When a riderless bicycle starts tipping left while it keeps rolling, what must it do first to save itself?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Steer into the fall
Steer into the fall ✓ — The bike steers into the fall, which makes the wheels curve back underneath the falling frame. That motion brings the support back under the center of mass, and the bike straightens up.
Lock the front wheel straight — If the front wheel stays straight, the bike has no way to bring its support line back under the falling mass. The rescue depends on the front wheel turning, not on holding it rigid.
Lean the frame farther — Leaning the frame farther left only makes the fall worse unless the wheels also move left to catch up. The front wheel has to chase the fall; just letting the frame lean more doesn't create that rescue.
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