> Grab a bicycle wheel by the ends of the axle, and have someone
> spin it (they'd be lucky to get 5mph surface speed at tire) and then
> try to abruptly change the spin axis. There are other factors at work
> as well, I'm sure, but gyro affects are not negligible.

I sometimes do this just for fun when I'm changing a tire, and it's fun to show any kids who are around, but I could never bring myself to believe that gyroxcopic effects are anything more than minute compared to the constant corrections of balance that you go through almost unconsciously. Consider a kid's scooter with its 6" wheels, or a skateboard, or a skater executing a figure on a single blade, which doesn't even rotate.

> Put a bicycle wheel on a kayak (attached to the deck) spinning
> in a horizontal plane, and it will dampen the affects of small waves
> or minor paddler jitters. Put two wheels with extra heavy rims, and
> it'll become quite noticeable. Now we have another use for our onboard
> electricity!

Maybe this is the answer to the training floats idea you floated a couple weeks ago? :-)