5 ms·

That stability comes from the angular momentum in the wheels, not in the drive train.

• Luc 17y ago
  The gyroscopic action of the wheels actually has very little effect on stability. It is the fact that the front wheel counter-steers when you get out of equilibrium that is the major reason for staying upright. EDIT: Here's the link: http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~hemh/gyrobike.htm http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~hemh/gyrobike.htm
  • a-priori 17y ago
    I stand corrected. Thanks.
  • pbhjpbhj 17y ago
    He says that the gyroscopic effect is small compared to the weight of the bike and rider. The enhanced gyroscopic stability appears to be a near constant-rotating balanced mass; it's still rotating with the wheel but at an angular velocity such that the gyro effect is constant (ie reducing slightly as the wheel's own weight adds to the gyro effect?). Thus you get the gyro stability that you get when riding quickly with no hands but constantly, even when riding slowly. It's neat for sure and bound to do well as it's hiding the stabiliser away and pretending the kid is more advanced, hence parents will love it as their kids will look "better" than the neighbours kid!
  • jacquesm 17y ago
    Thanks for that link, nice to see it worked out so well. I have a zephyr recumbent, which is very hard to ride with any amount of relaxation, I'm now wondering what the reason is that recumbents are as a rule designed with straight front forks.