General: how does one learn to skid?

Just go fast enough, get comfortable in a standing position, lean forward over the bars, lock your legs up hard. That's all you really need to know. Its just scary at first to overcome leaning over the handlebars, but after doing it a few times, you'll get used to it. What you're doing is lifting weight off the rear wheel by shifting the center of gravity to the front of the bike, while the rear wheel is unweighted, you lock your legs up, and the wheel will skid. Just hold it. Also, it might be helpful to find a comfortable position on your bars. Your gear ratio should be fine, I learned to skid on a 48:16 ratio.

leaning over the bars gives you practically zero stopping power. maybe its a good way to learn but to actually slow yourself in less than a block you need to skid from the saddle. "investing" in a front brake is not a mistake, especially if you're new and trying to push 52x16. if you still have the 42 ring you might want to switch to that.

Dont lean over your bars too skid as stated. You can hardly stop at all and have virtually no control of your bike. Ive always thought if looks stupid as hell too. If you are running a brakeless bike, and you dont have toe clips/straps, get them now [or get some nice cleats and go clipless.] Having foot retention will allow you to skid in your saddle and actually stop your bike when you need to stop it. It is a much safer to ride with foot retention then without it.
While you are riding, watch your feet. When your dominant foot is forward [lets say your right foot] and your left foot is back, pull up with your right foot and push down with your left. If it is your first time, try standing up a little and try to do a little endo. Youll see that your back wheel will pop up a little and then falls back to the ground. You will see that this action slows you down. This is a skip stop. Practice this until your are comfortable, then try doing them without standing up. Just pull up with one foot, push down with the other. You will skid. The longer you keep your legs locked, the quicker you will stop.
Foot retention is the real key here. When you are really used to riding fixed gear, you wont need to look at your feet and youll be able to judge distance vs. the location of your feet as they are spinning. Brakeless bikes are so much more fun with toe clips and straps. Switch your chainring to something a little smaller if it helps. I ride a 48 and its fine.

Posted By: Toaster_Cakefirst, get a brake if you are riding brakeless, its dangerous on the road for yourself and others. second switch out your gearing! It will make things way easier

come on now, nobody wants to have that discussion started. it's a slippery slope, soon every thread will be some iteration of "BRAKEFUL VS BRAKELESS".

i skid for fun, i skip to stop, it's like ABS on a bike

skidding is tons of fun, especially with a little snow on the road. as far as stopping power is concerned though locking up your rear wheel is not great and it gets expensive burning through tires. skipping works well (when your dominant foot gets to the top of the stroke get out of the saddle and start to lock up your opposite knee, it will pop your rear wheel, than pull up with your dominant foot and repeat, skipping until you stop.)

i always ride a front brake, and use it, because i commute long distances and i find my legs stay a lot fresher longer when i dont rely on locking up the wheel. but i think the best method to stop without a brake is to do a little skip to take the edge of you speed and then just soft pedal to a stop (skipping at the end if you need to slow more or reset your feet for a track stand). i feel like my stopping distance is much shorter this way than skidding.

Here is the best way: spin as fast as you can. Make sure all your slanty-haired friends are watching. Take your feet off the pedals, lean down and bring your face right down to the pavement. Don't close your eyes cause then you'll look like a pussy. And just let it slide...


;)

grow some balls and just do it :)

lean all the way forward until your nose is almost scraping the wheel ,then thow your feet off the pedals and your SURE TO SKIDDDDDD [:

just go out and ride your bike words on a screen wont help

if you can believe it there are these folks with huge bags on their backs that ride though the streets of san francsico down hills and do this thing you call "skidding" not a hoax mind you

ditto Tbird

which is complete bullshit. one my schwinn track, i run 50/50 platforms and no brake, and can skid just as well as alot of people with clips. you don't "HAVE TO". it's helpful to learn though

edit: i used to have a brake on there, and will probably put one on again. it wears your back knee out.

Posted By: Otto Raxwhich is complete bullshit. one my schwinn track, i run 50/50 platforms and no brake

shit is scary.

I have a conversion and It's easiest for me to skid staying seated. Just keep trying and you'll get it eventually. It took me about a day to get it down , so just be patient you won't get it the first time. Goodluck!

her bike profile says 42-18. pretty light.

i learned leg over the handle bar skids in the grass :)

spacerokkid - your also riding a conversion , its probably for the better your using a brake .

you are wrong . Road frames have totally different geometry , and its not the same for skidding .

A brake is probably safer , if you know what your doing . Ive heard several cases of people going over the handle bars after using the brake on their track bikes. Im saying its not as easy to skid on a conversion cause your riding position isnt the same.

Posted By: deermattA brake is probably safer , if you know what your doing . Ive heard several cases of people going over the handle bars after using the brake on their track bikes. Im saying its not as easy to skid on a conversion cause your riding position isnt the same.

well, that was my point mainly, that it is safer regardless because you said it was better for me to have a brake. i think its better for everyone. skidding is just a poor form of stopping, its simple physics. but how exactly does your orientation on a track bike make for an easier skid? i understand the basic differences in frame geometry but none seem to really yield an easier skid in my mind. could you explain the differences in geometry and how it makes it easier? maybe explain how your orientation yields an easier skid? also, what track frames exactly?

right on! safety is first. i just dont see having a brake on there as taking anything away from my bike. i mean, what? its a few grams of weight? and even though its on there, i still slow with my legs as well, this is one of the many things i really enjoy about riding fixed. but you are right, to each their own. i just hope you know what you are doing! its sad to hear guys getting seriously hurt all in the sake keeping their precious street cred (not referring to you of course). hehe, it almost seems like a rite of passage here in my city to try and bomb all the big hills without a brake only to end up in the back of an ambulance! thats another thing i said before, its based on terrain. im tackling some huge monster hills around where i live, so skidding would just be pointless. id do more skidding then rolling. but if you feel comfortable in your hood without a brake, thats cool.

and honestly, just like on the other thread, i feel like theres a lot of hostility and most of it comes out of this elitist type of attitude. its like, as soon as some track bike elitist comes up to my bike and sees drop outs, old shifter bosses and a front brake, they turn their nose up at me. or of course, my favorite, the old school vintage road bike elitist who is mad because i found my bike before he did! even this whole "oh you probably need a brake for your conversion" comment. i know track frames are different in geometry, i have done my homework but im pretty sure you can skid just the same on my reynolds 501 than you can on any other bike. like rabbi said, its the strength of the riders legs.

again, i just think it is funny because their seems like a lot of misinformation and elitist type boasting and hating going around. i really just try and combat that and really stand up for the people like myself, who may have actually gotten into the fixed gear scene with rather honest and sincere intentions that actually ENJOY bikes, not use them as a fashion accessory or means in which to put everyone down. honestly, i am just really fascinated by these bikes. its great sharing and talking with so many different people about them. gosh, i just wish there was more respect and a little less contempt. not EVERYONE whos new to fixed gears is trying to up their street cred with the local hipster circles or become the next lance armstrong, you know what i mean? i ride cause its fun and interesting, not cause its trendy and unlike most, i study and do the most homework i can on it!