Why A Speeding Bicycle Tends To Stay Upright

Bikes Education Fun & Games Science

By Sean Michael Ragan

Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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Although I can’t say I’d care to try, or can in good conscience recommend, that trick where you let go of the handlebars at speed and sit upright in the saddle with your hands at your sides, this video from Ira Flatow’s Science Friday helps explain why it works. [Thanks, Laura!]

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By Sean Michael Ragan

Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

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