Originally Posted by
wphamilton
Good thought, and what I was alluding to here
Back on track, and if I've offended anyone with the 2-scotch posts let me extend preemptive apologies. Evidently the argument rages in motorcycle forums as well, so I doubt that we'll settle anything here. I never paid much attention to it riding motorcycle street or motocross - I just turned - but cycling I find myself doing it deliberately to "flick" the bike right or left.
This is so true. Even among motorcyclists there are varying opinions advanced between the relative benefits of counter-steering vs using body weight to affect steering (btw, Reg Pridmore, who has lived for a long time in the small town where I was born and raised, is a strong proponent of depending on the latter technique, predominantly, as opposed to relying solely on counter-steering and I agree with his approach).
All cyclists counter-steer whether they realize it or not, albeit the effects are not nearly as pronounced as they are on a motorcycle. A nice way to demonstrate this for yourself is during a ride, in which you are being broadsided by strong winds from one side. Notice the effect that counter-steering has against them (e.g., if you are being broadsided from the right-hand side, try steering into them by pushing towards your left-hand side using
only your right hand--that is, totally remove your left hand from the bars. When I do this, I'm always amazed by how straight the bike rides even in the strongest winds).