Monthly Archive for October, 2011

How We Ride Bikes: HoF Talk

Published by admin on October 18, 2011 in Events. 0 Comments
Mont Hubbard, Ron Hess, Luke Peterson and Jason Moore will be giving a talk on their bicycle dynamics, control and handling research Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at the Bicycle Hall of Fame in Davis. The Hall of Fame opens at 4pm and the talk will start at 7pm with light refreshments. The cost is $5 for general admission or $3 for students and seniors (supports the museum and HoF!). See the attached flyer for more details.
A video about the research: http://youtu.be/HcYbn_RCLiw

No-Falls Method for Learning How to Ride a Bicycle

Published by wjchancellor on October 18, 2011 in Davis Bicycles! Column. 0 Comments

By Bill Chancellor and Mike Hacker

Below is a description of a method used by Bill Chancellor of Davis and Mike Hacker of Los Altos to teach uninitiated learners to ride a bicycle.

Learning to ride a bicycle is a rite of passage that’s etched into most of our childhood memories. Unfortunately, these memories often include skinned knees, run-ins with unforgiving trees, and an out-of-shape parent running alongside nearing cardiac arrest.

However, there’s a technique for teaching bicycle-riding skills to first-time learners that can make for more pleasant memories — the no-falls method.

This method is based on the principle that a bicycle is kept upright mostly by the rider continually steering to keep the wheel-ground-contact-line always under the rider. It’s the consummate balancing act, requiring forward motion and steering adjustments by the rider in response to bicycle tilt. Continue reading ‘No-Falls Method for Learning How to Ride a Bicycle’