411 
191 1-12. J On Novel Illustrations of Gyrostatic Action. 
position, carrying with it the bicycle. Again, if the gyrostat tilts over 
about the vertical on its supporting pivots, precession takes place about the 
line of contact of the wheels with the wire ; the precession is again hurried, 
and the bicycle is brought into the vertical as before. 
In fig. 5 is shown still another form of gyrostatic bicycle-rider. This 
arrangement is adapted to run on the floor as an ordinary bicycle, or 
on a tight or slack wire. The construction of the bicycle and gyrostat 
Fig. 4. — Gyrostatic Bicycle-rider. 
mounting will be clear from the figure. The gyrostat frame, which is con- 
structed from stiff wire, is attached to the bicycle by means of a sleeved 
joint b. To enable the bicycle to run on the floor the ends of the rod r are 
attached by means of strings to the extremities of the front handle-bar of 
the machine. If the gyrostat is spun rapidly very considerable stability is 
conferred upon the machine by the gyrostat. To run the device on a wire 
the strings are removed, the gyrostat is spun rapidly, and the bicycle 
placed on the wire and adjusted so that the wheels and the flywheel are 
in a vertical plane. The bicycle is then left to itself, when it balances 
perfectly. It will be evident from the figure and what has gone before 
how the stability is brought about. 
