Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Should I learn how to whip skid both ways?

I already know how to whip skid with my right pedal forward and my rear tire whipping to the right. But I dont know how to whip skid the other way. Would it be beneficial to learn both ways or it's fine just always whip skidding to the right?

whip it good. i just do it one way, and haven't found the need to do it the other way yet

You can always make a left turn by turning right, and then right, and then right again.

Never need to learn how to tail whip left.

Does it stop you faster or something? I guess if maybe there was debris on the right and you needed to whip skid for whatever reason. In such situations I'd just use my brake.

nah brah whip skidz for maximum zen

Scared the crap out of me the first time few months back. I kinda "walked into" the two consecutive whip skids when I was trying to "skip." I think it's about letting the bike go where it wants to go. Now, I can do upto three times consecutively, slightly like the fish-tailing that those PRO's do.


Does it stop you faster or something? I guess if maybe there was debris on the right and you needed to whip skid for whatever reason. In such situations I'd just use my brake.

Yes, it does. However, if you are doing it just to stop, it isn't really a skid. You need to chose one side and stick to it till you stop. Don't forget to put your weight on the rear tire as you aren't trying to skid; you are trying to stop. Your rear tire will slide out and you "stop" like hitting a brickwall. (http://www.oldskooltrack.com/) You have to remember, however, you are still "moving", just not forward-direction.

makes more skid patches, so yes it's beneficial in that sense

I think it's probably of some benefit to learn to do it both ways, even if you ride with a brake. A bit of whipping can be helpful to position yourself through traffic and in unexpected situations.

Practising trackstanding with the other foot forward to your usual foot will probably help you get more comfortable whipping to your less favoured side and/or with your other foot forward in general.

Would it be beneficial to learn both ways or it's fine just always whip skidding to the right?
Well, what if you need to go left but only know how to whip right? I guess you could do a 270 but thats just silly. Think about it.


ps, In all earnestness, learning skidzzzz, skipz z z z , and trashstands both ways is a good idea. You double your skid patchez, have more versatility on the street, quicker reaction time when some idiot forces you into an emergency stop, etc. Practicing both makes you a more well rounded street rider. Yes, you should definitely develop your left pedal forward.

Also, you can initiate your skid sooner. If you think "I need to skid" right at the moment your right foot is passing 90 degrees on the way down, its too late to skid on that revolution and you've gotta wait until your right foot gets all the way back around. On a typical 700c tire with mid-70s GI, this is about 6 feet later. Can make a big difference.

If you can skid both ways, you'll only have to wait 3 feet.

If you have a brake, you don't have to wait ever, but that's a different discussion.

makes more skid patches, so yes it's beneficial in that sense

doesn't this depend on the ratio
ie tooth count on both ring and cog must be odd or something like that

doesn't this depend on the ratio
ie tooth count on both ring and cog must be odd or something like that

All skid patches depend on the ratio, my son.

Yea you are healed. Come unto BFSSFG and learn the true ways.

the hardest bit is timing and getting coordinated, not so much initiating the skid.
You have to learn to angle your bars and lean the opposite way. very weird at first.

doesn't this depend on the ratio
ie tooth count on both ring and cog must be odd or something like that

No, it doesn't.

If you can only skid right foot forward, you'll have X skid patches.
If you can skid with either foot forward, you'll have 2X skid patches.

2X is always greater than X given that X is a whole number. Thus, regardless of ratio, an ambidextrous skidder will have more skid patches than someone who isn't.

If you can only skid right foot forward, you'll have X skid patches.
If you can skid with either foot forward, you'll have 2X skid patches.

2X is always greater than X given that X is a whole number. Thus, regardless of ratio, an ambidextrous skidder will have more skid patches than someone who isn't.

Your math skillz are weak.
If you have a 2:1 ratio, you always have one skid patch regardless of left/right forward.

As an "old person" I can say that anything that balances the wear you take doing stuff that can mess with your knees is a good thing. Two directions means only messing up each knee half as much. Hopefully that's enough that you'll never have a problem.

Your math skillz are weak.
If you have a 2:1 ratio, you always have one skid patch regardless of left/right forward.

my math skills are sooo much stronger than your math skills dont even front