Boy, you guys just don't wanna believe this do you?

Yes, the flywheel is perpendicular to the bicycle tire. It is also tangent(what you called parallel) to the bicycle tire. It all depends on which direction you're looking at it.

The bicycle tire has a cross-sectional diameter of about 2 1/2". It has a radial diameter of about 26". I'll admit that the first drawing wasn't 100% clear.....although I'd give it a 95.

But besides all that.....I went down and put my car up to my bike before I went to the trouble of drawing all these pictures. It does work, there is contact. It might not work for all cars/trucks, but it does with my Dominator.

Elementary my dear Watson....