THEORY OF THE BICYCLE WHEEL

Bicycle wheel theory is regularly cited in the context of explanations about the tourbillon, and more precisely to demonstrate that a mechanical watch is affected by the effects of gravity in a vertical position but not in a horizontal position.

Just imagine having a bicycle at hand with its front wheel free and its valve acting as an unbalance. If we orient this wheel in vertical position, the valve will have an impact on the position of the wheel. If we orient this same wheel in horizontal position, the valve will have no impact on the wheel position.

This is how we can demonstrate that a mechanical watch is not affected by gravity in horizontal position. It can also be shown that the interest of putting a tourbillon on a Marine chronometer would be null.