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- CommentAuthornrunyan
- CommentTimeSep 25th 2009
For the people that don't have brakes on their fixed gear, how often do you go through your back tires skidding? Not just ridiculous like how long can I skid skids, but actually trying to just slow down. I am about to have a hole in a gatorskin that I got back in June or July. Does this just mean I am skidding way too much? -
- CommentAuthorsfbee
- CommentTimeSep 25th 2009
Change your gear ratio. 42/14 is going to leave you with one skid patch:
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- CommentAuthornrunyan
- CommentTimeSep 25th 2009
That could definitely have something to do with it, thanks lol. -
- CommentAuthorwes m.
- CommentTimeSep 25th 2009 edited
Posted By: sfbeeChange your gear ratio. 42/14 is going to leave you with one skid patch:
That chart proves a marginally serious claim that I have been making for years... the 17 tooth cog is the king of all cogs for street use. Sure... there is the 19 tooth cog but who the hell uses a 19 tooth cog? -
- CommentAuthorsuicide_doors
- CommentTimeSep 25th 2009
Wes, you might be a bike geek. Like, in a serious way. Seek help. -
- CommentAuthorLyKqiD
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
I know about trying to dial in skid patches with your gear ratio, but does anyone keep track of where their chain sits on their chainring and cog. I remember reading awhile ago that if you have even numbered chainring+cog combo's then you will get a vastly longer life out of your chain, if you can keep the half links in contact with the same sprockets on your chainring and cog. Anyone get or know what I am saying? -
- CommentAuthorterrible_one49
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
You don't HAVE to skid to stop. I ride brakeless and ride both a 49/14 and 49/17 in the winter, and can keep the same tires for over a year or so. I have to skid SOMETIMES, but it's rare. -
- CommentAuthorquidose
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
Yes, you are skidding way too much. You should not Need to skid to slow down. Learn some resistance. It is true that a different gear ratio will give you more skid patches, but I've been using the same $10 Kenda tire with a 3:1 ratio for almost 6 months now, and I haven't skidded through it yet (although it is quite bald - evenly so, though - just from regular riding). -
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
I use a 19 tooth cog, 48 x 19.
48 x 17 = 74 gear inches which to me is kind of ridiculous on the street and a bit difficult to skid (I skid for fun, no such thing as too much). -
- CommentAuthorterrible_one49
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
48x17 is not hard to skid at all. My "easy" gear is 49x17, and my normal street/track gear is 49x14, which I can skid with fine.
I guess it comes down to how strong your legs are and your riding speed. -
- CommentAuthorquidose
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
+1 t.o. -
- CommentAuthorSteven Bell
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009 edited
Posted By: terrible_one49I guess it comes down to how strong your legs are and your riding speed.
also, how well your knees hold up. In my experience riding too high of a gear was fine as far as legs go, but my knees were starting to hurt after 10 minutes of riding around. Also, now that i think about it, its probably a lot harder on your drive terrain to ride a high gear as well, especially if you are starting and stopping a lot. -
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
Posted By: terrible_one4948x17 is not hard to skid at all. My "easy" gear is 49x17, and my normal street/track gear is 49x14, which I can skid with fine.
I guess it comes down to how strong your legs are and your riding speed.
As far skidding goes, how much you weigh also factors in. I weigh 210, to I have to convince the tire to break traction with that much weight over it. All you skinny guys needs to put a cinder block in your messenger bag and then try to skid.
It also comes down to your cadence, and I prefer a higher cadence, probably because of years of BMX.
49 x 14 is higher than what most people race with at the Velodrome and I doubt you are averaging 30+ mph on the street, which means you ride at a very low cadence. -
- CommentAuthorAlM
- CommentTimeSep 30th 2009 edited
I don't know soo much about weight, it's all about technique and how much you ride.
I doubt mr manly man street cred can skid just fine riding 49-14 though. 49-17 is nothing though, anyone should be able to manage that. -
- CommentAuthorterrible_one49
- CommentTimeOct 1st 2009
It really is a lot about technique. I had difficulty skidding with 42/16 when I first started riding. Now with riding a 49/14, it's not difficult to lock into a solid skid if having to stop quickly. I only weight 148lbs, so it's not because I'm way heavy that makes it possible. -
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeOct 1st 2009 edited
Being heavy makes it harder to skid.
Burned through 4 tires over the summer. Do I ride enough?
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