General Cycling Discussion - skidding on a fixed gear?

Hello to everyone, I have just found this site and feel right at home amongst friends.
Any way, I would like someone to explain how to skid on a fixed gear bike. I have a track bike, raced a few seasons and rode fixed for a while last year- commuting 50km round trip.
Well the bug has hit again so been searching the net for fixed, and found plenty- ie sheldon brown, single speed outlaw, and others. Came across a great story by a woman courier who braked by skidding- heck! I was scared just reading. But if I'm going to ride in traffic again skidding sounds like a very useful skill.
I realise that practice, practice and more practice is the only way to learn, but what are the starting steps(can't spell manouvers).
Thanks to those who reply.

Remember, always keep your head up!
regards, sillystorm

Ahh, a fixie! Welcome to the forums!

Do you have a front brake on your bike? Its a buch better way stoping then skidding.

However, the fastest way to stop is a combo of skidding, and major front brake use.

To learn to skid, goto a park, with grass, wet grass is beter. Get upto speed, say, 15mph, then lean on the handlebars, you want as much weight on the handle bars as posible when skidding, or alteast learning to skid. Its posible to skid without clipless pedals, but im sure its alot harder then with. When you lock up the rear tire, most of the force is going to be from your left (or front) foot pulling up on the pedals.

Once you master skidding on grass, move to wet pavement, or gravel. Skidding to stop will come to you, but it will take a while. I dont skid for one reason, i cant afford to replace tires every other week, oh yeah, i dont have a track bike yet! :)

One last thing, do you know how to bunny hop a track bike? I cant figure this out for the life of me! Any tips?

Welcome to the forums! I'll bet riderx will have an answer to your question--he's the Single-Speed Outlaw....

Joe has given a more detailed and sensible reply than I would. This question was posed the other day over on the MTBR SS board and my answer was:
Try doing a small nose wheelie to get the rear off the ground, then lock your pedals and hope your knees don't explode!
As you can see, Joe provides a bit more practical advice.

I agree with Joe about using a front brake. Faster, safer, easier on the knees, no worn out tires. My friend refers to my front brake as a suicide brake. I guess he means it prevents me from committing suicide by being able to stop quickly!

BTW Sillystorm, in case you haven't figured out yet, Joe is the guy who makes these boards a reality. If you stick around, you'll see he does a damn good job. Welcome!

Joe - didn't know you were a fixed rider! As far as bunnyhopping goes, just like you normally would, except you can't set the pedals up like w/ a freewheel and you have to pedal through the bunny hop. It's not easy and I'm certainly no expert at it. Just like anything else, it's a practice thing.

Speaking of the front brake, riderx--and this is off-topic in that it isn't about single-speed--I've been experimenting ever since I read an exchange in another thread that mentioned Sheldon Brown's philosophy that the front brake should be used alone except under wet and icy conditions.

At first that seemed like "suicide" to me, as to your friend, but I found out in the course of one or two rides that I now prefer to use the front brake alone. I feel I have more control and I certainly stop faster.

My fear of the front brake was based largely on what I'd read in the past, plus one experience where I almost flew over the handlebars braking for a right turn while sticking my right arm out to signal, the "cool" way. I know now I just grabbed the lever too hard.

Of course, next time it rains or gets icy, I may regret coming to love the front brake so much. :eek:

I cant wait to get fixed! :o

Wait, that sounds wrong... I have spent quite a bit of time on a fixed gear bike, but have never owned one, im looking for a old 70's road bike that i can convert, or maybe purchase a used track bike off ebay... or even go new (bianchi pista *droool*).

Anyhow, thanks for the tip on bunny hopping, i'll have to practice more, hopefully i can get it down someday.

Thanks everyone, I will practise that brake/ slide. I thought it would be a handy trick to know if the situation needed it.
Yes i do use a front brake, I am trying to decide whether to use my track bike onroad or adapt an old clunker to fixed.
My tracky has a repacement set of forks which are obviously road forks as they are drilled for brakes.
Also guys I have used forums for computer related questions and love being a part of the community, so don't worry, this will be one of my second homes [':)']. Riding my bike is my biggest passion, unfortunately I only discovered track at the age of 40, but the feeling of the track is incredible.
I rode state and national masters on the Dunc Grey velo last year-pre Olympic, in the individual pursuit-3000m and the feeling of being pushed out of the corners was something that is fantastic.
Anyway enough rambling I should really post this info in the propper posting.
regards to all, sillystorm

Originally posted by JonR
...I've been experimenting ever since I read an exchange in another thread that mentioned Sheldon Brown's philosophy that the front brake should be used alone except under wet and icy conditions.

Jon,

I've used this technique, and it definitely works. But you are right! If yo grab too hard on the front brake, it will let you know in a hurry... IT WORKS! ;)

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
im looking for a old 70's road bike that i can convert
My fixed gear is an old Fuji road bike (year unknown) that I bought at a police auction and slowly rehabbed. I'll post a pic whenever I get around to getting my film developed.

Originally posted by JonR
I've been experimenting ever since I read an exchange in another thread that mentioned Sheldon Brown's philosophy that the front brake should be used alone except under wet and icy conditions.
I've heard figures that say 70 - 80% of your braking power comes from the front brake. It definitely provides the most stopping power, but I wouldn't rely soley on it except when you have no other choice, especially when riding off road. On a fixed gear you only need to run a front brake because you effectively have a rear brake by back pedaling