Why is it easier to balance on a moving bike than a non-moving one?

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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Karen Lingel’s answer to “Why is it easier to balance on a moving bike than a non-moving one?” (http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mangularmo.html) is wrong. Research back in the 1970s showed that gyroscopic forces are not important.

There’s a good discussion with references at http://physics.about.com/library/weekly/aa050900a.htm

Karen has now (4 July 2002) revised her Staff Report; here is the link to the revision: “Why is it easier to balance on a moving bike than on a nonmoving one?” – CK Dexter Haven

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, kahirsch, glad to have you with us.

THere were several comments to this effect, that were lost in the “recent unpleasantness.” Karen is planning a revised Staff Report, whenever we start Staff Reports up again. So thanks for getting this in the record.

The revised Staff Report has now been issued (OK, so we were a little later than expected, life is like that sometimes): “Why is it easier to balance on a moving bike than on a nonmoving one?” – Dex