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Old October 6th 03, 12:35 AM
Simon Brooke
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Default "The Stability of the Bicycle"

writes:

There are a few simple tests that he didn't do, one of which is to
wheel the bicycle along a walking speed holding on to the saddle only.
Most bicyclists have done this and those who were interested will note
that it works by gyroscopic force and not working at all with no
wheel rotation.


Uhhhmmmm...

I habitually wheel bicycles with one hand on the saddle. I've always
assumed that this worked in exactly the same way as riding a bike -
i.e. lean to steer. Although I agree that in principle a rotating
wheel has a gyroscopic effect at whatever speed it's rotating (and a
fast spinning wheel a considerable one) I don't believe that there's
much gyroscopic effect at this speed.

Indeed, this seems to me to be borne out by the fact that one of my
bikes which has a noticable tendency to pull left[1] can be wheeled quite
happily one hand on the saddle - but only if tilted slightly right.

However I haven't done the maths and am just going on perceptions. Has
anyone done the maths for this?

[1] The routing of the lockout cable for the rear shock isn't to
clever and the springyness of the sheath pushes on the bars.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Ye hypocrites! are these your pranks? To murder men and give God thanks?
Desist, for shame! Proceed no further: God won't accept your thanks for murther
-- Roburt Burns, 'Thanksgiving For a National Victory'
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