11-29-2021, 02:16 PM
Turn left to go right. Doc Hudson taught us that.
Castor angle is a huge influence for self-correcting behavior. A vehicle that was aligned to have not much castor can’t go straight after turning a corner unless the steering wheel is turned by the driver. Most vehicles have enough castor applied that you can witness the steering wheel trying to return to straight ahead. It’s also why some don’t need as much course correction on a straight highway.
Bike riders experience similar differences if they ride both mountain and roadies. The road bike has enough camber to allow for effortless straight-ahead riding hands-free but depends more so on body lean to maintain straight-ahead. This is helped by you sitting upright while doing so. Trying to ride hands-free straight down a road on a mountain bike isn’t nearly as easy and helps explain why those bikes are more adept at technical riding around obstacles.
Castor angle is a huge influence for self-correcting behavior. A vehicle that was aligned to have not much castor can’t go straight after turning a corner unless the steering wheel is turned by the driver. Most vehicles have enough castor applied that you can witness the steering wheel trying to return to straight ahead. It’s also why some don’t need as much course correction on a straight highway.
Bike riders experience similar differences if they ride both mountain and roadies. The road bike has enough camber to allow for effortless straight-ahead riding hands-free but depends more so on body lean to maintain straight-ahead. This is helped by you sitting upright while doing so. Trying to ride hands-free straight down a road on a mountain bike isn’t nearly as easy and helps explain why those bikes are more adept at technical riding around obstacles.