Originally Posted by
cc700
4- just forget about that. it's a good way to go over the bars. instead, put all your weight forward and pull the front crank forward with your foot, no brake.
5- you'll bust your ass and they'll laugh, or you'll go slow and they won't think anything of it.
That's terrible advice.
It's pretty damn hard to throw yourself over the bars on a road bike. You really have to be trying to do it. Leaning forward and skidding it really just a way to make braking as ineffective as possible, so you can skid for a really long time. It's a really lame way to trim off speed going down a long hill (like the op's ride to work).
Use the brake. Skid for fun or to look cool (or not). You won't flip over the bars unless you are leaning forward to skid and then hit the brake, or if you really try to lock up the front while you're going really fast. For a panic stop, get used to using the front brake, while skidding, and don't lean forward.