Having a longer stem also helps too when you're leaning forward and shifting the weight.

man, i gotta be honest, i have read these things over and over again...watched countless video's, have seen people lean over the bars, and others like emi and massan who just barely get off the saddle and do skids...but, i still cannot do them...i am running the standard 48 16 that came on the kilo tt, and it is hard enough just to slow down on it...when i try and lock up my legs, the pedals just keep on moving...i realize my gear ratio is like 81% which is farely high, but i live in the midwest, hills are really not a problem...so whats up, for those of us who cannot skid at all, do we need to look at a lower gear ratio and go to the gym to make our legs look like the hulk or what?!? i gotta be honest, i love watching emi and massan ride and the way they skid...yeah i would like to know how to do it to for emegency w/ my front brake, but like everyone else...i want to skid cause it looks fun as hell...

I can't do it yet, either, but I figure it's a matter of time.

My fixed gear bike got stolen last night, though, so it may be a while before I have another one. :-(

its in the legs, not the ratio

I agree. I bought a 14t cog for the track (still haven't had a chance to use it..*sniffle) but I put it on for a test ride around the block, 46x14, and I was still able to skid, just took more effort.

In that case, it must be a matter of technique as well as strength, if you can do it with a higher ratio than you had before.

I just remember pulling/pushing so hard at first that I'd cramp my hamstrings

I think it comes down a to a combination of muscle control, strength, and memory. Once you practice a lot it kind of becomes second nature and more of an instinctual move than something you have try hard to do.

Chances are if your having problems your a little weakling and need to buff up. Get in the gym, do some leg workouts (the machines are great for this) and put some on some muscle mass.

Yeah the pedals are going to keep going forward, get yourself a damn freewheel if you don't have the manpower to stop them.

Might want to get a brake too, though it would be awesome to watch someone skid on a freewheel

seated skids all day long

Its easiest to skid if your feet are at 2 and 8 o clock. Pull up with the foot at 2 and push down with the foot at 8.

Experiment with which foot is at the front but after a while you'll be able to switch and skid in other positions.

Nuts on the stem makes it easier to unweight the rear wheel but you can also just kinda hop the back wheel to skid easier if you want to do seated skids.

Pick up some speed and commit to it or no amount of good advice will help you!

Just realized I dont have strap in pedals. Im sure it will be a lot easier if I can pull up on a pedal. or no?

.... Yes... that would solve your problem here buddy.. it's all about the pulling up

LOL thats some sig worthy material right there.

The immensity of the facepalm i did was of epic proportions