What is a Skid Patch?
Most fixie riders don’t use brakes (even if they have one as a safety backup for emergencies). One way of stopping quickly is shifting your weight forward to reduce traction on the rear wheel and stop pedaling. The rear wheel will lock and the bike will stop. Since you always brake with your feet – and the crank – in the same position and that your rear wheel is in a strict relationship with the chainring, you can predict how many spots on your rear tire will wear while skidding. These spots are called skid patches.
