BMX Term
Scuff
To scuff in BMX is to press or brush a foot against a tyre to control speed or balance, a core skill in flatland and for riding a freecoaster hub.
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To scuff is to press, brush or kick a foot against a tyre to control the bike's speed or balance. It is a core skill in flatland, and it is also how many brakeless and freecoaster riders slow down or steady themselves.
Meaning
Scuffing uses the sole of the shoe on the rubber of the tyre. A light brush slows the wheel. A forward kick can push it along. Holding the foot on the tyre can act like a brake.
In flatland
Flatland riders spend much of their time balanced on pegs, the frame or one wheel. They cannot pedal in most positions, so they scuff the front or rear tyre to keep rolling, add speed or hold a slow, steady roll. Scuffing tricks are one of the main trick families in flatland, along with rolling and spinning tricks. Good scuffing keeps a combo going without the rider putting a foot down.
On a freecoaster
A freecoaster hub lets the rear wheel roll backwards without turning the cranks. That is useful for fakie riding, but it means the rider cannot use the cranks to control the wheel while rolling backwards. Some riders put a foot on the tyre to slow down or keep balance. Flatlanders also use freecoasters, and scuffing pairs naturally with that setup.
For brakeless riders
Riders with no brakes often press a foot on the front or rear tyre to slow down. This takes practice and wears shoes quickly. A footjam, where the foot is wedged between the front tyre and the fork, is a related move used to stop the front wheel for tricks. See brakes or brakeless.
Origin
Scuff is an ordinary English word for scraping or brushing with the foot. Scuffing tricks grew in flatland in the mid to late 1980s: Flat Matters describes Tim Treacy as one of the technique's pioneers in that decade, and the Plywood Hoods crew, including Kevin Jones, are widely credited with pushing rolling and scuffing tricks in the same period. The first use of the word in BMX is not documented.
Usage examples
- "He scuffed the front tyre to keep the spin going."
- "My shoes are destroyed from scuffing."
- "Scuff a bit to slow down before you roll back in."
Related terms
- Flatland: tricks on flat ground, often with scuffing.
- Freecoaster hub: a hub that lets the wheel roll backwards freely.
- Brakeless: riding without brakes.
- Hang five: a front-wheel balance trick standing on the front peg.
- Fakie: riding backwards.
Frequently asked questions about Scuff
What is scuffing in flatland?
It is kicking or brushing a tyre with the foot to keep the bike rolling, speed it up or slow it down while the rider balances on the pegs or frame. Whole families of flatland tricks are built around it.
Why do freecoaster riders scuff?
On a freecoaster the cranks do not control the rear wheel when the bike rolls backwards. Some riders put a foot on the tyre to slow down or steady the bike while rolling fakie.
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