Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

I lost my virginity today!

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

I lost my virginity today!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-08-04 | 03:59 PM
  #1  
progre-ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: The Poconos, PA

Bikes: Converted 1997 Trek Singletrack 930 singlespeed and a Kona Lavadome singlespeed, fixed Dahon folding bike, fixed 27" Miyata road bike, early 70's Raleigh Chopper

I lost my virginity today!

Skidding virginity that is! Figured it was a good time as I never put the front brake lever back on after switching bars and stems this weekend. From what I could remember reading on learning how to skid I shifted my weight forward and kinda rested my thighs against the tops of my bars and then pushed back on my right leg just as the pedal was coming up from the 6 o'clock position. Wow! That seemed fairly easy. I did it a few more times and then tried it with a bit more speed. Almost got bucked from my bike twice. I guess I have to apply more pressure to lesson the bucking factor at speed. I'm also a bit leary of having all that weight up fron and being clipped in as I feel like I'm going to flip over and brake my collarbone. Any suggestions on skidding? How about inexpensive but good tires? Thanks!
progre-ss is offline  
Reply
Old 07-08-04 | 04:18 PM
  #2  
Fugazi Dave's Avatar
Beausage is Beautiful
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 13
From: Saitama, Japan

Bikes: Nabiis Alchemy

Mmmmm....skidding cherry...
__________________
Yo. Everything I’m doing is linked on What’s up with Dave? but most of note currently is Somewhere in Japan.
Fugazi Dave is offline  
Reply
Old 07-08-04 | 04:19 PM
  #3  
pitboss's Avatar
cxmagazine dot com
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,269
Likes: 1
From: WI

Bikes: Titus road, Fort CX

wait until tomorrow...you inner thigh will be sore. From skidding too
pitboss is offline  
Reply
Old 07-08-04 | 04:31 PM
  #4  
s2sxiii's Avatar
All Things Go
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
From: dayton, oh

Bikes: 01 bianchi pista, custom. 04 felt f-15, full record.

if you go back to riding gears, are you a born again skidding virgin?
s2sxiii is offline  
Reply
Old 07-08-04 | 04:36 PM
  #5  
progre-ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: The Poconos, PA

Bikes: Converted 1997 Trek Singletrack 930 singlespeed and a Kona Lavadome singlespeed, fixed Dahon folding bike, fixed 27" Miyata road bike, early 70's Raleigh Chopper

Originally Posted by s2sxiii
if you go back to riding gears, are you a born again skidding virgin?
I don't think I'll go back to gears at all. But ya, born again skidding virgin sounds about right. BTW, I sent you an email in reply to your PM to me. Did ya get it?
progre-ss is offline  
Reply
Old 07-08-04 | 09:16 PM
  #6  
Fugazi Dave's Avatar
Beausage is Beautiful
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 13
From: Saitama, Japan

Bikes: Nabiis Alchemy

So when I was riding tonight I tried really putting my weight forward. Hips on the handlebars sort of forward. Voila - skid. I've just been skipping for the last few weeks. Now I get it. It's going to take a while to get comfortable throwing so much weight forward, though.
__________________
Yo. Everything I’m doing is linked on What’s up with Dave? but most of note currently is Somewhere in Japan.
Fugazi Dave is offline  
Reply
Old 07-09-04 | 12:45 AM
  #7  
Bikkhu's Avatar
sVe
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Hellsinki, Funland

Bikes: Nishiki Continental fixed winter beater, Fixed Surly CrossCheck

Originally Posted by progre-ss
Skidding virginity that is! Figured it was a good time as I never put the front brake lever back on after switching bars and stems this weekend. From what I could remember reading on learning how to skid I shifted my weight forward and kinda rested my thighs against the tops of my bars and then pushed back on my right leg just as the pedal was coming up from the 6 o'clock position. Wow! That seemed fairly easy. I did it a few more times and then tried it with a bit more speed. Almost got bucked from my bike twice. I guess I have to apply more pressure to lesson the bucking factor at speed. I'm also a bit leary of having all that weight up fron and being clipped in as I feel like I'm going to flip over and brake my collarbone. Any suggestions on skidding? How about inexpensive but good tires? Thanks!
1. speed up, preferably on a wet asphalpt 2. Lift your balls on your stem, stop pedalling and relax your legs whilst applying back pressure on your preferred leg. 3. Hey presto, skidding 101 completed!
Bikkhu is offline  
Reply
Old 07-09-04 | 12:53 AM
  #8  
Jose Cuervo's Avatar
Lowlife Drunk
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Chicago

Bikes: Early 1980's Rossin 49x17, Aero Head Wheels (White) & Formula Hubs, Cinelli Stem & Drops, Ofmega Cranks (Mistral) & Headset

What a good feeling. I just recently learned how to skid too since i've only been riding fixed for about a month. The first time i did it couldn't believe that it was so easy. I'm getting more and more comfortable really putting my thighs closer to my drops. I've found that really helps, but I still haven't tried really hauling ass and skidding.
Jose Cuervo is offline  
Reply
Old 07-09-04 | 07:50 AM
  #9  
South Fulcrum's Avatar
I Voted for the Green M&M
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA

Bikes: Fixie

I should have posted it when it happened. I recently (a month or so ago) took off my front brake. I had never really tried the skid thing. One evening on my way home, I was coming to an intersection and there were more cars there than usual. I figured that was about as good a time as any to learn how to skid. It worked great and now I'm thinking I need to rotate my tires. Furthermore, I got some great new bars the other day. Bullhorns with a 40 degree drop. They make it much easier to push my weight forward than the regular drop bars. I think I have about the same stopping distance that I had with a brake.
__________________
Well at least I'm housebroken.
South Fulcrum is offline  
Reply
Old 07-09-04 | 07:04 PM
  #10  
secret track gearing
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Boston
i havent figured out how to skip/skid yet, but it might have something to do with not having clips yet, or that im riding a road frame, not sure... it could even be my gear ratio maybe, its 16 in the back, and maybe 50 in the front, never got around to counting the teeth on the front ring
go4broke44 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-09-04 | 07:24 PM
  #11  
Fugazi Dave's Avatar
Beausage is Beautiful
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 13
From: Saitama, Japan

Bikes: Nabiis Alchemy

I'm running a road frame and 52x18. I spent an hour this afternoon on the wet streets having a blast getting more comfortable skidding. Those two factors shouldn't be, well, factors. Get yourself some clips!
__________________
Yo. Everything I’m doing is linked on What’s up with Dave? but most of note currently is Somewhere in Japan.
Fugazi Dave is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-04 | 01:03 AM
  #12  
jitensha!'s Avatar
ready for the freakout
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: the 757

Bikes: Spicer track

Originally Posted by Jose Cuervo
...I still haven't tried really hauling ass and skidding.
yeah, you gotta power down when you hit the high rpm's. i tried to pull a skid when i was hauling ass a couple weeks ago and the momentum of the bike bucked me off. fortunately, no one but a couple of my friends saw me. got some nasty roadrash, tho.
jitensha! is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-04 | 01:02 PM
  #13  
secret track gearing
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Boston
is skipping any different than skidding? supposedly most people learn that first, is there a different way to skip, than to skid? i've gotten used to the whole fixed gear thing, but still can't seem to get over the stopping without the front brake part.
go4broke44 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-04 | 01:14 PM
  #14  
Fugazi Dave's Avatar
Beausage is Beautiful
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 13
From: Saitama, Japan

Bikes: Nabiis Alchemy

At least in my case, skipping was what I did before I learned to throw my weight forward.
__________________
Yo. Everything I’m doing is linked on What’s up with Dave? but most of note currently is Somewhere in Japan.
Fugazi Dave is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-04 | 03:36 PM
  #15  
Filthy Cycling Rodent
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruise

Bikes: too many

throwing your weight forward is NOT a useful skid. it's a skidcomp skid, or a learners skid. it unweights the back wheel too much. the balls over the stem thing should be happening only for fun or in the learning stages, in my opinion.

in high rpm, skipping is very very importnat, and is very useful to power down too. it involves kicking up the back wheel (for lack of better term) freezing it and setting it back down. can cut your speed in half used properly.

learn to skip, for you, for your knees, for your tires.

now, who wants to have a skidcomp? :-D
cyclorat is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.