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How does a bicycle stay upright when riding?
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By *itty9899Man
over a year ago
Craggy Island |
Everyone knows how a bike stays upright — the gyroscopic forces induced by the spinning wheels, and the “castor effect” created by trail.
In short, a normal bicycle is stable thanks to a combination of the front wheel touching the ground behind a backwards tilt steering axis, the center of mass of the front wheel and handlebars being located in front of the steering axis, and the gyroscopic precession of the front wheel. |
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By *ryan... OP Man
over a year ago
1950's Original |
"Everyone knows how a bike stays upright — the gyroscopic forces induced by the spinning wheels, and the “castor effect” created by trail.
In short, a normal bicycle is stable thanks to a combination of the front wheel touching the ground behind a backwards tilt steering axis, the center of mass of the front wheel and handlebars being located in front of the steering axis, and the gyroscopic precession of the front wheel."
And yet other opinions suggest it's the inner ear( balance)! |
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"Everyone knows how a bike stays upright — the gyroscopic forces induced by the spinning wheels, and the “castor effect” created by trail.
In short, a normal bicycle is stable thanks to a combination of the front wheel touching the ground behind a backwards tilt steering axis, the center of mass of the front wheel and handlebars being located in front of the steering axis, and the gyroscopic precession of the front wheel.
And yet other opinions suggest it's the inner ear( balance)!"
I've seen footage of a failed motorbike speed record. Due to a high speed wobble it threw the rider, but continued across the desert for some distance. This must have been due to the gyroscopic effect previously mentioned.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I still cant work out motorcycles either. Heavy buggers when you straddle them and they are not moving. Do bikers just have massive arms and thighs holding it all up at speed. Magic.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I still cant work out motorcycles either. Heavy buggers when you straddle them and they are not moving. Do bikers just have massive arms and thighs holding it all up at speed. Magic. "
Motorbikes only heavy when stationary the faster you go the easier they are to keep upright |
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By *lynJMan
over a year ago
Morden |
"Everyone knows how a bike stays upright — the gyroscopic forces induced by the spinning wheels, and the “castor effect” created by trail.
In short, a normal bicycle is stable thanks to a combination of the front wheel touching the ground behind a backwards tilt steering axis, the center of mass of the front wheel and handlebars being located in front of the steering axis, and the gyroscopic precession of the front wheel.
And yet other opinions suggest it's the inner ear( balance)!"
Agreed. Gyroscopic effects require sufficient rotational speed which you don't get if you cycle very slowly. It's all down to the rider making adjustments to stay upright. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"One side is kept aloft by the energy created from drivers hatred, the other through sheer stubbornness in response. They balance each other out. It's like the dark and light side of the force  "
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"Gyroscopic effect caused by the rotating mass at the front and rear. "
Except in London, where they are held upright as a result of being crushed between a bus and a black cab, when all 3 road users try to pull into the bus lane simultaneously. |
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Mm. Ok. Well its gyroscopics, relativity and gravity working together. So, what happens if you spin a wheel ? It will twist and move. So we know it's not just that. However, when the wheel is in motion, the part in contact with the road is still moving but not relative to contact but to the axis. So.... put all this together and it has a very strong effect on the axis. |
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