Originally Posted by
Rick Imby
Not sure what you are referring to that has been proven.
There are a lot of different terms for centripital, centrifugal, gyroscopic, momentum, rotational gyroscopic effect, etc that have specific scientific meaning that I am not certain of.
These facts are true....... they are less stable at speeds under 5mph, and the smaller wheels take less energy to get up to 15 mph.
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This is all pretty much disproven. The effects of small wheels dont reduce stability
afaik.
The theory was gyroscopic forces kept bicycles stable. Smaller wheels would have more, not less ,of this force as faster spin speeds but beside the point.
Bikes were made that had traditional wheels that were set at 90' to normal and tiny caster wheels they actually moved about one. Several of these bikes were made in the worst possible combinations for gyroscopic stability. They were all ridable. We balance a bike by altering the steering mainly is the theory currently in favour
afaik.
Not sure their is data to support small wheels being less stable at lower speeds either. Their may be difficulties due to reduced counter weight leverage of the smaller wheel but this is due to a difference in weight that could be made the same'(with a heavier wheel), rather than the actual size of the wheel.I dont know if this is just my theory, but it may explain the differences in feel. I dont think one would notice a small wheel at the back having any effect on handling.