Blog Post: Simulating the Motion of a Self-Stable Bicycle

Cycle traffic in Britain is on the up. Whether commuting or riding for pleasure, cycling is a popular eco-friendly way to travel. Modern bicycles haven't changed a great deal from the safety bicycle introduced in the 1880s. Did you know that a modern bicycle will self stabilise if a force is applied from the side? Since the 1880s, scientist have been trying to find out what makes a bicycle self stable. The first paper on the subject, written by Francis Whipple, was published in 1899. But more recently, theories show that there is not a single reason for the phenomenon, but a combination of factors. In this blog post, we explain how to simulate a self-stable bicycle using COMSOL Multiphysics and the Multibody Dynamics Module.