Counter Steering a Bicycle

[g21-30]

http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~fajans...g/Steering.htm

[backinthesaddleagain]

A long section of road near my house was finally repaved about a week ago. Months of it being down to dirt. I guess it was important to start that stimulus project and proudly display the sign, but finishing it wasn't a priority. Anyway I digress, riding it last night with no one else around let me work on a couple of different lines around the corners. Slight pressure on the bars, heavier pressure on the bars, moving to the side of the seat, weighting the outside peg, etc. Then the wind came howling in from the side. I find an odd enjoyment of riding a bike somewhat leaned over, in a straight line. Maybe I need a sail boat.

[Snake]

The same principles apply for riding a bicycle as it does for a motorcycle.

[Sailariel]

I totally agree.

[kchava]

wow that's too funny. that link is from a physics professor i had at berkeley. he would wear his tight bicycle pants and clip-in shoes to lecture. he comments here on the physics of why bicyclists hate to stop at stop signs. http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...icyclists.html

[g21-30]

Krystle, welcome to the Ninjette forum. Go to the New Members section and tell us more about yourself!

[Racer x]

After you get the counter steering thing worked out and you are comfy riding around corners . Then try counter steering with only one arm/hand. By that I mean keep both hands on the bars but consciously steer only using inputs from the arm on the inside of the turn .
In other words when turning left .Counter steer with the left arm . When turning right counter steer with the right arm.

It is from Keith Codes twist of the wrist book .

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by Racer x

After you get the counter steering thing worked out and you are comfy riding around corners . Then try counter steering with only one arm/hand. By that I mean keep both hands on the bars but consciously steer only using inputs from the arm on the inside of the turn .
In other words when turning left .Counter steer with the left arm . When turning right counter steer with the right arm.

It is from Keith Codes twist of the wrist book .

agreed. that negates the post in the other thread that countersteering is pushing down on the bar.
now how about countersteering a razor scoolter. I can't ride one of those to save my life.

[Racer x]

I don't know why they say push down to turn a bicycle . It confused me for years. Maybe it has to do with drop bars I don't know . I do know that the all two wheeled vehicles act the same . the steering head turns right and left .

When you go to turn you steer the bike to the right it will lean to the left that is what turns the bike. It is the leaning part that gets you around the corner.

[karlosdajackal]

Originally Posted by Racer x

I don't know why they say push down to turn a bicycle . It confused me for years. Maybe it has to do with drop bars I don't know . I do know that the all two wheeled vehicles act the same . the steering head turns right and left .

When you go to turn you steer the bike to the right it will lean to the left that is what turns the bike. It is the leaning part that gets you around the corner.

Because if you push down, it does nothing but waste energy, so it effectively smooths out ham-fisted input as pushing down on that bar will do nothing but stop you pushing the bar forward with all your might.

You can tell people to be smooth all you want, some people just are not. If you tell them to push down and forward it at least cuts there forward input in half.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

now how about countersteering a razor scoolter. I can't ride one of those to save my life.

Agreed, they are dangerous, my kids have both had pretty bad wrecks. It's the little tiny tires, IMO. So twitchy.

Countersteering is mainly used to get a two-wheeler to LEAN, so you can TURN. On the scooters with the low deck, and high bars, you can just lever the thing into the lean, countersteering isn't the main force to initiate the lean. You almost just hold the bars straight, and move (not turn) them side to side. There's probably some CS'ing going on, but not much.

Now a RIP-STICK, that's a crazy Two-wheeler. Two casters, and no bars. Weird

[Racer x]

One think for people with kids. Dint give your kid a tricycle or training wheels. The child will ride it around and find that when they turn right the right the bike turns right . Then when they get two wheels you will see they wobble down the sidewalk with dad running behind. They have to unlearn the dynamics of multi track vehicle.

Instead get the child a very low two wheeled bike without pedals. The will walk it around and drift with feet up . Then when they go to a pedal bike it will be natural

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by kchava

wow that's too funny. that link is from a physics professor i had at berkeley. he would wear his tight bicycle pants and clip-in shoes to lecture. he comments here on the physics of why bicyclists hate to stop at stop signs. http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...icyclists.html

I hate to unclip as well. Gives a lot of motivation to perfect a Track Stand.

[Sailariel]

When I got into bicycling in 2004, I bought a bike that had some iffy OEM tyres. Every time I countersteered I would lose traction and crash. I changed to better tyres and was fine. The EX250R does not need a great amount of input to lean into a turn. Countersteering involves minimum effort. The bike corners incredibely well with little input. This bike has the potential of teaching a person a lot if the person is receptive to being taught. The EX250R is a truly amazing machine. I have been riding for 50 years and this bike is still teaching me. I plan to enroll in a Sport Bike riding school this Spring. As I have said in many of my threads---The EX250R is no beginner`s bike. Master that bike, and you can ride anything. Plan to spend a few years getting there.

[bhalv]

hmmmmm. interesting