Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - skipping/skidding enlightenment!

Ive been trying to learn how to skip and skid for the past 6 MONTHS! I thought I was some sort of genetic mutation that by no means could accomplish this feat. So as usual on the ride home I give a few a try thinking, "ok wait till the crank is here...lift foot up there....oh...OHHH I GET IT!" And now its as simple as that and I was skipping to my lou the rest of the way home.

ps.. anyone struggling with it as well all I did was extended my leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke and kept it like that and as it was picking me just lightly yanked up on my left foot and leaned forward and bingo.

whats ur gearing?

6 months. Yeesh.

1. Get on the hoods/horns.
2. Get your ass off the seat. You don't have to be leaning waaay over like in the skid competition vids.
3. Commit.

Try skidding on sandy patches of road, or after it rains. Once you get it down, skidding on regular pavement will be easier.

Try skidding on sandy patches of road, or after it rains.

I've been having fun skidding my ass off around wet streets in the rain recently (try it IN the rain too :D. Of course, you have to like biking in the rain for that to really work...). It's fun because there's really no stress on your needs on such wet pavement -- kinda like skidding my old coaster-brake BMX on loose dirt. when I was a kid.

6 months. Yeesh.

1. Get on the hoods/horns.
2. Get your ass off the seat. You don't have to be leaning waaay over like in the skid competition vids.
3. Commit.

Try skidding on sandy patches of road, or after it rains. Once you get it down, skidding on regular pavement will be easier.


http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif

Silly

If you read the whole thing, he alredy knows how to skid.

dont be like me. bout 2 days after learning how to do seriously looong skids, i put a hole in my rear tire.

dont be like me. bout 2 days after learning how to do seriously looong skids, i put a hole in my rear tire.

yeah, a ratio with happy # of skid patches is nice

i skidded through my tire for the first time a few weeks ago. holy arse, i thought to myself, i can see the kevlar belt!

I stopped struggling with skidding/skipping the day I realised that brake pads are cheaper than tires and much more pleasant than knee problems when I'm 55. Har.

dont be like me. bout 2 days after learning how to do seriously looong skids, i put a hole in my rear tire.

... and then you tracked down that handy dandy skid patches table and never did it again?

Man, brakes are cool.

I am riding with a 48t on the front 16t on the rear and I can skid but it takes a little effort. I was think about switching to a 18t cog to make skidding easier but am concerned about losing speed. My questions are how big of a difference would switching to an 18t make in skidding?, and how big of a difference would it make in my top speed?

I am riding with a 48t on the front 16t on the rear and I can skid but it takes a little effort. I was think about switching to a 18t cog to make skidding easier but am concerned about losing speed. My questions are how big of a difference would switching to an 18t make in skidding?, and how big of a difference would it make in my top speed?
It will make skidding a lot easier. But so what? Skidding is fun, but it doesn't stop you quickly. You might want to try a 17t cog instead if you're worried about losing speed. Also, the 17t gives more skid patches.

I am riding with a 48t on the front 16t on the rear and I can skid but it takes a little effort. I was think about switching to a 18t cog to make skidding easier but am concerned about losing speed. My questions are how big of a difference would switching to an 18t make in skidding?, and how big of a difference would it make in my top speed?


48 x 16 @ 90 rpm on 700 x 25C tires = 21.2 mph

48 x 18 @ 90 rpm on 700 x 25C tires = 18.8 mph

for other combinations, go http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

I am riding with a 48t on the front 16t on the rear and I can skid but it takes a little effort. I was think about switching to a 18t cog to make skidding easier but am concerned about losing speed. My questions are how big of a difference would switching to an 18t make in skidding?, and how big of a difference would it make in my top speed?

A long time ago - circa '98, a bike CHICK enlightened me by saying if I want to go faster, I have to pedal faster. AMAZING! Never thought of that....

With that clarity in mind Ive always ridden around 69-72".

Ok, so once I rode 50:14 at the Thursday night PP ride.... ;)

48 x 16 @ 90 rpm on 700 x 25C tires = 21.2 mph

48 x 16 @ 90 rpm on 700 x 25C tires = 18.8 mph

for other combinations, go http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

But what about 48 x 16 @ 90 rpm on 700x25C tires? Is there a third speed?!

Im running 42x16 now but coming fresh from 46x16.

I am riding with a 48t on the front 16t on the rear and I can skid but it takes a little effort. I was think about switching to a 18t cog to make skidding easier but am concerned about losing speed. My questions are how big of a difference would switching to an 18t make in skidding?, and how big of a difference would it make in my top speed?

It wouldn't cost you very much to find out, now would it?

Screw the cog, change the chainring. 46T!
I cannot fathom why they still stock high gears on what are clearly gonna be street bikes.
This is also how we knew "fortynine sixteen" clothes were suspect..

Everyone in dc rides a 46X17-20. It works well for the hills. 49x16 or thereabouts is great for the track but lousy for city riding and especially for brakeless riding. You will find it much easier to learn skills and you will have to spin more, but you will be able to stop. I like mine around 46x18, sixteen is okay but you know, same problems.

also knees are nice...

trust me, risk it. high gearing is more the hallmark of a stock bike than an extreme rider.

(BTW, this is from a lot of experience equipping loads of new and experienced DC area riders, if you don't like it you can send me the chainring).

Salsa man, get a salsa if you can find one that fits your cranks. check the QBP catalog at your local.

anyone wear out the center area of your tire and just slide uncontrollably whenever you skid in rain?

This morning, I was making a slight turn to the left as I was going down a hill and when I skidded, my back end fishtailed and I basically landed on my ass while clipped in. Thank god the u-lock broke my fall.

Thanks all for the advice/ opinions. And thank you mrwhite for enlightening me.