Thread: Machines
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Old 07-21-2019, 03:13 PM   #692
tw
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
I have a feeling clothing had a lot to do with it.
Innovations were necessary because the human output too much torque. That large front wheel converted high torque - low speed into low torque high speed. With gears and chains, then smaller wheels could accomplish the same conversion. And provide the many different torque - speed ratios that a bike needs for changing terrains.

But again, it all about that simple concept taught in school science - the product of torque and speed. So that a much less than 1 horsepower engine (the human) could adapt to changing loads.
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