Gear ratio effect on stopping/skidding

Life is so much better since I gave up skidding.

i can skid on my 88" track racer!!!

mucked up my elbows skidding.
ever tried it when going 40kph?

Must. Try. Harder.

It's so much more fun with a coaster brake.

defo easier with a spinny gear, less force on your legs

I'm skidding around on 81"... build some better legs. Never used cages though, not sure if that makes it harder than straps.

You'd better get saving for that knee replacement surgery.

As Rob pointed out the gear ratio is largely irrelevant if you have unweighted the rear wheel sufficiently.

It does however play a large part in how easy it is to slow down just resisting- I normally run 50\18 but for the track day in honour of Fiddy I switched to 50\14.

It's a bit harder.

Anyway- anything around the 70 gear inch mark is widely considered to be suitable for town- many use a smaller gear for more control, a few use a larger gear and save for knee surgery.

I don't have any problems with my knees. I can barely feel them.

You described yourself as a Faun recently- maybe you no issues as your legs are on backwards?

If only somebody would invent a method of applying a retarding torque to a bicycle wheel which was uniform regardless of crank angle, independent of gear ratio and easily modulated using some kind of hand operated mechanical linkage.

You described yourself as a Faun recently- maybe you no issues as your legs are on backwards?

That would explain why I can't skid on that lo-pro.

I don't want to rely on a front brake only. Look what happened to Chainbreaker the last time he decided to use brake instead of skidding.

If only somebody would invent a method of applying a retarding torque to a bicycle wheel which was uniform regardless of crank angle, independent of gear ratio and easily modulated using some kind of hand operated mechanical linkage.

Brakz is for fakz, m'lud.

If only somebody would invent a method of applying a retarding torque to a bicycle wheel which was uniform regardless of crank angle, independent of gear ratio and easily modulated using some kind of hand operated mechanical linkage.

That would be awful. It would spoil the look of my bars.

That would explain why I can't skid on that lo-pro.

I don't want to rely on a front brake only. Look what happened to Chainbreaker the last time he decided to use brake instead of skidding.

you cant use chainbreaker as an example, he's a law of physics unto himself.

Anyone skid in 52/18...I can manage, but I find it hard....Are my legs just pathetic?

Yes

..,yeah I thought I'd get that sort of response...

@mdcc_tester: Why would I want a back brake? I can slow down fine with the pedals and emergency stop with my front brake... I like to skid when there's not many cars around and I'm on a good surface, it's fun!

Was messing around on the way home, tightened up my straps, unweighted a little more and could get more up power with the tighter straps. Still not doing 50 meter skids, but that's not what I'm aiming for!
Might swap the ratio around a little, something inbetween for a short time while I get my puny legs sorted!

i'm still sticking with the point that its WAY more fun to ride with a low gear ratio. try it. you wont go back.

I've gone from 47 -18, 48-19, 47-20, 46-19 and i'm now happy with 44-19. Faster off the line, easier to slow down, skid, chuck back out etc. Way more fun. I ride with wide bars for extra leverage too.... (next debate)

@ monsta, it doesn't matter how big your legs are, you'll still nacker your knees.

also, skidding will also fuck your back up.

@mdcc_tester: Why would I want a back brake?

Why wouldn't you? Having a back brake doesn't suddenly prohibit you from destroying your tyres and knees, it just gives you another option.

also, skidding will also fuck your back up.

And give you ass cancer

What's next? Mudguards? I'd ruin my image.