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What happens when turning a bike while riding with no hands? Does the lean induce the handlebars to counter-steer briefly, or is the counter-steer not necessari
by haileys 5y ago
What happens when turning a bike while riding with no hands? Does the lean induce the handlebars to counter-steer briefly, or is the counter-steer not necessarily because the lean is already happening?
- afterburner 5y agoNot sure the counter-steer makes you actually turn fully the opposite direction, it might be a force you apply in opposite but overall the handlebars still turn into the turn?
- justusthane 5y agoWhen you turn the handlebars to the right, it caused the bike to lean to the left. When you stop applying force to the handlebars, the front wheel “falls into line” with the left hand lean and they turn to the left. However, it’s so subtle that in practice you don’t feel them turn back to the direction of the turn and it fully feels like you’re steering right to turn left.
- justusthane 5y agoThe countersteer just causes the bike to lean. If you’re riding with no hands, the countersteer doesn’t happen. *Edit*: Maybe I’m wrong about this. There’s another comment below that says that the counter steer does happen through leaning alone.
- arnarbi 5y agoI think you are right (but we could both be wrong). The way I experience countersteer is that it pulls the bottom of the bike towards the outside of the curve, in order to lean or maintain a lean. If you lean with balance it’s not needed.
- justusthane 5y agoI just tested it on my bike on my way home and we are both definitely right :) There's no countersteer when you lean with no hands on the handlebars.
- HPsquared 5y agoWith no hands, the equilibrium lean angle is controlled by the rider shifting weight (centre of gravity) from side to side. The caster angle on the front wheel is the negative feedback mechanism that keeps the bike balanced.