As you first approach the brand new GoldCo brand
Gyrobike Roller Coaster (tm), early in the day before it's
running, the first thing you notice is that it only has a
single long rail, a piece of tubular steel.
That's not so strange, you think, there are lots of monorail
roller coasters in
the world... a bit odd for a bike themed
ride to be supported by above, you suppose.
But then you get closer, and notice that the supports for
the rail are underneath, and some of the supports go
straight to the ground. There's nowhere below the rail for
a ride car to hang!
When opening time arrives, you hear the distinctive
electric hum of a capacitor being charged... as the sound
reaches it's peak, out of the ride's embarking area shoots a
motorcycle, riding directly on the rail!
The ride builders did not abstain from spending on
licensing, as the bike looks *almost* exactly like [favorite
motorcycle model here], and indeed, each and every bike
is styled to look like an old classic, or like a new stylish
machine.
The first obvious difference you notice is that, that
particular model of bike doesn't have a seat back in the
real world, the one on the ride does; and of course there's
one of those typical roller coaster chest restraints holding
the rider in place.
The second difference you notice is that the rubber of the
tires isn't actually attached to the metal of the wheels --
each wheel's outer part is shaped like the inner half of a
torus, to fit around the rail of the ride's track. The rubber
"tire" part is actually a close fitting fender, present just for
looks, and ends just above the rail.
When you get on the ride, you notice that your bike's
"engine" is just a chromed plastic shell, concealing the
actual workings, which you realize includes a capacitor for
power storage, and an electric motor for propulsion. You
don't realize (yet) how the bike stays upright on its rail.
The next thing you notice is that even though the bike
merely has two wheels to support it, it's balanced
perfectly, even when not in motion. As you give it a push
to the side, to see if it will fall over, it magically rights
itself!
When you get on the ride itself, and it moves, you realize
that the accelerator and "brakes" affect the speed, almost
like on a real bike. As you approach the bike in front of
you, the adaptive cruise control overrides your input, and
forces the bike to slow down. If you approach one of the
vertical loops too slowly, it overrides and forces your bike
faster, so you don't fall off.
After you disembark, the bike is immediately recharged.
As you depart from the ride, you observe a small plaque,
outlining the history of gyro stabilized vehicles, including
of course Gyro monorails and Gyrocars. There are even
some pictures of the Schilovsky Gyrocar, built in 1913.