[u801e]

> Turn-by-leaning doesn't exist, it's an illusion. It works because when you lean, you are pushing a bit on the handle bar.

If one is riding without holding the handlebar, one can make the bicycle go to the left or right depending on which way one leans, which in essence changes the center-of-gravity. The handlebar will turn in the expected direction as well.

> Pushing the handle bar in the direction of your turn makes it go to the opposite direction

This appears to be counterintuitive. When turning right, for example, I would have to push the left side of the handlebar away from myself, and, at the same time, pull the right side of the handlebar towards myself. The front wheel will then point in the intended direction of travel, and the bike will lean toward the side I'm turning.

> I am utterly amazed at the general confusion in this thread coming from both motorcycle and bicycle riders.

It's probably because most people, myself included, have not had formal training in bicycle/motorcycle handling skills. And they learn through experience (which probably leads to the problems in obstable avoidance that you describe).

Edit: s/handle/handling/

[T-N-T]

> If one is riding without holding the handlebar, one can make the bicycle go to the left or right depending on which way one leans, which in essence changes the center-of-gravity. The handlebar will turn in the expected direction as well.

Yes, with the very low weight of a bicycle that can be done at low speed. But I maintain turn by leaning is mostly an illusion because that's not how you actually turn when you're riding on the road and not doing "look ma no hands". Just the fact that your hands are on the handle bar, and that when you lean a little you will also naturally put pressure on the side of your lean, pushing away the handlebar in the direction you're leaning on, which initiate the process of countersteering. It's what people naturally do on 2 wheeled vehicles whether they were taught to or not.

> When turning right, for example, I would have to push the left side of the handlebar away from myself, and, at the same time, pull the right side of the handlebar towards myself.

The only way this could work is that the lean was already initiated by countersteering. You just haven't realized you push the handle bar and to that instinctively. You should really, really give a conscious try later. Keep your bike as straight as possible, do not lean in any way, do nothing but a gentle push on the handlebar on the side you want to turn, and try very consciously to not put any pressure toward any direction after your gentle push. You will witness your bike leaning, then the wheel wanting to go toward the direction of your lean when you're at low speed, the bike doesn't need you to move the wheel toward the direction of the turn, it does that by itself.

Simply put there's no point at which one should consciously do anything other than pushing to initiate the lean.

> have not had formal training in bicycle/motorcycle handle skill

I can somewhat accept this for people who only very rarely ride their bicycle on a week end or holiday. But if you're going on the road mixed with other vehicles, or worse, if you ride a motorcycle, you should be fully in control of your vehicle. You should be able to make a turn as fast as mechanically possible without falling and at least be conscious that one should keep a steady speed, neither braking nor accelerating, while turning, if one doesn't want to fall and crash. This isn't too noticeable at moderate speeds on a bicycle but it's absolutely necessary to understand that you should keep your speed steady while turning at higher speeds, this is how many, many accidents involving only the rider are caused. The person who doesn't realize the turn is going to be steep before they came too close to the turn and chose to turn while instinctively braking to lower their speed.. braking while turning will make you fall. Loss of speed (unsteady throttle handling) will make you fall. Too much acceleration will make you fall.

Here's a good video showing what one can do with their motorcycle when one fully consciously controls its turning, instead of purely relying on instincts and misunderstood ideas like "shifting weight" (don't do that) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVoXGGXRl5k

[u801e]

> Just the fact that your hands are on the handle bar, and that when you lean a little you will also naturally put pressure on the side of your lean, pushing away the handlebar in the direction you're leaning on, which initiate the process of countersteering. It's what people naturally do on 2 wheeled vehicles whether they were taught to or not.

When you put it that way, it does make more sense. That is, if you don't countersteer, then you'll end up falling because the the vehicle will lean too much. With a bicycle, though, you may not really feel that you're pushing back on the handlebar because of the difference in weight compared to a motorcycle.

> You should be able to make a turn as fast as mechanically possible without falling and at least be conscious that one should keep a steady speed, neither braking nor accelerating,

I actually already do this while riding and driving given what I've read about the concept of the "friction circle" which states that turning while accelerating or braking requires more traction compared to just turning. So for the most part, I will brake and slow down to my desired speed and then coast through the turn.

As for accelerating in a turn, it's a bit more problematic due to the possibility of the pedal hitting the road surface during the lean if it's at the 6 o'clock position. That's why I make sure I keep the pedals in the 9 and 3 o'clock positions when turning.