This calculation requires a JavaScript-capable browser. After the training wheels come off, riding a bicycle seems as natural as walking to most people. It's easy to take for granted the fact that this type of locomotion involves a complicated system of dynamics, one that is still argued over by scientists today. We know that the mechanism of human power through pedaling is responsible for getting motion started on a bicycle. Center of Gravity Most of us remember our own first experiences attempting to balance ourselves on our first set of wheels.
Balance is an integral part of our initial training.
It's also an important aspect of riding technique at the professional level. When a rider gets on a bike, her center of gravity shifts upwards as she and her weight are elevated and added to the weight of the bicycle itself. The bicycle with a rider on it is top-heavy and is an unstable object when stationary. Balance in this case is a matter of life or death. There's more on Libor on the next page.