zlacker

>>qqqqqu+(OP)
Why bicycles stay upright.

For every authoritative-sounding, in-depth explanation, there is an equally plausible, yet conflicting and contradictory alternative.

>>inopin+fp
My hunch is that the science is not quite out on it yet and that the intuitive explanations are not accurate.

For example, see "Some recent developments in bicycle dynamics" (2007). Especially the folklore section:

"The world of bicycle dynamics is filled with folklore. For instance, some publications persist in the necessity of positive trail or gyroscopic effect of the wheels for the existence of a forward speed range with uncontrolled stable operation. Here we will show, by means of a counter example,that this is not necessarily the case.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bb70/d679c5a2ff67dd2a1a51f2...