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Bicycle balance?

  • 02-07-2005 2:24pm
    #1
    Steveire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,421 ✭✭✭


    If this has been brought up before, it didn't turn up in a search.

    I'm trying to figure out why i can balance easily on my bike while moving forward, but when i'm stopped, i fall over. It's to do with the turning of the wheels, i understand, because a spinning wheel will resist changes in the orientation of the axis it turns about. But what effect does this resistance to change have on the wheels? The way i figure it, the wheels would have to speed up or slow down when i tilt slightly to the right or left respectively according to the right hand grip rule. Can this be right?


Comments

  • #2
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,596 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Part of it is due to the castor effect. Where the front wheel touches the ground is behind a line though the headset.

    As you cycle small changes in direction will change the balance of the bike. Also you stear more by leaning then by truning the bars. This is what you learn to do sub conciously when learning to ride. You can't steer by leaning on a trike and that's why they feel weird.

    The gyroscope effect is minimal otherwise you'd feel it when leaning.


  • #3
    Steveire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,421 ✭✭✭Steveire


    The gyroscope effect is minimal otherwise you'd feel it when leaning.
    What do you mean i'd feel it? I thought that was what makes you turn when you lean no? The same way that a coin will follow a curve if it's rolled at an angle.

    Could there be any sense in the wheels changing speed thing?


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