Why the bike does not fall when riding

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Finally it's time to remove the stabilizer wheels and go! It doesn’t matter whether you are a child who is trying to learn how to ride a bicycle on his own or who is being taught by his parents, the process of abandoning the stabilizer wheels can be quick, easy and fun. Do not be nervous, sooner or later everyone manages to learn to ride without stabilizer wheels!

Castor effect

It is based on constant steering, or, more precisely, on the possibility of using centrifugal force that arises when a moving body deviates from a direct trajectory. It happens so that a leveling force occurs when the steering wheel of a bicycle is turned. Moreover, its direction is opposite to the side of the steering wheel. Therefore, moving straight ahead, with the slightest deviation to the side, the cyclist only needs to turn the steering wheel a little in the same direction, and centrifugal force levels the balance.

Thus, if you look closely at the riding cyclist, you will notice that when moving in the forward direction, its path is not perfectly smooth. Moreover, the degree of tortuosity depends on the speed of movement: the lower it is, the more the bicycle winds. Or another example: you can look at the footprints of a bicycle on the ground. The track from the front wheel will be an elongated sinusoid with an axis in the form of a track from the rear wheel.

It is curious that taxiing takes place on its own, that is, the cyclist does not need to do this on purpose, but just learn how to use this effect. It is such a skill that underlies the ability to ride a bicycle.

Gyroscopic effect

It is based on the property of a rotating round or spherical body to maintain its position in space until other forces act on it. One example of this phenomenon is a spinning top known to everyone since childhood. It does not fall until it is spinning. In the great role of such spinning tops are wheels.

You can verify this by conducting a simple experiment. If you remove the bicycle wheel, hold onto the attachment points with your hands and untwist (it is advisable that someone help to do this), you will notice that the spinning wheel is difficult to rotate in space. Or, for example, a children's helicopter. With the propeller untwisted, in order to throw the toy up, efforts are required, as if a heavier object is in the hands. The gyro effect at high revolutions is even more noticeable. This was probably noticed by those who had to work with some electric tools (grinder, flooring, etc.)

The ability of a rotating body to maintain direction is applied in various fields, for example:

• in aviation (rotating stabilizer blades in the tail unit of a helicopter provide its directional stability),
• in rocket systems and marine navigation (a rotating sensitive element of a gyroscope is used in heading devices).

Thus, the facts convincingly indicate that the effects of the castor and the gyroscope, in fact, play a role in maintaining the stability of the bicycle during movement. But meanwhile, not one of the facts proves that these effects are decisive. Therefore, there is still some kind of power, the manifestation of which is before the eyes, and understanding is still beyond the reach of the human mind.

Getting ready for the first classes.

It’s wise to foresee protective equipment - bicycle helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. Unfortunately, practice shows that it is practically impossible to do without falls at the first stage of training.

The second question is the choice of technology. Almost any bikes are suitable for driving on the rear wheel, but it is best to master this method on models mountain class. They have a different design than the other types, and they are called differently off-road bicycles or mountain bike. On such models, training will be faster and easier - the stability parameters of such bicycles are much higher. In general, for driving on the rear wheel, powerful, hardened frames and wheels with a diameter of 26 inches are best suited.

Optimal gear selection - the smallest asterisk on the pedals and the middle one on the wheel (1-3). Setting too high a gear will prevent balance, too small a gear will not give the necessary acceleration.

For the convenience of mastering the technique seat is best lowered to minimum height. The operation of the rear hand brake will be important, ideally if it is hydraulic.

A new type of skateboard appeared not so long ago, but it is quite successfully conquering the world. Rollersurf - a skateboard on two wheels.

Also, do not miss the interesting story about how to learn parkour.

• The next point is the choice of the optimal place for classes. It is clear that the surface of the road surface should be flat, without pits, bumps and wide cracks. Best for this purpose are remote parkings, where, by the way, there will be fewer "spectators" and sometimes "advisers" that interfere. In addition, the chances of collisions or collisions with passers-by are reduced. It’s great if at first a good friend who has already mastered this bicycle trick will help.

Learning to ride the rear wheel is best done on a slight lift - the initial stage of detaching the front wheel will be greatly facilitated.

First meters

So, the first lesson - you need to learn how to properly raise the front wheel.

Moving at medium speed (about 15 kilometers per hour), the steering wheel is held with straight hands. Then necessary simultaneously with pressing the pedal with your pushing leg, transfer the center of gravity to the rear wheel area and make a small jerk with straight arms.

By all laws of physics, the front wheel should rise above the surface of the road surface. It is clear that all movements and efforts should be strictly proportionate so that the bicycle does not roll out from under the rider or immediately assume its original position.

Balance must also be maintained by body movements, and not by the jerky application of force to the steering wheel. At all, hands should always be upright and tense. Some bending of tense arms is permissible, but they will get tired very quickly.

Helps well to maintain balance manipulating the pedal force or briefly applying the rear hand brake

It is not necessary to hope that the first successes in taking the wheel off the ground - that’s almost all. Only long-term practice, which may require a lot of time, will help to subtly feel the moment of balance and will allow you to keep it long enough.

What are the similarities and differences between longboards, skateboards and mini-longboards can be found in the material on our website.

Have you ever dreamed of learning to fly? Some types of paragliders can be found here.

For parkour lovers, we have put together five of the best films about this extreme sport. Read the link: pro-extrim.com/other/kino/film-pro-parkur.html

Learning how to control your bike properly

So, the first successes have been achieved - it is possible to drive a certain distance on the rear wheel. Now you need to learn how to ride a bike in that position.

Again we recall physics, the rules of the vector decomposition of the applied force, in this case, from the center of gravity. Using my knees as a counterweight, you can quickly learn how to “steer” - just tilt them in the right direction of rotation. It is clear that sudden movements should be excluded - this will provoke an inevitable fall.

You can adjust the direction of movement with the help of the steering wheel, but in a mirror view - to turn right, the steering wheel turns to the left, and vice versa. More practice - and every cyclist will find for himself the most acceptable way to make turns.

Often there are disputes - it is better to sit in the saddle or stand on the pedals with bent legs. There is no common recipe - both methods have the right to exist, the main thing is that the correct location of the center of gravity above the rear wheel is observed. By the way, this largely depends on the structural features of the bike. In any case, having good skills, it will be possible to ride sitting in the saddle with a look of utter serenity.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Often, the fear of falling prevails over the desire to learn this trick. One thing you can advise is to overcome it.. Protective ammunition can play a significant role in this, avoiding serious injuries. In addition, you can, for starters, practice the correct jump on both legs from a bicycle that has stood on its hind legs and got out of control, letting it go "under itself" - this will certainly add confidence.

"Sinking hands" after the first setbacks. No need to hope that success will come instantly. Do not believe those who say that they went the first time. Even learning how to ride a bike easily takes time and patience, let alone such an extreme driving experience. Practice shows that significant gains come after a week of training.

This has already been said - when tearing off the front wheel, you cannot rely solely on the steering jerk with your hands Is a dead end option.

You should not bend to the steering wheel, even if it seems the safest position - the center of gravity in this position cannot be held.

Sudden movements, acceleration and braking are a direct way to fall. Everything should be smooth and proportionate.

How to learn to ride a skateboard - tips for a beginner skateboarder.

Have you heard about the fingerboard? This is a "micro" skate that looks like a toy. However, the tricks on it are quite complex and require patience with children. More details here.

In order to learn how to ride the rear wheel, it is important not to be afraid and not to panic at the first setbacks. Only hard training will bring positive results over time. However, the time will pass when you laugh at yourself now, when such a trick will be easily performed reflexively and even the thought that someone cannot master this will seem strange.

The video will clearly show how to raise the front wheel and maintain balance:

18 comments

Long and unsuccessfully learned to ride the rear wheel, but to no avail. After reading the article, I realized that I made a bunch of mistakes. And most importantly, this is the fear of falling. To the protective equipment, I would also add a small pillow from the back to the back :), well, this is so, for certainty. Now, taking into account all your mistakes and following the recommendations, you just have to wait for the summer and, learn ahead, study and study!

Yes, I can only dream of such a thing! I was just trained on a two-wheeled bicycle for a month, and then riding in the back. Well, by the way, I have not tried. Although I know how to effectively brake their cycling, ride without hands, turn at a very narrow gap and bounce when riding with the great one. Now I will wait for the summer to master a new trick.

I learned to ride a bike very quickly, and mastered a motorcycle at school (the neighbors helped))) It was hard to ride the rear wheel - the driveways were not big, short, but they brought a lot of joy.

Skill 2. Lightening the rear wheel

Standing on the pedals, jump a little, without taking your (!) Feet off the pedals. While you are “flying,” your weight is minimal, and almost nothing presses on the rear wheel. We have achieved our goal. (Of course, this may look a little silly from the outside, but this skill will save you from more than one "eight" on the rear wheel. However, you decide.)

Skill 3. Raising the front wheel (in common people - "goat", "stand on the" goat ")

There are three techniques: power, mechanical and inertial.

Power: Bend down to the steering wheel, then sharply push your hands off the steering wheel (just do not let it out of your hands). As soon as your body rushed up - pull the steering wheel toward you with all your might (for greater certainty, you can push your feet on the pedals harder - so your body will become a kind of spring that raises the bike on its hind legs). If the wheel came off at least a few centimeters from the ground, then you understood everything correctly - you can proceed to the next technique.

Mechanical: we do everything, as in the previous case, only now, pulling the steering wheel up, “help” the pedals - with force we begin to rotate them forward. You will notice that this is much easier than just pulling the wheel. If it starts to turn out with a significant amount of confidence, then we proceed to the development of the latest technology.

Inertial: unlike the previous techniques, we won’t particularly rest against anywhere. We simply, standing on a bicycle, push it forward, and then, pushing, sharply pull it back, and he obediently lifts the front wheel. Do not expect special heights from this technique, but sometimes it is very useful (for example, when descending from a high curb).

Skill 4. Rear Wheel Up

This skill is a more "power" option to facilitate the rear wheel. This skill is achieved as follows.

We stand with one foot on the ground, with the other foot we take the pedal back (if the right foot, then the right pedal, if the left foot, then the left pedal). Now, with your hands on the steering wheel and one foot into the ground, we’ll try to raise the bicycle with our remaining “free” foot, pushing the pedal back. The sensations are incredible. Now repeat the same thing with the other leg.

Having mastered a little, we will try to do the same trick, only standing on the bike. The pedals should be parallel to the ground, and the feet on the pedals rotated at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. We will jump and try to "drag" the bicycle behind us, pulling it by the pedals. By the way, fifteen minutes of load jumps are comparable to a many-hour bike ride or a serious trip to the gym.

Now we’ll try to decide when and what skill should be applied?

If you move out of the low curb: first, so as not to put the “eight” on the front wheel, we will lighten the front wheel, and then we can also lighten the rear wheel, but this is optional.

If you pull off the high curb: lift up the front wheel with the first or third technique (the second technique in this case can be very unreliable) and jump off the curb, landing on the rear (not the front!) wheel. Landing on the rear wheel, as a rule, is softer, more confident and safer than landing on the front.

If you call on the curb: raise the front wheel with any convenient technique, then lift or lighten the rear one (or just gently “pull” the bicycle behind us, gently but surely pushing it forward exactly as described in the inertial technique of lifting the wheel, only without a jerk toward you) .

If you overcome the pit: First, we lift the front wheel, then we lift the rear wheel.

Note. A quick combination of skills 3 and 4 will allow you to master a new cycling trick called “bunny hop” (hare jump), or briefly “banic” (make a sharp jerk with the front wheel and, while the inertia carries you up, take the back off the ground - you get a two jump wheels), but this is a completely different story, going far beyond the scope of this story.

Be careful when planning to take another obstacle - try not to damage the gears and other components of the bicycle. Believe me, it’s much easier to get off the bike and carefully check whether the equipment will pass here or not, than to look for some expensive spare parts in the city stores for a broken or bent one.