Science can now explain how daredevil Danny MacAskill gets his body and bike to combine in defiance of gravity
13 October 2017
Riding a bike is a skill that most of us master when we're young.
Riding a bike to me just feels completely natural, as if I’m on my feet.Danny MacAskill
It's far from childsplay though – it actually requires a remarkably high level of coordination for a human to cycle.
And world renowned street trials rider is one human being who has taken this skill to the extreme.
Scientists have recently discovered that the secret underpinning this is the intricate way our vestibular system, proprioception and sense of balance work together.
Learn: The secret behind riding a bike
Mountain biker Danny MacAskill shows how we effortlessly manage to stay on two wheels
Danny has learned to control his body with effortless precision.
It’s almost easier for me to do it on my bike than on my feet.Danny MacAskill
Every second requires exquisite balance, fast reaction times and speed.
Integrating them together allows for the unconscious coordination by Danny of his bike and body through space and time.
"It's similar to running over rocks on a beach: you know exactly how far you need to shift your feet to get to each rock."
"It's the same for me when I ride my bike, I know exactly how much pressure to put on my pedals."
Danny MacAskill rides the Cuillin Ridgeline
The Scottish star cyclist returns home for his most breathtaking stunt to date.
Danny in action on Skye
In 2014 received wide acclaim for a stunning film called .
'Riding the Ridge' is a documentary following the process of shooting on one of Scotland's most dramatic mountain range, the Black Cuillin on the Isle of Skye.
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