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General: Is 46-16 a hard gear to skid in?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorKayzle
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009 edited
     
    I've had my bike for about a month, but haven't had a whole lot of time to ride, but I've been trying to skid for a while and I just cant get it

    I will admit I have pretty weak legs, I'm doing my best to commit to leaning forward but I haven't gotten close to pulling off a skid yet( it seems hwen i lean up and try to lock my legs they usually just go out form under me)

    Is there an easier ratio I could run either keeping my cog or chainring that would get me started skidding?

    I'm getting VERY frustrated
    • CommentAuthorgreg
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009
     
    Go out on a rainy day and try or find a gravel path and you'll get it
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009
     
    are you strapping your feet into your pedals well? it will help alot if you can pull up on them with out your feet coming out. 46x16 should be perfect for learning to skid honestly, just takes patience i guess.

    strap your feet in good and tight, get going pretty fast (speed helps), as the leg you want to be in back when you skid hits the bottom of your cranks revolution lock your knee up, this will pop you up out of the saddle, put a little weight forward and pull up on your front foot while pushing back against your rear.
    your wheel should be sufficiently unweighted for it to lock up!

    now go burn a hole through your tire.
    • CommentAuthorLyKqiD
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009 edited
     
    If you know how to skid, it doesn't matter the ratio...
    Skidding is a split between having the strength to lock your pedals, and having the balls to lean completely over your handlebars.
    The more you move your center of gravity over your front wheel the easier it becomes to skid.
    The higher the ratio the further you will have to lean forward.
  5.  
    i learned on a 45/17 and then switched back to 45/16 (not a hard gear to skid in and close to 46/16). That 6 or so fewer gear inches made it a lot easier to pull it off initially. But greg's right too. You don't have to lower it. Rain, snow, gravel, grass all should make it easier to learn.
  7.  
    if you really commit to skidding, you'll do it just fine. i ride 46x17, and my legs spin slightly more than i'd like...but i can skid like nobody's bizz.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009
     
    I learned on 48/16. You can do it
    • CommentAuthorgiosSR215
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009
     
    i learned on 48/12 but that was after a couple over the handlebar manuevers haha
  10.  
    wetgrasswetgrasswetgrass.
  11.  
    wow its really not that hard to where you need a wet surface or gravel or anything like that. all you really need is confidence and some dcently smooth pavement and you'll be fine. also dont lean over your bars just bend your back and put all your weight on the bars (your nuts should almost hit your stem)
    • CommentAuthorKayzle
    • CommentTimeApr 14th 2009
     
    Im just gonan have to keep working at it
    • CommentAuthorheadydude
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009
     
    46-16 is where its at! i think leaning completely over the handlebars is bad advice though. It might be good to start skidding, but don't make it a habit. Skidding from your seat is much for efficient and will help you avoid that door/ped/pole.
    • CommentAuthorsfbee
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009
     
    According to the following skid patch chart, 46/15 or 46/17 might be a more ideal solution (for your tire's sake):

    http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t216/familybrothers3/skidspots.jpg
    • CommentAuthoryoxscotty
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009
     
    i ride 46/17 and learned on 48/16. it took me a few months to be able to do it "on command"...you'll get it.

    definitely learn on wet grass, gravel, wet roads, marble etc. get comfy awkwardly leaning over your handlebars. i started working out in preparation for a bike from ottawa to montreal and i don't even lean over my bars anymore. work out those legs!
    • CommentAuthorcranej311
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009
     
    i skid a 48/17 like automatic, but that is on a track frame. if you are ridding a conversion frame that might be too small for you it may be more difficult to skid than if you have a track frame. they are longer which makes it easier to get your weight off of the back. you might want to try slowing down your pedals with your weight forward (balls almost on your stem) and locking up your legs. it does take a shit ton of practice to skid
  17.  
    i just took it slow at first and didnt bomb it and used a 52:16 but then again i had some what strong legs from previous cycling and i wasnt scared to lean all the way over the bars
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009
     
    52/16.... are you crazy? i hope you're running a brake with that.
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009 edited
     
    Skidding doesnt have much to do with strength if you are doing it right. I mean, yeah you use your muscles but you shouldnt be straining yourself. When I first started and I was riding 48/16 it seemed damn near impossible and I jacked my legs up trying to fight into a skid. Now I can skid right out of the saddle easily. So to address the original question: Yes you can get a larger cog or smaller chainring and yes it will make skidding easier, once you get the technique down you can gear back up.

    Side note: Its easiest to skid with the nuts to the stem technique but its not a good way to stop so... if that is still the only way you can skid, you need a brake.
  20.  
    at the beginning no, now yes, at first i wasnt going to any where much so i didnt run the brake. i plan on going down to 48:17. luky for me i never crashed while skidding! sure i raked myself, and i probably cant have kids but i never ate pavment while skidding
    • CommentAuthormuckymucky
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2009
     
    big pointer: Lean FORWARD BEYOND your handle bars!!! = MUST*
  22.  
    This is pretty easy, just practice, ull get it.
    • CommentAuthormuckymucky
    • CommentTimeApr 19th 2009
     
    check it
    • CommentAuthorgenerate
    • CommentTimeApr 19th 2009
     
    I rode 46x16 when I first started and it didn't take me too long to learn. My first flaw was that I wasn't pulling up with my front foot as hard as I should have. I was more concentrating on the back foot. Switching to 46x17 made it seem much easier. One tooth can make a world of difference.

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