Wow this is the most bizarre thing... If I imagine the wheel over my head (as if the wheel axle was vertical), or in front of me but the axle going forwards (w

Wow this is the most bizarre thing... If I imagine the wheel over my head (as if the wheel axle was vertical), or in front of me but the axle going forwards (wheel is moving left/right), I can do the opposite circles just fine. But if I imagine the axle going left/right as you describe, it takes extra cognitive effort. If I imagine drawing circles, I can't do it. Instead, I have to think of each axis of movement separately. In my mind, I'm not thinking "Draw circles in the air", but rather, "Move fingers forward and back, while moving arms up and down". The end result is the same, but what's happening in my mind to get there is totally different.