Bikes

[Potatoman]

Hi Guys!
Why is it that if im riding my bike its easy to balance, but if im stationary, i cant balance?
I dont think it has anything to do with wind resistance?

[gonzo00]

investigate gyroscopic force my friend..it's what keeps you upright...ever spun a bicycle wheel whilst holding the axel with both hands then tried to turn it different directions???

[heathfield]

To keep upright and achieve balance when moving, you steer the bike so that the effective centre of gravity is always over the point where the tyres touch the ground. If you start to fall to the right, you steer to the right, and centrufugal force on you and the bike acts to bring the bike upright again. The faster you're moving, the greater this centrifugal force, and the smaller the steering movement that's needed. But when moving very slowly, or stationary, you still have to keep the centre of gravity over the tyre/ground contact point. Then, there's none of that centrifugal force to help you and you have to depend on body movement alone to stay upright.
The centrifugal force of the spinning wheels actually has little effect. If it did, the vector forces of the wheel versus the direction of the Eath's spin would make it harder to steer in one direction than the other. (Ask anyone who has lifted and carried an operating gyrocompass. it'll turn easily with you in one direction, but almost knock you over if you try and turn it the other way!)

[Gormless]

An interesting point, except at the very lowest speeds, to turn left on a bike, you steer to the RIGHT and vice-versa. The aim is to create a deliberate imbalance which you then lean to counteract. I didn't believe it even after years of cycling - but it's true, try it.

[R1Geezer]

to summarise, when riding a bike you are continually falling over and correcting that. This all happens automatically once initially mastered.

[nogginthenog]

I had the honour many years ago to see the late Reg Harris in his late sixties stop a yard away from me on the track. He kept the bike still for around 10 minutes . perfect balance , when he moved off the whole stadium stood up and applauded him.