Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Skids..

I have to come clean here, I really haven't been able to achieve a proper skid in the last 2+ years of riding fixie. I ride brakeless, and very carefully so tend to be in control of myself.

Messing around on a couple of bikes this afternoon, swaping pedals and such I finally skidded. Before I was using platform style pedals, which were better for the winter, now I am back to spds. I also switched cogs, going from gear inches of 72.5 to a 67.5. I also repacked the headset, having to scrub through layers of Minnesota rust.

Taking out the bike for the around the block test run, I decided to try and go for a skid. Approaching the stop sign, I leaned forward and locked my legs. TO my surprise I actually skidded, granted it wasn't a big priority of mine to learn, it still is nice to know.

I think the SPD pedals really made the difference, and the new lower ratio makes the bike handle quite a bit spunkier, almost like a hyperactive child.

Now if I can just master trackstands....

Now if I can just master trackstands....

I hear you...

update,

Like I said I was working on 2 bikes today.. I decided to try my funky lugged titanium Miyata out, to see of course if I could make it skid. No such luck :(

The gear ratio is much higher so I blame it on this, my legs just aren't strong enough to skid a 42/13 (87")

update,

Like I said I was working on 2 bikes today.. I decided to try my funky lugged titanium Miyata out, to see of course if I could make it skid. No such luck :(

The gear ratio is much higher so I blame it on this, my legs just aren't strong enough to skid a 42/13 (87")

say what?!?! lugged titanium miyata?!! PLEASE post a pic, then sell to ME!!!!

say what?!?! lugged titanium miyata?!! PLEASE post a pic, then sell to ME!!!!

Sorry about the bad picture, It doesn't look as good if not against a solid background...

Nice little bike, notice how tight the rear triangle is, really compact geometry. I have a crap aluminum for I stole from another bike on there right now, I actually want to go carbon, but don't have the Lana. Aside from that, profile airstrike (sp) bars, the front brake is 600. Wierd lugged titanium frame, really fast though, and fun. Some how the titanium is bonded into the aluminum lugs, I really don't understand how it was done, seems to be from the 80's. The decals are pretty much worn out, which sucks, but it does say "Team Miyata". Luckily the bike is equiped with horizontal drops, albeit shorter ones, still enough to get tension.

I was luck enough to get the frame for 40$ on Ebay a couple of years ago. Fits me pretty well too, seat tube 61cm top tube around 58, just where I like it. I even think that the titanium in the tubes are worth more than I paid for the frame, correct me if I am wrong....

Phil

i never had any problems skidding. even on the 53x16 i'm running on my bianchi.

and trackstands, those came pretty natural. even no-handed...

Sorry about the bad picture, It doesn't look as good if not against a solid background...

Nice little bike, notice how tight the rear triangle is, really compact geometry. I have a crap aluminum for I stole from another bike on there right now, I actually want to go carbon, but don't have the Lana. Aside from that, profile airstrike (sp) bars, the front brake is 600. Wierd lugged titanium frame, really fast though, and fun. Some how the titanium is bonded into the aluminum lugs, I really don't understand how it was done, seems to be from the 80's. The decals are pretty much worn out, which sucks, but it does say "Team Miyata". Luckily the bike is equiped with horizontal drops, albeit shorter ones, still enough to get tension.

I was luck enough to get the frame for 40$ on Ebay a couple of years ago. Fits me pretty well too, seat tube 61cm top tube around 58, just where I like it. I even think that the titanium in the tubes are worth more than I paid for the frame, correct me if I am wrong....

Phil

I messed around a little in photoshop and got a better quality pic...

gorgeous.

The gear ratio is much higher so I blame it on this, my legs just aren't strong enough to skid a 42/13 (87")

i have the same gearing and i think it is more of an upper-body strength issue. try pulling hard on the handlebars and just lock your legs. you gotta lean forward a lot too. sometimes the wheel might start to fishtail and it takes practice to stay on top of it. but skidding is possible as long as you can lean far enough. i cant believe you run brakeless without skidding. you must ride reeeeally slow or live in the country.

I ride a lot of the same areas he does - we're both going through downtown minneapolis quite a bit, and hit some busy streets (I live on Lake St and hate it, take Nicolette every day to work). The thing about the twin cities is that even though the drivers are really bad, they're pretty predictable. I almost never have to stop or skid. (good thing, too because I've never had to panic skid)

I've found that when I do skid, pulling in my elbows against my hips and lifting my weight up with em helps a lot (brakeless AND platform). Even if I don't stop the back wheel immediatly, it's usually skidding in one revolution of the cranks.

Does 15-20mph average speed count as really slow?

Okay - done with work - time to play with traffic.

skidding!!!1

practice on wet, or very smooth pavement.

trick is unweighting rear wheel

Before I was using platform style pedals, which were better for the winter, now I am back to spds.

Dude, no wonder you were having trouble skidding. Riding a fixie with platform pedals is MUCH more difficult with riding with clips or clipless.

In my experience, skidding a fix uses muscles in your legs that don't get used during regular cycling, and it takes a while to build those muscles up. As you get stronger, you'll find it much easier.

if youre clipped to the pedals you can let your front leg go limp and just push up really hard with your arms. it makes a nice and graceful skid and most of the power is distributed away from your legs. anyway thats how i often do it, works pretty well.

i skid like every other stop sign. i would never ride in the city without either a hand brake, tight straps, or spds. but i have never ridden brakeless before either. i havent used my brake in months, but there are some really stupid pedestrians here. i can see them twenty yards off and i just *know* they are going to walk into the road without looking up the bike lane. but here we have these stupid one-way roads (for cars) with two-way bike lanes so the peds always look the direction for the cars and dont think to turn and see the bicyclist (me) about to tackle them at 20mph. i should get a whistle...

if youre clipped to the pedals you can let your front leg go limp and just push up really hard with your arms. it makes a nice and graceful skid and most of the power is distributed away from your legs. anyway thats how i often do it, works pretty well.

i skid like every other stop sign. i would never ride in the city without either a hand brake, tight straps, or spds. but i have never ridden brakeless before either. i havent used my brake in months, but there are some really stupid pedestrians here. i can see them twenty yards off and i just *know* they are going to walk into the road without looking up the bike lane. but here we have these stupid one-way roads (for cars) with two-way bike lanes so the peds always look the direction for the cars and dont think to turn and see the bicyclist (me) about to tackle them at 20mph. i should get a whistle...

Just get a gun with blanks, betcha it will stop em in their tracks.

... i think it is more of an upper-body strength issue.

doh, you need upper body strength? well i'm boned.

bring yer balls to the stem, your legs will know when to lock

bring yer balls to the stem, your legs will know when to lock

:eek:

bite your handlebars right next to the stembolt and let go with your hands... thats how i learned to skid. also the best place to learn a trackstand is on the roof of a four story a-frame gingerbread house.

the best place to first learn to skid is on real fine gravel. i learned at Logan Square Fountain in philly and it worked like a charm

the best place to first learn to skid is on real fine gravel. i learned at Logan Square Fountain in philly and it worked like a charm

well i know where i'll be this weekend...

actually today i think i just killed my tire that way. i thought itd be fun to skid all the way across a gravel walkway in front of the uni library. i am not positive it is from this but i dont remember the giant gash in my tire being there yesterday...