Why is a bicycle easier to balance at speed? - James May's Q&A (Ep 32) - Head Squeeze
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Why is riding a bike at speed easier than falling off one? Links Gyroscopic force: http://www.howstuffworks.com/gyroscope1.htm Longest ramp jump on a mini bike: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/4000/longest-ramp-jump-on-a-mini-bike-(minimoto) Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headsqueeze Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theheadsqueeze http://www.youtube.com/user/HeadsqueezeTV http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=HeadsqueezeTV
Comments
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centrifugal force is not a real force
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wouldn't it be the same concept to a disk or a hoop of some sort, when you spin it along the floor it moves forward and only falls when it slows down
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So in conclusion we don't really know. But intuitively we know, it's just like trying to explain what is time.
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When I was doing my 50cc course, there was a part which involved driving very, very, VERY slowly. To demonstrate the principle, the instructor told use the hold both brakes down, then try to stay balanced. It's actually not too difficult when the brakes are applied. I imagine the physics there is similar to the physics here.
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There's no such thing as centrifugal force!!!! there's only inertia.!!!!
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WRONG!!!! my sister forgot how to ride a bike LOL spaz
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Yes, if you made a bike with no facility to steer the front wheel, it would be impossible to balance it. Your brain has learned an algorithm and works with the steering input, the processional motion of the wheels, and your sense of balance. The ability to steer the wheels, allows the processional forces in against one another at an angle,this resultant force keeps you from losing your balance. Try it when cycling slowly You will find yourself 'sawing' at the steering in order to stay upright.
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so what about being able to perform a track stand, the input is all rider there, and a small amount of movement, still the bike stays upright, furthermore I had to have a mastoid op. on my right ear as a child, and so my balance was ruined (albeit my life was saved) and yet I am able to perform trackstands no problem, there must be some other input from the rider, other than knowing if the bike is balanced or not.
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Does this friction of the wheels play a part?
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This has all been proven to be wrong. How a bike works is still a total mystery
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A "physical process" is easier to manage when you "pour energy into it". Balancing a broom on your hand is easier if you are moving forward, because the directions in which the broom can fall are narrowed down a bit compared to the full 360° while standing still.
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The gyroscopic thingie sounds alot like counter-steering on a motorcycle.
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That's lovely and all, but I'd beg to differ on the gyroscope thing.
On rollers (the old school indoor trainer, where your bike is on what is essentially a treadmill) you are at a complete standstill relative to the ground, however your wheels are still spinning. Neither you, nor the bike are supported on anything, and if you were to stop pedaling you'd simply fall over, as is the case during normal riding. They work perfectly well, despite a lack of inertia and the centrifugal forces keeping you upright normally. Admittedly, it is MUCH harder to ride on rollers than on the ground, going forward, however the gyroscopic force on your wheels is still enough to keep you upright on it's own. -
Maybe it's partially to do with the fact that more of the balancing is subconscious at speed? At low speed you have time to think, and therefore over balance...
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im falling asleep
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Try to hold a spinning hard drive and tilt your wrist. You will feel the hard drive resisting.
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Why is a bicycle easier to balance at speed?
Because when you ride faster, the energy of the overall mass (not only the centrifugal force of wheels but even the wieght of you and the bike) pushes you in the desired direction more. It is similar to a bullet, faster you shoot it, better ballistic curve it has.
To stay the bike in the upright position while moving, the bike needs to have at least one wheel to be able to steer freely to compensate for the external forces that affects the bike. Here comes the centrifugal force - higher the force, less likely the steering wheel changes direction. And the trail effects this likeliness, too.
On a bicycle, there is one catch. Mass of the bicycle is too low as well as speeds you can reach. Due to that low mass it feels like the bicycle it too sensitive, twitchy.
But try it on motorbike, you will learn that to steer it at high speeds requires relatively high input to the handlebars or the main body of the bike.
And I have even not mentioned countersteering and weight distribution between front and rear wheel -
Maybe get your story straight before making a video that attempts to teach? First you say it's not because of gyroscopic effects, then you say it is. Then you say a bike requires a person to balance, which is well known to be false. Come on, guy.
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It's actually very simple. The trail makes it so that the wheel turns into the direction you fall. Your momentum, however, is in the opposite direction, and balances out your falling. You become more stable at speed because these forces increase.
The effect even still works with no rider. You can give a bike with nobody on it a running push and it'll keep upright until it runs out of speed.
There's also the matter of your own learned ability to use these effects to your advantage, without even thinking of it. -
A moving bike is self-balancing. Watch some motorcycle racing - when riders fall off, the bike keeps going in a straight line.
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