If I constantly skid on a ratio that has only one skid patch, it will be trashed pretty soon. If I have 17 skid patches, the tire will last 17x as long.

Um... the more skid patches you have, the more evenly worn out the tire is, SAVING you to buy more tires. However, you don't skid at every place, making the patch number rather theoretical.

You do realize its not just chain bound, Its Theoretical Other factors process into it. just because u have 5 patches doesnt mean its A-b-c-d-e everytime.

You can't be serious.

Physics says that there's more friction between a tire that's gripping and the road than a tire that's skidding, therefore skidding will not stop you faster than applying as much back pressure as possible without losing grip.

That's what I was getting at.

In theory, I think you're right, but in practice, I don't think you can apply nearly enough force by backpedaling for this to be true.

But physics doesn't necessarily say that a cyclist is able to apply back pressure evenly enough throughout the entire revolution of cranks to slow down more efficiently than by skidding.

OTOH the difference between the friction of the partially-unweighted-for-sw8-skiddz rearwheel and the normally weighted rearwheel might be more significant than the friction diff between grip and skid?

Nagrom beat me to it.

Skids are for kids. Soo uncool cause we wornout our knees ...front brake and wiggling to a stop is the new ****!

I saw this and did a rather un-scientific study: all on 47x16

On a downhill, I can skid to a stop faster than backpedalling.

On flat, backpedalling is shorter, but not by much. ~2ft.

"Check my myspace bro, you'll see how hardcore I am". Lol, I liked reading through this.

Pick a ratio with green numbers:

https://www.bikecalc.com/skid_patch_calculator

you.. I like you!

Nice 4yr resurrection

Actually, he's responding to a post from NINE years ago.