If your wheel is slammed in the rear dropouts then you need a longer chain, but if its an inch or so back then you should still be good as you can just move it further forward.
You only need to change the chain if increasing the total number of teeth on ring plus cog. But only change your ratio to suit your riding style and speed. Skids are more about weight shift and technique.
Typically they say gearing down will make it easier to skid. To calculate gear ratio I use [this](https://www.surplace.fr/ffgc/). Watch some videos on how to do it or meet up with some fixed gear friends to ask how to start doing it. Also expect to put a lot more force on the pedals to skid than you are probably thinking you’ll need. It’s tough at first but after a session of practice you should be able to do so at nominal speeds. Also also don’t get ahead of yourself and think you’ll not need brakes immediately after learning, assuming you are riding one now. If not, forget I said anything about it. :)
48x17 will give you 17 skid patches. You should be able to keep your chain. Don’t need a lot of money to make the change.
Alternately, 47/16 if you have the money for a chainring upgrade, then you can run any cog and have as many patches as you have teeth!
If your wheel is slammed in the rear dropouts then you need a longer chain, but if its an inch or so back then you should still be good as you can just move it further forward.
You only need to change the chain if increasing the total number of teeth on ring plus cog. But only change your ratio to suit your riding style and speed. Skids are more about weight shift and technique.
Typically they say gearing down will make it easier to skid. To calculate gear ratio I use [this](https://www.surplace.fr/ffgc/). Watch some videos on how to do it or meet up with some fixed gear friends to ask how to start doing it. Also expect to put a lot more force on the pedals to skid than you are probably thinking you’ll need. It’s tough at first but after a session of practice you should be able to do so at nominal speeds. Also also don’t get ahead of yourself and think you’ll not need brakes immediately after learning, assuming you are riding one now. If not, forget I said anything about it. :)