Pete,
No need to ride the Moulton at twice the speed of a regular bike to generate the gyroscopic effect of the larger wheel. The surface speed is already there on account of the smaller wheel. I would imagine the total mass of the wheel would enter into the equasion in addition to the location of the mass relative to the center of rotation. I'm no phyisist nor mathamatition (or speller, I graduated from high school, ok?) but I think having ridden one quite a bit, (with the 17" special Moulton tyre mounted on the Sun 28 hole rims) that the small wheel is not as much a factor in how the bike handles as the frame geometry and the weight distribution on the bike; which can be exaggerated by the small wheel. Anyone feel free to correct or expand upon my armchair physics (but if you get too technical with me I'll be off the back); like I said I'm going by the seat of my pants. The fact that the bike has suspention (especially true with the front) bears somewhat on how the Moulton both rides and steers. BTW, I'm speaking strictly of F frames since I have no experience with the newer ones.
How you set it up will effect steering also because it effects both your center of gravity and the weight distribition on the bike. I suspect the bike was designed for a use that considered steering geometry somewhat secondarily important and the upright tourist bar was the norm. Naturally, I prefer the racing setup. I have regular brop bars, NR brakes, Campag. 7 spd cassette rear hub and an Athena R der. shifted with a single Suntour bar end shifter, AND front and rear racks! I use a single chainring TA crankset of 62 teeth. The bike is "different" as one would expect, but is fun up to a point. It's not really a pig or anything, but going straight and flat is the ideal situation for my bike. The steering is a bit skiddish and it corners oddley which takes a little getting used to. Can't say it climbs very well, partially due to both the front and the rear suspention. The out of the saddle behavior of my bike is "scary" since I'm used to total and complete stability in that mode on my road bikes. Wouldn't give up 650c and 700c for a Moulton, that's for sure. But it's so odd it's cool (and it still works) so how can you resist not having one just to find out what it's like? I can't. I've actually only ridden mine; I suppose there are other variations of the Moulton experience that are unknown to me; but I have experienced the essecence of them.
Sorry if I drifted from the topic. But maybe that will help you decide how you feel about them.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
>
> Hello All
> In reference to Multon stability,one possible solution is to
> ride at twice
> the speed of a nornal bike ,thus increasing the gyroscopic affect
> I also was told by a friend who attended a seminar by Alex Moulton that
> someone asked if he was going to make a bike with "proper" sized wheels?
>
> Cheers for Pete -not sure about moultons- paine