Parabolous

Hi Everyone,

I have pedaled bikes all my life and bought a SS/fixie 8 months ago and have since ridden the freewheel. I recently flipped the hub and tried the fixed gear and found myself at a loss at a couple of things. I cannot skid the bike for some reason and I am wondering if my ratio is too big. I see many fixsters skidding and skip stopping all over but their ratios are more bmx size and they more than likely live half a block from all their destinations. I ride 47/16 on the fixed gear side (same on the freewheel). I would appreciate tips and any help that anyone can offer. Skidding is not the priority here, stopping is. I have the front brake attached and still need to learn skip hopping or skid hopping however anyone is familiar with it. Thanks everyone!

Keep pedaling!

-Parabolous

Parabolous

Aww you're one of those "cyclists" that are mean. Adorable.

Clif

Someones pissy.

-Not directed to op.

Try leaning forward some more. Also your gonna need some sort of foot retention.

Parabolous

I'll try the leaning forward more. I ride with the Origin8 footstraps, they are really thick and cover my feet well. Maybe I should go to a toe cage? Although, I ride VP Beartrap pedals so I should switch those out with track I assume. Thanks for your tips, Clif! I appreciate it!

mestizoracer310

Parabolous, how hold are you? I mean, how is your body, physically? Any pains in your knees? Avoid resisting and skid stopping as much as possible. You WILL tear up the knees. I met a 21 year old who's done so. (He was one of those messengers in San Fran and in a year or two he's forced to ride SS)

I usually resist to slow down and use my front brake more than skid stops.. Skid stops willl tear up your tire, depending on your gearing and if you'll be able to do it w/ either foot forward...

Anyway, when I don't use my brake I usually do "skip stops"...I lift the rear end and lock my knees, and I generally only do it to slow down....

vw02

man you guys are friendly....

he asked politely, seems just stoked on riding in general, don't be such *******s. yeah he could search, but give the guy a break. at least he isnt asking which FG to start out with.

and look out for mr bigshot at 48/15 brakeless...

sry, i can't help, i don't ride fixed.

nuhtowel

Skidding is not a reasonable way to stop your bike, it just looks cool.

Parabolous

mestizoracer310, I am 20 years old. I can press 290lbs with each leg, but I am weary of the micro tears in my knee. I use the brake to slow down but I seem to go slower on the fixed gear rather than on my freewheel do to trying to time my stops. I guess practice is needed! Thank you for your time.

Oh, and to those who like to talk smack, go kill yourselves. Seriously. Survive a 5 ton truck and talk to me about your worthless lives. This is why bikers are hated because you have to be idiots.

XianRL

Yeah, practice always helps. Maybe find an empty, big parking lot where you can practice without worrying about cars, traffic laws, etc. If you find you don't want to skid or dislike the fixed side of the hub, well, you have the SS side!

Screw "street cred." Ride whichever side you prefer. Hell, do whatever you want! Just try not to hurt people.

And sorry to hear about those micro tears. Ride on, Para.

zoltani

maybe in flat ass jersey city/nyc

hailandkill

lol, i don't think it's too flat here

but i've never been to Seattle

nyc is definitely more flat then jersey city though, although my commute has a couple hills that i have to climb and descend.

but don't listen to me, everyone rides differently.

Parabolous

Good job correlating this forum to your being a jackass. Keep responding though, hailandkill, we all want to see your next witty comment. But don't hurt yourself, I understand your ratio is keeping you up all night wondering when someone will ask you what you run. If you dislike my age then move on big man and post something on Facebook about how you put this whippersnapper in his place. If your brakelessness accounts for being a ignorant waste of life then PLEASE, stay off my streets.

Parabolous

Thank you, some of the best advice I've heard.

xkillemallx16

hey guys. what the hell? he comes in twice as polite as anyone else and he gets treated twice as rude as anyone else. get out of here, stop being six year olds.

but for the op.
1. try leaning forward a bit more. its not your ratio.
2. try an old baseball field with mild gravel. or try wet ground - winters not over yet.
3. keep practicing. you seem to have the right equipment and foot retention, just keep at it. dont give up!

good luck!

Great Pan

i run 52/17 on one of my bikes... and i can skid and hop stop (i dont know what this is actually called) just fine.

rustybrown

Agreed, stuck around through a mild bashing, as well.

Wet grass/pavement is premier for learning purposes, depending on your situation. Once you got it, you generally got it. And it's all progress from there.

Bar selection helps as well. Something with a little more leverage on the front, like bullhorns or drops and hoods, helps to get your weight forward in the beginning.

Parabolous

Thanks! I'll be putting these beartraps to good use! Awesome quotes too haha

Parabolous

That's awesome, seems I got some work to do. What length is your crank at for the 52/17 ratio?

Parabolous

Why, thank you. I ride bullhorn bars. I have a hard time trying to find 'pursuit bullhorn' bars, or whatever they are called, the ones that dip down a little. I'll try to position my bars further down and see if that works. Thank you for the tips!

Great Pan

i'm running 167's on it.. im pretty sure. if not its 170

its definitely just practice that makes you better.

XianRL

Here's some more help from the archives: one and the general Google bike forum search. That's the trick. Don't bother using the forum's search function. It's atrocious.

Just type in your keyword (e.g. skidding) and "bike forums" in Google. Your first result will likely be a list of archived threads from the forums. Not sharing this to be condescending.

Great Pan

also, i had a problem with skidding with bullhorns when i first started, knees kept hitting the bars, maybe look into that?

Parabolous

I think mine are 172? Probably 170. Definitely it seems practice will do best. Thank you for your time!

Parabolous

That's really useful, I will use this trick more than once I'm sure. Thank you!

guitarmankyle

if you want to learn to skip stop, press down on one foot while lifting the other when your cranks are parallel