We know how bicycles work, right?

[Retro]

Bicycles are simple devices that have been thoroughly studied ever since they were invented in the 1800s so modern scientists now know everything there is to know about how they work, right? It's all to do with the gyroscopic precession of the wheels, right? Not quite, as Fact Quickie explains in this new video.

It's surprising how interesting little mysteries like this can be and I'm surprised that this isn't settled science. I only just found out from this video.

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This Veritasium video from four years ago explains and demonstrates different aspects of riding a bike, especially the steering, but acknowledges at the end that how they work still isn't fully understood, so there's no contradiction with the first video.

If it's really not gyroscopic precession, I'd like to see the wheels locked to prevent rotation and have a low friction teflon surface attached to the contact point with the ground. Also, the handlebars and stationary wheels are still able to be steered normally. Then, have the bike slid down a teflon slope to maintain speed. I'll bet it falls over immediately, which would indicate that gyroscopic precession is indeed what keeps the bike upright. Neither video suggested trying this experiment.

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@Hitcore since you're a bike and moped user, I think you'll be interested in this.

 

[Hitcore]

It's not exactly a mystery as far as I'm concerned. As we're cycling (or mopeding) what happens is that we are constantly making corrections on our balance, if ever so slightly. This is because we are humans, not robots or cars. Hell, even when we're walking we do that. Ever almost tripped but then in a split second readjusted your balance, causing you not to fall? That's the exact same principle. This is why the guy experiences difficulties when the steer is locked in one direction, because that prohibits the constant balance corrections, and it probably feels super unnatural.

 

[live627]

Ever almost tripped but then in a split second readjusted your balance, causing you not to fall?

such as tripping on the grout cracks on a tiled surface

 

[Hitcore]

such as tripping on the grout cracks on a tiled surface

That sounds oddly specific. Any recent experiences regarding grout cracks on tiled surfaces, perchance?

 

[live627]

my mom, my brother...

 

[AllThingsTech]

It's not exactly a mystery as far as I'm concerned. As we're cycling (or mopeding) what happens is that we are constantly making corrections on our balance, if ever so slightly. This is because we are humans, not robots or cars. Hell, even when we're walking we do that. Ever almost tripped but then in a split second readjusted your balance, causing you not to fall? That's the exact same principle. This is why the guy experiences difficulties when the steer is locked in one direction, because that prohibits the constant balance corrections, and it probably feels super unnatural.

Indeed, and I’ve recently started a ritual to walk and eventually run backwards on a treadmill (note that same speeds backwards feel faster than forwards) to both physically and mentally challenge myself. I find myself constantly readjusting my balance and notice it perhaps because we aren’t used to using our leg muscles in this way. However, because forward walking is the norm, we are using muscle memory and so don’t notice ourselves adjusting our balance as we subconsciously do it.

Similar thing to backwards walking as bouldering, which I’ve started as a serious recreational hobby, lately. You find yourself constantly adjusting your balance in precariously awkward positions, and experienced climbers are less likely to notice it either due to repetition or an already existing exposure to a wide enough variety of routes, for muscle memory to be effective,