Most People Don't Know How Bikes Work

Summary by Krater

This video explores the counterintuitive mechanics of bicycle steering, demonstrating that bicycles stay upright because steering mechanisms allow riders to continuously adjust the front contact patch to maintain balance.

From the video

Answers: Why is it impossible to turn a bike without steering first?

• Bicycle steering mechanics
• Countersteering physics
• Caster wheel effect on bicycles
• Gyroscopic precession in bicycles
• Bicycle self-stability

What it concludes

• Steering a bicycle doesn't just affect the direction you are headed, it also affects your balance.
• Bicycles are stable without riders because they are cleverly designed to steer themselves.
• Three mechanisms are responsible for a bike's corrective steering: front fork angle, center of mass position, and gyroscopic effect.