So I've realized that a lot of posts on 'brakelessness' and 'skidding' that I've made here were kind of missinformed....

I was talking about skipping. When I was riding without clipless pedals, I could still lift the rear wheel up and drop it down at a dead stop, and get that squeak that lets you know that the rear wheel is actually skidding on the ground.

Now that I have the clipless, and a new WAY lighter/smaller saddle, the back end on my Bianchi weighs almost nothing. I've been practicing on my late night/early morning rides at picking the rear wheel up a few inches and using both legs to start it spinning backwards while there is no friction.

It seems like the best way of stopping I've found yet. I'm not usually extended too far over the bars, and it's a very quick thing. When I usually have to stop really quickly, I don't think a block long skid would be the thing to do. The quick skip, if I can get the back wheel moving backwards, doesn't seem to completely kill the forward momentum, but it puts me down to the speed that I could easily trackstand a car pulling out in front of me or a car that I know is going to make a left hand turn across my path. I've mainly been trying it on trails, or about a half block before an intersection that I know will be a problem, and I usually still have to plan where I'm going to do it in my pedal stroke....

I'm kind of wondering what I should look for maintinence wise from doing this, and how long I can expect tires to last (currently running 23mm gatorskins front and rear). Also, is it possible to lift the wheel enough that you can end up before the start of the skip when you're done? I can usually do about 1/2 a pedal stroke backwards from a trackstand, it seems like it should theoretically be possible to up the back wheel, start it going backwards, then continue the motion...

Input from other brakeless/clipless riders is appreciated.

I would give you my input, but I have no idea what your asking... maybe if you rephrase the question.

i have never found this 'skipping technique' to stop a bike faster than a simple skid... i dont see how it could. in my experience, the fastest way to stop on a fixie (without crashing, of coarse) is to skid with as much weight as possible on the rear wheel -- either completely seated or your ass a few inches off the seat. it takes a much stronger pull than i usually would want to make, but it works if you have to stop fast (assumoing you dont have a front brake).

I've got a front brake on my fixie so my input is crap here. I did try to do a skid today at lunch in the parking garage on my way to my car. Don't think I got enough weight off the back as I couldn't skid the rear and the momentum of my pedals keeps trying to buck me off. Plus I was thinking of other things like my bottom bracket being stripped on the fixed cup side. But more on that later.

But to further ephemeralskin's point, I think skidding as you normally do and then shifting your weight back to the rear wheel would slow you down faster. But then having not skidded a bike since my earlier years on a coaster brake bike, my opinion is nul and void here.

Yeah, I don't really know what I was thinking of either - check the time of the post

It just seemed that what I'm doing doesn't seem to be much like how everyone else is talking of skidding, or the descriptions of how to do it I've read online... It's more like I'm jumping up and back from the bike, pulling the rear tire up off the ground. While it's off the ground, I start it rolling backwards then drop it back down - I haven't tried it at any crazy speeds, but it seems to drop me to basically nothing for speed.

It just seemed weird to me I guess... but it works pretty good... now all I have to do is learn to do it in a panic. But I don't panic too often, so it's all good.

skipping is the most important fixie nobrake skill. an efficient skid may stop a tad quicker, but is exhausting. a skip at higher speed can allmost half your speed as you approch an interesction and then you can just slow down a bit with your knees...its easy and efficient. also, most people think of skids as "skidcomp skids" which are totally inneficient (but fun!)

not really related, but my favorite thing about skidding is fishtailing around a turn and freaking out the peds who think i am about to crash and cant understand where the noise is coming from.

skipstops are cool but i wouldnt want to replace a hard skid in emergency situations. also that seems scary-- lifting up your back wheel at really high speeds.. ehh i guess i should go practice this new dance craze before i get embarrassed at the bandstand...

Anybody care to offer a 101 instruction on skidding? I am sort of hesitant because I have creaky knees and yet I know I want to skid. Any help?

1) lean forward
2) when crank arms are horizontal, push down with back foot, pull up with front foot
3) bask in the glory of your skid

...you might want to add: 0) stand up. At least at first. Better leverage. After the first few rocky times you'll get this kinesthetic memory from first or second grade when you used to skid around the neighborhood on whatever bike was cool back then.

I'm too uncoordinated for skip stops

Thanks! Now I'm going to try!

Does this only work with clippless or does it work with clipped too?

you must be attached to your pedals. either clipless or clipped in - either way works.

start off leaning forward lots, to get the technique down. as your skid muscles and technique improve, lean forward less and less. i can now skid in the saddle on a street gearing fix, and its much more efficient at stopping (the skids where you lean into the handlebars ALOT are "skidcomp skids" because the back wheel unweights and you get to draw the skid out)

What gearing are we talking here?

OK: so I did skid today. Just little queefy skids. Not yet the three-bean-burrito-fart skids, yet. So I have to work my way up?

44x16 or 44x15
a.k.a.
72 - 77 gear inches

hey Cyclo
anything as far as "too short" re: gear inches and skiddin'?

too short what? i started on a 40x17 which was too low...if that what you mean...but thats how i got all the technique down in the first place...or where you talking something else

nope...spot on.
thx