Comment by somerandomqaguy
3 days ago
I just googled the same thing. Quite frankly I don't blame OP for getting it wrong, because the top result is from Cornell University.
> The accepted view: Bicycles are stable because of the gyroscopic effect of the spinning front wheel or because the front wheel "trails" behind the steering axis, or both.
https://ezramagazine.cornell.edu/summer11/researchspotlight....
If you're not already read into bicycle or motorcycle dynamics, the top google result sounds reasonable. Which makes it all the more ironic because they're talking about research which demonstrates, among other things, that it's a misconception to believe that gyroscopic forces are necessary.
It is quite confusing because there are strong points in favour of either POV.
Point: you can ride a bicycle without hands. That would be completely impossible without gyroscopic effect. Or you can push a bicycle forward without a rider.
Counter-point: kickscooters exist, with tiny little 6″ tyres which have almost no gyroscopic effect, and yet you can balance those in the same way as a bicycle.