Thread: How does a bicycle work?

I need to know how a bicycle works. I have looked on a lot of websites and they only tell me the parts of a bike

you pedal. a chain is attached to the sprocket, witch is attached to the pedals. the the chain is also sttached to the back wheel. when you pedal, it moves the chain, witch moves the wheel.

The reason you can't find how they work is that it is so obvious nobody has felt a need to explain it. Least 'til you asked.

Do you know what a unicycle is? A wheel with a seat. Your feet rest on 2 pedals connected to the center(hub)of the wheel. When you push, this causes the wheel to turn and thus move. As you're seated above the wheel, you move forward as the wheel turns.

A bicycle works exactly the same way with you seated between two wheels. Easier to balance. As you pedal, a chain connected the the hub of the rear wheel causes it to turn, thus moving you forward.

With the pedals attached to a big gear causing the chain to turn a small gear in the rear, the force you exert is multiplied, enabling the rear wheel to turn much faster than if there were no gearing differential. This lets you go faster and climb hills easier.

I have no idea why I answered this question. Think I'll take a nap now.