Came across an interesting video from Smarter Every Day, a science based website from aerospace engineer Destin Sandlin that, in his words, attempts to find the unexpected. This video concerns a bicycle made with a gear that turns the wheel in the opposite direction. That sounds simple enough and I am sure most of you who have rode a bike think that you could master riding this bike fairly quickly. Just a little concentration and a push of the pedals and you would be off, maybe a little shakily at first but on your way.
Not so quick.
It turns out that there are so many factors at play in riding a bike that are hardwired into our brains once we learn how to ride one that dramatically altering any one of them makes riding a bike almost impossible, as you will see in this video. A very interesting example of the way our brain learns and adapts. Or not.
Take a look for yourself:
Redtree Times 