Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on April 3, 2010 at 1:48pm

Looks like the same type of shenanigans we have here in the Chi. Spectacular crash! Good outcome, lucky dude.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Mooney on April 4, 2010 at 6:59pm

dude i love skidding but not in the middle of traffic that shit is dangerous.

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Permalink Reply by Natalie on April 5, 2010 at 2:35am

I love skidding! Tires are so much cheaper than brake pads.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 5, 2010 at 4:20am

The most interesting thing in this clip is the one thing that isn’t said.
In the US there is a fledgling movement to emulate Dutch bike riding which requires riding a heavy and slow bike. From this video it becomes clear that in the Netherlands there is a fledgling movement to emulate American city riding, which apparently includes the requisite flat-brimmed cap and hoodie and a low spoke count wheel.

I guess the grass is always greener on the other side

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Permalink Reply by Ryan L on April 5, 2010 at 8:01am

Back in the day I used to poke fun at those who sported no brake and skidded all around town but that was because I was ignorant. Once I added a fixed gear bike to my arsenal I quickly understood why people don't feel the need for a brake. Once I stumbled upon the skid stop I truly understood why it's so necessary. Skidding is fun, there is no way around it, but skidding is also a very important skill that allows a rider to stop or slow down a.s.a.p. quite effectively. The problem is the super long 'show off' skid that is more for show than it is helpful in safely slowing down. There's a huge difference between skid stopping, because a car just cut you off and executing a long skid while in heavy traffic.

I find it interesting how many videos glorify the long skid yet rarely show the short more useful ones. I think it is these kinds of videos that terrify people who do not understand the whole fixed gear thing and bring a bias against all those fixed gear riders as folks who always ride recklessly, like the guy in this video. Serves him right for showing off in heavy traffic like that. I'm glad nobody got hurt but it is this kind of showmanship that gives soccer moms the feeling they need to write letters to politicians, trying to get laws passed specifically against fixed gear bikes and their riders because they are 'so unsafe'.

And tires are way cheaper to replace than the damage a brake pad eventually causes to a rim. I can lock up the brakes on my Stumpjumper easily and do a long distance skid but the tires on that bike are super expensive and the force inflicted on my rim is not ideal if I want to keep it around. Finding a good cheep tire for the fixed has been a challenge though. I've gone through three different brands of tires but I have recently fallen in love with the Continental Ultra Sport. I've been trying to destroy it and so far it keeps on taking a beating. Although I do need to start carrying an emergency foldable tire in case I do get a blow out from a skid stop through glass or something, I always cringe when I see metal and glass in my path, and babies. Watch out for all those babies :)

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Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on April 5, 2010 at 10:19am

There is absolutely no need to skid on a fixed gear bike except in an emergency. In my mind skidding at every stop is a sign of laziness. It takes about a day to learn and impresses nobody. Condition yourself to slow to a stop quickly and gracefully, and without skidding instead.


Ryan L said:

Back in the day I used to poke fun at those who sported no brake and skidded all around town but that was because I was ignorant. Once I added a fixed gear bike to my arsenal I quickly understood why people don't feel the need for a brake. Once I stumbled upon the skid stop I truly understood why it's so necessary. Skidding is fun, there is no way around it, but skidding is also a very important skill that allows a rider to stop or slow down a.s.a.p. quite effectively. The problem is the super long 'show off' skid that is more for show than it is helpful in safely slowing down. There's a huge difference between skid stopping, because a car just cut you off and executing a long skid while in heavy traffic.
I find it interesting how many videos glorify the long skid yet rarely show the short more useful ones. I think it is these kinds of videos that terrify people who do not understand the whole fixed gear thing and bring a bias against all those fixed gear riders as folks who always ride recklessly, like the guy in this video. Serves him right for showing off in heavy traffic like that. I'm glad nobody got hurt but it is this kind of showmanship that gives soccer moms the feeling they need to write letters to politicians, trying to get laws passed specifically against fixed gear bikes and their riders because they are 'so unsafe'.
And tires are way cheaper to replace than the damage a brake pad eventually causes to a rim. I can lock up the brakes on my Stumpjumper easily and do a long distance skid but the tires on that bike are super expensive and the force inflicted on my rim is not ideal if I want to keep it around. Finding a good cheep tire for the fixed has been a challenge though. I've gone through three different brands of tires but I have recently fallen in love with the Continental Ultra Sport. I've been trying to destroy it and so far it keeps on taking a beating. Although I do need to start carrying an emergency foldable tire in case I do get a blow out from a skid stop through glass or something, I always cringe when I see metal and glass in my path, and babies. Watch out for all those babies :)

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on April 5, 2010 at 10:53am

Ryan L said:

Back in the day I used to poke fun at those who sported no brake and skidded all around town but that was because I was ignorant. Once I added a fixed gear bike to my arsenal I quickly understood why people don't feel the need for a brake. Once I stumbled upon the skid stop I truly understood why it's so necessary. Skidding is fun, there is no way around it, but skidding is also a very important skill that allows a rider to stop or slow down a.s.a.p. quite effectively. The problem is the super long 'show off' skid that is more for show than it is helpful in safely slowing down. There's a huge difference between skid stopping, because a car just cut you off and executing a long skid while in heavy traffic.
I find it interesting how many videos glorify the long skid yet rarely show the short more useful ones. I think it is these kinds of videos that terrify people who do not understand the whole fixed gear thing and bring a bias against all those fixed gear riders as folks who always ride recklessly, like the guy in this video. Serves him right for showing off in heavy traffic like that. I'm glad nobody got hurt but it is this kind of showmanship that gives soccer moms the feeling they need to write letters to politicians, trying to get laws passed specifically against fixed gear bikes and their riders because they are 'so unsafe'.
And tires are way cheaper to replace than the damage a brake pad eventually causes to a rim. I can lock up the brakes on my Stumpjumper easily and do a long distance skid but the tires on that bike are super expensive and the force inflicted on my rim is not ideal if I want to keep it around. Finding a good cheep tire for the fixed has been a challenge though. I've gone through three different brands of tires but I have recently fallen in love with the Continental Ultra Sport. I've been trying to destroy it and so far it keeps on taking a beating. Although I do need to start carrying an emergency foldable tire in case I do get a blow out from a skid stop through glass or something, I always cringe when I see metal and glass in my path, and babies. Watch out for all those babies :)

I call BS and want a test, you fixed with no brake and me fixed with one brake or S/S with two and see who can actually stop faster.

We can even make it a bet. Cash, booze or obscene biological acts, your choice.

Either way only rocking one way to stop your bike is a poor choice. Cars where re-engineered in the late 60's for that very same reason; having a single point of failure between you and a collision is never a good idea...

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Permalink Reply by wig [ isaac ] on April 5, 2010 at 3:10pm

ha.... rain and trackdrops will do that to ya.....

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on April 5, 2010 at 4:11pm

drunk skids hurt....

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Permalink Reply by Ryan L on April 6, 2010 at 8:53am

Michael Perz said:

There is absolutely no need to skid on a fixed gear bike except in an emergency. In my mind skidding at every stop is a sign of laziness. It takes about a day to learn and impresses nobody. Condition yourself to slow to a stop quickly and gracefully, and without skidding instead.

Totally agree with ya! After I got comfortable with skid stopping I find that I rarely need to use it, but if some asshole cuts me off than it is just another skill that keeps me alive while I'm on that particular bike. When I ride my mountain bike or my old Schwinn I tend to ride with one of my fingers over the lever in case I need to stop or slow down quickly.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on April 6, 2010 at 9:00am

I'm all for it, are you going to be there Saturday or Sunday?

No beer until after or it will throw off the science.

Ryan L said:

notoriousDUG said:

Ryan L said:

Dude you're on. I say we use the road by West Town as testing grounds #1. Ride from point A to be and stop using different bikes and brake styles. A good road bike, old cruser, fixed (with and without a front brake), single speed freewheel, coaster brake bike, oh man this is going to be fun!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan L on April 6, 2010 at 9:01am

notoriousDUG said:

I call BS and want a test, you fixed with no brake and me fixed with one brake or S/S with two and see who can actually stop faster. We can even make it a bet. Cash, booze or obscene biological acts, your choice.

Either way only rocking one way to stop your bike is a poor choice. Cars where re-engineered in the late 60's for that very same reason; having a single point of failure between you and a collision is never a good idea...

Dude you're on. I say we use the road by West Town as testing grounds.

1. Ride from point A to B and stop using different bikes and brake styles. A good road bike, old cruser, fixed (with and without a front brake), single speed freewheel, coaster brake bike, oh man this is going to be so much fun!

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