I don't think this is one of those cases though. See Terry Tao's take on a similar problem about when to tie your shoelace: https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/an-airport-inspire...

I believe that is specific to how rocket engines work. I once thought it applied to bicycles, but that must be some other phenomenon...

it certainly applies to bicycles in orbit.

Sure, but that's a tiny fraction of all bicycles, probably less than 1%.

* According to current knowledge.