How does a bicycle stay upright?

What we do know about how conventional bikes stay upright on their own is this: when a moving bike starts leaning to one side, it also automatically steers towards that side a little bit. The result is that the wheels come back underneath the center of mass, keeping the bike balanced.

What do hubs and spokes do for wheels?

In a simple wooden wheel, a load on the hub causes the wheel rim to flatten slightly against the ground as the lowermost wooden spoke shortens and compresses. Wooden spokes are mounted radially. They are also dished, usually to the outside of the vehicle, to prevent wobbling.

What is bike rim height?

In cycling, rim height significantly impacts the aerodynamics, agility and weight of the wheel. The general principle is the higher the profile of the rim, the greater the aerodynamic advantage; the lower the profile of the rim, the greater the response and better the handling when cornering and changing speed.

How does a spoke wheel work?

Starting at the hub in the center of the wheel, spokes radiate outward to the rim, where they attach to nipples, which are like little nuts that screw onto the spoke ends. Turning the nipple increases or decreases the tension of the spoke and also pulls the rim slightly to the left or right.

Are bicycle spokes under tension or compression?

On a bicycle wheel, the spokes are thin pieces of wire. They can’t support (very much) compression, without buckling and collapsing. They can however support lots of tension (stretching). Bicycle wheels are built to take advantage of tension rather than compression.

Why bikes are being sold with only one gear in front?

Q: Why bikes are being sold with only one gear in front? These bikes are called 1X or OneBY drivelines. They have only a single chainring and a wider ratio rear cassette. Their advantage is that they don’t have a front derailleur or shifter.

What is the purpose of spokes on a bike?

Spokes are the connecting rods between the bicycle hub and the rim. Their main purpose is to transfer the loads between the hub and the rim, which are caused by the weight of the rider and the bike.