How to Drift on a Bicycle

If you like riding bikes with your friends, here's a new trick you can show them. Drifting on a bike is really quite simple. It takes practice, but an avid bike rider will master this trick in no time.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Find a bicycle that works well. The type of bicycle with this trick does not matter.

2. Check the tires, brakes and wheel alignment. The tires cannot be bald, flat or brand-new. If the tires are new, they will grip the ground, causing you to stop or fall off the bicycle. The brakes cannot be too tight or loose, but the looser, the better. The wheel alignment must be straight or the bicycle may not drift properly.

3. Ride your bike on a flat strip of road without traffic. Sometimes, a trail in the woods may work too. Just make sure it is clear or you will slip and hurt yourself instead of drifting.

4. Peddle your bicycle through the area until you have reached a fast, yet controllable, speed for braking. Once you've achieved the appropriate speed, ride in a straight line without peddling.

5. Turn the handlebars either right or left slowly. This option is based on whichever way is most comfortable.

6. Press the brakes for your back tire lightly as the front wheel of the bicycle starts to turn. Your back tire should slide across the ground as it slowly aligns with your front tire. Make sure you keep turning your front tire.

7. Stop the drift slowly by lightly pressing your brake for the front tire. This will slow down the turn, allowing your back tire to align with the front tire faster. Simultaneously, let go of the brake for the back tire. Once both tires are aligned again, you may keep peddling or stop the bicycle completely.

Tips & Warnings

• This trick is not for beginners. If you haven't been on a bike for quite some time, don't try this trick.
• Remember to always wear protective gear while riding.
• Do not try this trick on wet ground or ice.

[iownanissan]

on 3/14/2009 You don't really need the front brakes, it's letting off the rear brake slowly that's really important. It's also nice to steer a bit to the other direction (like counter-steering in a car) if you want to straighten out a little faster. I'm forced to use this trick all the time since I have no front brakes myself.

[DarthVader]

on 4/17/2008 This is neat, but what if i only have back pedal brakes?