Originally Posted by
sacr
One thing to get one's head around first, riding a bicycle is constantly reacting to a loss of balance situation.
Correct, and noted in post 180 and 181. Maybe others have noted it too, I'm not sure.
Originally Posted by
SteveG23
That being so, as far as I can tell it is meaningful to say there are two ways to *initiate* a turn, but not two ways to follow through on it. If you are content to start the turn gradually, you can shift the overall center of balance of bicycle plus rider solely by shifting your weight into the turn. That is, you shift the center of gravity to the inside of the intended curve relative to the wheels, rather than over them: e.g., for a left turn you put the center of gravity to the left of the wheels' contact with the ground. If this is all you do, you may have to turn the handlebars only slightly, because of the corresponding shift in the point of contact with the ground, and only in the same direction as the turn. AFAICT the point of countersteering is to position the center of gravity to the inside of the intended curve relative to the wheels more quickly, by kicking the wheels to the *outside* of the turn: the wheels move to the *outside* of the intended curve, so that the center of gravity is left behind, and is *instantly* on the inside of the curve. Then you can (and must) turn the wheels back the other way, into the intended curve, immediately rather than gradually, because you have already placed your center of gravity where it needs to be. If you leave the steering mechanism pointed to the outside of the curve for a moment longer than necessary, you are on your side.
Right, you got it.
I'd add that you don't even have to shift your weight one bit to initiate a turn. Just decide not to make one of the many tiny corrections required to maintain balanced, straight line riding, and Presto! You're now starting a turn! It's the same principal as "active" counter steer, but as you pointed out usually not as fast or dramatic. In fact, in either situation you DID counter steer prior to the turn, (or failed to counter steer, depending on how you want to look at it) because constant (minute) counter steering is required just to maintain balance... That not being able to ride a bike with a locked fork thing.