Skidding with a Fixed Gear

November 2, 2005 9:24 AM

Fixedgear Filter: How do you skip or skid?

I'm too embarrassed to ask this at Bikeforums, but after reading the 63xc article, I can't figure out how to unweight the back wheel. I know it involves shifting your weight forward, but how do you actually get the wheel up? I've been riding fixed for a few months and I still can't figure this out. Bikers please hope me.

posted by dial-tone to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Learning to skid is all about thrusting and holding your crotch onto the handlebar stem. This will move your weight off the back tire. Combine that forward movement with locking one of your legs at a downward angle of about 30 degrees and you'll skid.

It's kinda scary at first, because you're really throwing your whole body into it, but after you've done it a few times, it feels great.

Skipping has never been as fun for me. It's a million times easier if you're in toe clips (same with skidding, actually), and involves thrusting your body forward a bit while "hopping"--pulling upwards on the clips, especially the rear one.
posted by cloeburner at 9:35 AM on November 2, 2005

Also, there's a fixed gear how-to with tips on skipping and skidding here, and the Alex video here is a nice demo of perfect skidding form.

And, lastly, it should be noted that skidding and skipping are bad for your tire, hub, and knees, in case you care about any of those things.
posted by cloeburner at 9:51 AM on November 2, 2005

this is the latest iteration of this question. you can scroll half way down to link to other threads...
posted by whatitis at 9:52 AM on November 2, 2005

Where's fixedgear when we need him?
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:02 AM on November 2, 2005

Where's fixedgear when we need him?

I'm surprised fixedgear's bicycle sense hasn't tingled because there is a bike question on MetaFilter. I think he's doing chores for his mother-in-law, but I just emailed him. (He's my brother.)
posted by Fat Guy at 12:12 PM on November 2, 2005

I'm such a loser, I can't skid and can't track stand either. I can ride a century on a fixie and go up hills that would make most mortals weep, though.

I wouldn't practice skidding unless you have a real track cog and lockring, mounted on a real track hub, as it does put a lot of stress on the drivetrain. If you are using whatever they call screwing a track cog on to a freewheel hub (bumbike or suicide hub), you may be smashing your testicles onto the top tube in short order. Oh yeah, your friends at Puma (pdf) can teach you to skid, and buy their shoes, BTW.
posted by fixedgear at 12:29 PM on November 2, 2005