Most people don’t know how bikes work
12-03-21, 02:46 PM
#1
aka Tom Reingold
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Most people don’t know how bikes work
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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12-03-21, 03:01 PM
#2
Bike Butcher of Portland
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I'm still trying to figure out how my bike works myself.
As far as I can tell, it's a miracle.
As far as I can tell, it's a miracle.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-03-21, 03:04 PM
#3
señor miembro
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... how bikes work
12-03-21, 03:17 PM
#4
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Because science.
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
12-03-21, 03:50 PM
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12-03-21, 03:54 PM
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This is why I never turn when I'm riding my bike.
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12-03-21, 05:28 PM
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12-03-21, 05:50 PM
#10
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I've taught LCI classes and one of the hardest things is teaching people how to do a counter steer or quick steer which involves exactly what they are proving.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
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12-03-21, 06:09 PM
#11
señor miembro
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Sorry, I posted that based on the thread title, not the video (which might be "how bike steering works.")
I bet more than half the population of the world doesn't know how magically incredible it is to lock together two nuts on a bolt. That's how a bike works.
I bet more than half the population of the world doesn't know how magically incredible it is to lock together two nuts on a bolt. That's how a bike works.
12-03-21, 07:12 PM
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12-04-21, 01:44 AM
#13
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I really like both of these videos. I went to a bike fair in Luxembourg once and this guy had an opposite-steer bike like the one in the second video from P!N20 above. You may have seen these before, but it's basically a regular bike but when you turn the handlebars the wheel turns in the opposite direction through a clever gear linkage. It ends up proving the same thing, and also making you feel like you're drunk on a bike. It was more a study of how we learn and can unlearn cognitive bias and function. The most interesting part for me was at the end where he has to re-learn how to ride a normal bike.
Last edited by poprad; 12-04-21 at 01:56 AM.
12-04-21, 05:23 AM
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Once over the critical velocity, I can steer without touching the bars but at slower speeds, counter steering with the hands is absolutely essential.
12-04-21, 08:50 AM
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Ty Tom. Terrific video.
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12-04-21, 09:56 AM
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They had me until the end with the "better bicycle" stuff.
Why does a machine that almost feels like magic and is proven to self-correct when pushed down hill with no rider need assisted steering? Does the time-tested design really benefit from that "improvement?" Does that bit take away from the point that there is an intuitiveness to the design as is that is part of its value?
Why does a machine that almost feels like magic and is proven to self-correct when pushed down hill with no rider need assisted steering? Does the time-tested design really benefit from that "improvement?" Does that bit take away from the point that there is an intuitiveness to the design as is that is part of its value?
12-05-21, 08:27 AM
#18
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Retroactively explains (alas, but doesn't change) my last bike crash: My body going over and slightly beyond the bars (I was essentially a unicycle at that point) put the weight out front of the pivot point and self-steered until going over the edge and into the ditch. Funny in a not-so-funny way 
12-05-21, 01:31 PM
#19
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This is precisely why some of long-term bicyclists have trouble riding a tricycle. When I got on my friends pedicab, he warned me that some people (myself definitely included!) have the leaning and countersteering thing so tightly ingrained that they have a lot trouble making the pedicab turn, even though it is, in that case, a simple matter of turning the front wheel in the desired direction.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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12-05-21, 02:33 PM
#20
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This is probably why I fell off my bike during Cino...I was doing it wrong!
Come to think about it, I fell off my bike during Eroica Gaiole too. This problem goes way back.
Come to think about it, I fell off my bike during Eroica Gaiole too. This problem goes way back.
12-05-21, 04:21 PM
#21
Full Member
12-05-21, 06:43 PM
#22
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I’m sure there’s an explanation using force vector arrows and what not, but I’m amazed every time I ride and the bike doesn’t fall over within 20 feet of starting.
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12-05-21, 08:37 PM
#23
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Oh, there is, along with some control theory based on a wet neural network. I've seen it through enough to just want to ignore it all and just say "it's magic." More fun that way.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-06-21, 02:33 AM
#24
Strong Walker
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12-06-21, 06:54 AM
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For those interested, Dave M has a couple of artilces.
Check page 2 as well as this one, second article, "Going Around Corners".
Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog (squarespace.com)
Page 3 and 4 too. Several articles.
Gotta stop reading!
See page 6 "When science finds problems that don't exist"
Check page 2 as well as this one, second article, "Going Around Corners".
Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog (squarespace.com)
Page 3 and 4 too. Several articles.
Gotta stop reading!
See page 6 "When science finds problems that don't exist"
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Last edited by SJX426; 12-06-21 at 07:09 AM.
