Help a Begininer
Thread started by
BicyclingAllMyCities at 05.9.07 - 2:19 am
I've been riding fixie for about a week..i can skid at about mid speed but cant stop fast enough when im at top speed..this makes me scared to go full throtle..
I've seen some fixie riders do some what of a hop with their back wheel that slows them down enough to skid..how do i learn this?? or do i just cordinate my self and teach myself to skid at full speed???
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If you can't skid at full speed, don't go full speed.
Practice the hop at slow speed. Almost wobblingly slow. You're going to learn how to pick up your back wheel by unweighting your saddle and pulling up on your pedals with both feet at once, and OH SHIT DON'T TRY TO COAST...oops, too late.
OK, pick yourself up off the ground and try again.
Once you've got it, start trying it at faster and faster speeds. Then you can learn to incorporate it with the skid.
Also, practice picking up your back wheel higher and higher. This won't help with the skids, but someday you'll suddenly have to bunny hop over a gigantic-ass recessed manhole cover while barreling down the street at 30 MPH, and then you'll be glad you learned to pick your bike up with your legs.
I'm making this sound way more complicated than it is. That's because I'm using words to describe actions. Stupid words!
PC05.9.07 - 3:10 am
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My experience is learn to commit. At slower speeds there is a lot of time to think about what you are about to do. At faster speeds you just need to react and commit. Weight the front of the bike by banging your balls to the stem and lock your knees in one quick move. If you do this with enough conviction, it will lift the back wheel.
Personally, I still keep a front brake. It is not the coolest I know but I am concerned about longevity. I want to ride my bike for another 30 years. I've heard both sides of the stopping distance debate but for me having a front brake in conjunction with skidding makes for less stress on your body. Less stress will ensure that I can ride longer.
sc_nomad05.9.07 - 11:03 am
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Or just put on a front brake. It wouldn't be the end of the world. If you're not comfortable without one, why not?
Masland05.9.07 - 3:06 pm
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I say there's no shame in using a brake, but I don't ride a fixie, so I've already got negative cool points.
A good upgrade for any brake is a set of salmon Kool-stop pads - they're made with a traditional, oldschool compound that stops better than anything else that I've used.
angle05.9.07 - 4:02 pm
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i put on a front brake so im using it to slow down to a speed where i can skid to a stop...or stoping all togwethr in sketchy situations ...just in the mean time..till i can stop at high speeds...then ill be like the uber kool fixie ridazz who dont need no brakes..kachang!
BicyclingAllMyCities05.11.07 - 12:33 am
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Most important rule: Make sure you always look good on your bike, no matter what you're doing. It's better to crash with style than survive without it.
-Enzo Gucci.
Team Bearclaw05.15.07 - 12:44 am
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"There is no such thing as a fender bender when a bike meets a car". Know your limits.
I thought this thread was started by a beginner learning how to skid or stop at full speed. At this point style over function is not a consideration, safety is first.
sc_nomad05.15.07 - 9:30 am
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Is your sex-appeal level high? If you are sexy, nothing can stop you.
Impegno e passione al ciclismo!
Dick Neptune05.15.07 - 9:52 am
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Oh yeah, and I dunno if anyone is still reading this or even cares, but having some sort of foot retention system (clips/straps, clipless pedals, etc) is kind of important when learnign to skid and especially skip stop a fixed gear. I wouldn't recommend riding without em, even with just a front brake.
Besides, not only for that safety aspect, but they will improve your overall speed and efficiency too, help you learn to spin nice concentric circles with your legs, and give you overall better control over your bike.
FuzzBeast05.16.07 - 4:45 am
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Fuzz is right. If you're riding on regular platforms w/ no toe straps, you're doing two things wrong:
1. You're limiting your cycling ability.
2. You're lacking in the style department.
I'm not sure which of the above is more important, either.
-Enzo Gucci
Team Bearclaw05.16.07 - 1:10 pm
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Yo sc_nomad, I've bent fenders wrecking into them before. You just have to be going really fast and case the motherfucker head on. It also helps if you're yelling "SHIT!!" at the top of your lungs. I'd be happy to give you pointers sometime.
City Hobgoblin05.16.07 - 1:56 pm
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no no no. when you ride a bicycle dont dress hip or stylish like you normally would when you go out. bicycles are not for normal people to act as though a bicycle is just simply another form of transportation.... you must be the consumate bicycle warrior and wear head to toe lycra nuthugger billboards with logos of multimillion dollar companies that dont sponsor you. why would anyone want to look stylish on their bikes when they roll up to the club. that;s lame! roll up and show em that you are FOR REAL a serious cyclist.
here's a cool guy cyclist warrior's checklist:
oakleys (with flourecent tiger stripe trim) the more they wrap around your tiny pinhead the better!
toe clip narr narr sport cycle shoes (make sure they are extra annoyingly clicky clacky so people will notice how serious you are as a cyclist when you walk around, you know the kind that make you walk like you rode on the seat post sans seat)
tight spandex cycling jersey the more logos the better to help you believe you deserve better than cat 5
cock tight cycling pants with extra padding in the back to make your skinny boney ass look like you wearing a diaper. make sure you can see the oiutline of your cock by placing it laterally across your leg. nothing pulls chicks than spandex on dicks. if your dick has shrunk from doing too many century rides then add cucumber
spiked flat top with bleached tips. dont worry if yer helmet ruffles the hair. bitches love sweaty ruffled flat tops!
shaved legs and other various extremities but definitely keep the chest hair and gold chain prominent by unzipping the jersey approximately 1/3 down.
neon !@#$bag (with logos) hell, neon EVERYTHING it's SAFER!
a $6000 titanium carnbonfibre aircraft blend bike with company logos smattered across it letting everyone knowthat you are a SERIOUS cyclist not to be confused with those hipster lames across the way smoking pot and riding painted pistas
talk about yourself in third person girls love that and guys respect you like way more.
ok now we got it straight!
Giant Johnson gets laid twice as much and eats more babies.
Giant Johnson05.16.07 - 2:53 pm
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G. Johnson, there are quite a few things you missed on your list. I am starting to think that you are (possibly) mocking how important image and style are (they are the most important thing, directly ahead of skill and speed) in the cycling world.
For one, riding with a team kit is important, but not nessecary. In fact, riding your bike in jeans is ok (on occasion) when the jeans cost no less than $200USD. Riding with jeans that cost less than $200USD is severely detrimental to your image and is in violation of the Italian Cycling Image Guidelines (I.C.I.G)
If you happen to fall on your jeans and tear them, the jeans must meet certain criteria for them to be rideable. For example, if you fall and your jeans are ripped/scuffed, you are permitted to continue the ride until you arrive back at home. You will then inspect the jeans to ensure that any tears/rips/scuffs are stylishly placed, and look as if they were put there by the desiger of the jeans. Any rips in the crotch/butt area are not permitted (unless you are a female) This will also teach you to fall in way that will make any tears favorable, and enhance your image.
I hope this clears things up.
-Enzo Gucci
Team Bearclaw05.16.07 - 5:48 pm
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All this prattle is cute and all, but if you guys read the original post you would know that BicyclingAllMyCities is riding a FIXIE which means you wanna be rockin Japanese style.
So the best way to learn how to skid is to make sure your whole bike is NJS. Before you spend anymore time "practicing" or whatever bullshit that's about, go out and drop a grand on parts. Make sure you get that $110 HKK chain too -- that one has NJS stamps on every single link which means you'll have like 100 NJS stamps right there. Then instead of you looking at other riders hop stop, they'll be looking at you and your fly ass bike. Success!
Also don't ever ride with tools or spare tubes -- if you ever break down other riders will flock to assist you and your fly ass bike like the shitty-bike peons they are. In fact just ride tubulars, then people can really go out of their way to help you when you flat.
Hope that helps.
City Hobgoblin05.16.07 - 8:38 pm
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All I know about City Hoboblin is this: He reccomended dropping $1,000USD on parts, and I agree with that 99%.
The other 1% is telling you to spend at least $2,000USD. The more the better.
Team Bearclaw05.16.07 - 11:47 pm
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and don't forget that your diet should consist of nothing but 3 dollar energy bars, protien shakes, gatorade, and bananas.
FuzzBeast05.17.07 - 12:53 am
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haha well maybe you guys wanna make a donation..
i spent about $70 all together on my bike and built it at the kitchen..i have no job.haha
BicyclingAllMyCities05.17.07 - 5:43 am
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Good point Fuzz! I can't beleive I forgot to mention that. The only time eating energy bars isn't permitted is when no riding was done on a given day. Too many calories means you won't look good.
Acceptable meals on off days are: Lobster, Filet Mignon, King Crab, Kobe Beef, etc.
To the guy who built a bike on only $70USD. I have respect for your ability. I will forgive you of not having an expensive bike if you can spec your bike with at least one Campy component.
Thank you,
Enzo Gucci
Team Bearclaw05.17.07 - 9:39 pm
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I cant believe I'm up right now editing this Midnight Dragrace 2 video I thought I had a life or something. BEARCLAW you are an animal. TROY is a MANIMAL and JOSH is a... uh.... hmmm..... GRRRR-ANIMALLL!!!
no.
Roadblock05.18.07 - 6:11 am
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Ridazz Roulette!