How to Skid Stop on a Fixed Gear Bicycle
The popularity of fixed gear bicycles has spread from big cities such as New York and Los Angeles to smaller places like Boise, Idaho. Fixed gears have only one gear with no freewheel, meaning that you cannot coast. When the wheels are moving, so are the pedals, and vice-versa. Some fixed gear riders choose to ride without brakes. Many fixed gear riders appreciate the added control they have over a so-called "brakeless fixie." While it sounds counter-intuitive, experienced riders can practically stop a brakeless fixed gear on a dime.
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Instructions
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Install toe straps and cages on your pedals. This assembly contains a plastic or metal cage that your covers the top and front of your foot when it is on the pedal. You weave a toe strap through the cage assembly to keep your foot firmly in place. Follow the manufacturers instructions for installing the toe cages and straps. Installation is usually quite simple. Screw the cages in the holes on your pedal with the screws provided and guide the straps through the slots on the cages. While this set-up is not mandatory for stopping a fixed gear that is brakeless, it makes the process easier and safer.
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Ride your fixed gear to a moderate speed. The late bicycling expert Sheldon Brown refers to stopping a brakeless fixed gear as doing a "skip stop." This is because you are essentially making the rear wheel "skip" or skid to a halt. Since the pedals are continually moving, you cannot merely stop pedalling. If you try to, your forward motion will lift you from the bike. When you want to stop, lift your buttocks up from seat in order to unweight the rear wheel. Taking weight off of the rear wheel allows it to lift slightly from the ground so that it may skid. Get your crotch as close to the stem as possible. The stem is the part of the bike that holds your handlebars.
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Pull up on the front pedal when the crank arms (the parts of the drive train that connect your pedals) are horizontal. Simultaneously push down on the rear pedal. Toe cages and straps come in handy here as you pull up on the front pedal. Without the cage to keep your foot in place, it will likely come right off of the pedal. As Brown explains, with the rear wheel unweighted and your front foot pulling up, you will initiate a skid and stop the bicycle. The more aggressively you pull and push with your feet, the quicker the stop.
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Tips & Warnings
If you wish to simply slow down on a brakeless fixed gear, just resist pedaling. While you cannot stop pedaling, if you slow down your pedaling you will slow the bike and eventually come to a stop. You can also slow down your bike by putting weight on the front wheel by pressing down on your handlebars.
Do not attempt to ride a fixed gear brakeless until you have mastered the craft. Even then, riding a bicycle with no brakes can be dangerous. This article does not endorse such activity; rather, it provides a tutorial for stopping if you choose to. Be sure to follow local bicycle laws and use a front brake, at minimum, on your fixed gear until you are comfortable and confident going brakeless.
References
- Photo Credit Get it in gear! image by John Saxenian from Fotolia.com
