder than the other, the trick is to counter the fishtailing at the begining then it should be like sliding on glass and you can concentrate on getting your weight more and more over the front of the bike. You should never be flailing like a madman or else you're doing something else completely wrong or you have a bike with super weird geo. like mine.

I too have a skidding problem... I can't stop! :p

well. i do lock my right leg and realized i barely pull up at all with my left. its almost all on my right leg. im gonna work on tryin to skid left leg locked. for now im just gonna try the counter-steer thing. much abliged guys/

I was gonna reccomend better wiping, but then I realized that's not what this thread is about :eek:

there's something wrong with fishtailing while skidding? that's my favorite part! I love doing the "tail wag", personally. :)

there's something wrong with fishtailing while skidding? that's my favorite part! I love doing the "tail wag", personally. :)

Agreed, that is always teh cool. Find some gravel and make pretty ribbons of skidmarks.

Agreed, that is always teh cool. Find some gravel and make pretty ribbons of skidmarks.

i prefer wet grass. whoooooosh.

180 degree fishtails are cool.

Man, I can never fishtail. Maybe I'll try the oppisite of what Fugazi Dave said.

Yeah, are you going for long or short distance skids? Fishtailing is useful in an emergency...

Fishtailing can be fun and useful, but I'd say it's something to arrive at rather than start with.

exactly. if its a controlled fishtail then woooot. but starting with it is ahhhhhhhhhhh

yeah iv had some killer wipeouts when the tail got around too far. i was to drunk to correct it

try this, when you are about to skid pull your knees together a little like you trying to pinch the top tube with your knees, it centers your weight. there for creating complete control of the skid. it also makes it to where you dont have to lean as much of your weight forward =) . trust me. ive always ridden brakeless and i can stop quicker than someone with a front brake using my technique

ive always ridden brakeless and i can stop quicker than someone with a front brake using my technique

Not unless you've rewritten physics you can't.

EDIT: I should clarify that I'm not saying your technique isn't good. It probably is. Thing is, something like 70% of braking power is in your front end. Longitudinal transfer and whatnot.

why was this thread brought bike after 4 years

Nice pun.

im just ******** and cant type

i was pretty much just saying that the technique is good, i know i cant stop as quick as a front brake (by an experienced rider anyway). ive seen so many kids go flying cause they dont know how to brake on a fixed gear. front brake=70% stopping power not 100%. some people just think have a front brake is as easy as a squeeze and some people find out its not the hard way

Since this thread has been revived, can anyone give me some tips on how to fishtail? I can do long skids and almost a 180 skid, but I can't get the fishtail down when I ride normally. Any ideas?

ride more keep practicin.

ride more keep practicin.

Yea, but I was wondering what I need to do specifically. Do I lock and then kick to one side with my legs? Or do I actually have to turn my body and the bike but keep the front wheel in one direction?

you gotta kinda like just push the back end out with your legs. it's really hard to explain, you kind of have to do like a juke thing, like do a little swerve movement right before you skid to get your weight movin around.

Have you ever skidded on a wet or slippery surface and fishtailed by accident? If not maybe you should try it (but be careful)...it's really the only way you can get a "feel" for how fishtailing works. Once you know how it feels things should start falling into place. It helps a lot if you can skid ambidextrously, and don't be shy about it.

But yeah basic idea is to use your body/legs to push the bike to one side or another.

Holy thread revival. Couple tips that helped me learn how to whip my skid out:

1) Finding a slicker surface

2) While rolling in a straight line slightly steer the front wheel toward the side you want to whip towards (side of your forward locking foot) and bring it back inline

3) As you bring it back inline initiate the skid and kick out your back foot towards the opposite direction

4) Keep your front wheel straight so you don't eat it

5) Practice practice practice

Basically by doing an "C" swerve (the "juke" that tall&lanky (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=136873) describes) and initiating the skid at right time the momentum helps you kick the rear out. Speed also helps but don't go too fast on slick surfaces. I remember first doing this and going really fast and I whipped out too far and ate it.



i was pretty much just saying that the technique is good, i know i cant stop as quick as a front brake (by an experienced rider anyway). ive seen so many kids go flying cause they dont know how to brake on a fixed gear. front brake=70% stopping power not 100%. some people just think have a front brake is as easy as a squeeze and some people find out its not the hard way

Rather have inexperienced riders using handbrakes than trying to skid to stop :lol:

Thanks for the help guys. I will try it out tomorrow morning at school.

4) Keep your front wheel straight so you don't eat it


This is important. I remember the first time I tried whip skidding through some wet leaves, had no idea what I was doing, and ate it pretty hard.

Wouldn't school be the worst place to try it?

ive been fishtailing through all the piles of leaves on the streets lately. oodles of fun

Wouldn't school be the worst place to try it?

Nope, everyone follows their own schedule, meaning everyone has time off at different times, so I could practice on my 2 hours of free time in our endless outdoor basketball courts.

I think you'd be better off practicing somewhere you could get a decent amount of speed...

the problem is that you're skidding.

i practiced skidding on the bike path that runs down and around the river around here. night time was the best time bc there were no people and unlimited smooth asphalt to ride.

Try skidding on some wet leaves and just sort of throw the back of the bike around, you'll fishtail.
I think there was only one time when I had to actually skid to stop in traffic, it was scary but it worked well.

fishtailing is more fun, i dont see why you dont wanna do it ha