How to Do a Burnout on a Bicycle

A “burnout” on a bicycle usually means locking the rear wheel and sliding it—similar to a skid. It’s a control technique, a way to slow down, or sometimes just for fun.

The short answer: On a fixed gear, you resist the pedals to lock the rear wheel and skid. On a freewheel, you lock the rear brake and slide. The main risks are tire wear and loss of control. Do it only in a safe, legal place—not in traffic or where it endangers others. Fixed-gear riders often talk about “skid patches” based on gear ratio.

Here’s how it works and how to do it safely.

What Is a Bicycle Burnout?

A burnout (or skid) is when the rear wheel locks and slides instead of rolling. The tire loses traction and skids across the surface. On a fixed gear, you achieve this by resisting the pedals so strongly that the rear wheel stops rotating and slides. On a freewheel bike, you lock the rear brake.

Fixed Gear vs Freewheel

Fixed gear: The pedals are always connected to the rear wheel. To skid, you push backward against the pedals (or use your legs to resist the forward motion) to lock the wheel. Fixed-gear skids are a common way to slow down or stop when brakeless.

Freewheel: The rear wheel can coast. To skid, you apply the rear brake hard enough to lock the wheel. The front brake provides most stopping power; locking the rear is mainly for sliding.

How to Do a Burnout on a Fixed Gear

1. Get some speed — You need momentum to slide.
2. Shift your weight forward — Unweight the rear wheel so it’s easier to break traction.
3. Resist the pedals — Push back against the forward motion. The rear wheel will lock and start to slide.
4. Control the slide — Use your body and steering to keep the bike straight or control the angle. Practice in a safe area.

Skid patches: On a fixed gear, the wheel stops at specific points relative to the pedals. The number of “skid patches” depends on your gear ratio (chainring ÷ cog). More patches = more places the wheel can stop = more even tire wear. A ratio like 46÷16 gives fewer patches than 46÷17; some ratios (e.g. 44÷16) give many patches.

How to Do a Burnout on a Freewheel Bike

1. Get some speed.
2. Shift weight forward — Unweight the rear.
3. Apply the rear brake hard — Lock the wheel. The rear will slide.
4. Control with steering and body position.

The front brake does most of the stopping. Locking the rear is for sliding or control in specific situations (e.g. loose surfaces).

Risks and Safety

• Tire wear — Skidding wears the rear tire quickly, especially on fixed gears. Riders often rotate the tire or use a dedicated “skid patch” to spread wear.
• Loss of control — A skid can cause a crash if you’re not prepared. Practice in a safe, empty area.
• Surface — Wet, gravel, or loose surfaces make skidding easier but also increase the chance of losing control.
• Legal — Skidding or burnouts on public roads may be illegal or considered reckless in some places. Use a closed course, parking lot, or other legal area.

How to Do a Burnout on a Bicycle FAQs

Summary

A bicycle burnout is locking the rear wheel and sliding. On a fixed gear, resist the pedals; on a freewheel, lock the rear brake. It causes tire wear and can lead to loss of control. Practice only in safe, legal areas—not in traffic.