I run a front brake but try to use it as little as possible. I notice all the cool fixie riders seem to prefer popping the rear wheel out a little sideways when they skid. I've experimented and haven't been able to notice any difference in stopping power. Plus it seems like it would put more strain on the wheel. Is the whip superior, or just cooler?

it's not about stopping. actually, it's about not stopping. if you want to live, then don't skid and use your brake. if you're goofing off around your cul-de-sac then skid.

The cool riders go barefoot.

whip it.

I dont know that I've seen a large difference, the major difference comes with skipping instead of skidding. i dont know why people hate on skipping or skidding so much, but different strokes I suppose.

thank you for changing the picture.

In all seriousness, whipping it to the side gets you stopped faster, feels better, looks cooler, and skids a different part of the tire than if you went straight and skidded.

Check out my sweet skid hierarchy:
Seated whipped > seated straight > nuts-to-stem skid

And the ambidextrious double skid, whipping it out opposite directions with each foot forward is pretty damn sweet too.

Also, the same foot forward whip around to both sides skid.

Zig zag skips get you stopped pretty well. Exactly like they sound, whip it a opposite ways for each skip forward, going in a zig zag motion.

/endramble

whipped out is just really really fun

thank the webmaster of sohoblues.com, i didn't do a thing except link it here.

B. R. A. K. E. S.

Brakes Really Are Kool En Stopping.

Sorry.

interesting. i thought you did it because one of the guys had been photoshopped over.

Did you read the first four words of this thread?

Doing a little fishtail helps to slow you faster. The side profile of the contact patch is wider than the front so it adds a little more fricton.

Using the brake will always stop faster than skidding.

thanks for that, dutret.

whipping IS fun but i also end up whipping out sometimes when i get lazy skidding on hills or long slowing skids in general

You just plagarised that from me.

Leg over bar thru the frame suicide with eyes closed FTW

Did you read the words after it?

so what's the trick to whipping? i haven't really worked on it much

i find that fishtailing is an easier way to regulate your speed than a long straight out skid.

so yeah, you can catch me swerving.

well. just keep trying to push the bike sideways, by turning your handlebars slightly, and leaning slightly. while skidding of course.

it's kind of a conditioned response, just like skidding and trackstanding--you get better at it the more you do it. and it feels more natural.

i can only really whip my bike around one way, i've been trying to perfect this before i try it the other way.

budget for new tires

its the best way to round out eversquares

I haven't had enough time to practice on my fix, but I know when i was a kid rockin the coaster brake the "whip stop" was ALWAYS faster than a straight skid.

viking... what are you talking about? You use tires when you skid? We're all talking about bikes man.