ELI5, How am I able to go farther and faster on my bicycle than by walking, considering I have to move the mass of the bike, as well as the loss of energy to friction from the gears and wheels?
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When you turn the pedals, it makes a big circle, but it’s connected with a chain to the axle at the end of the bicycle – a smaller circle. It is easier to move an object when you have leverage. The chain forces the smaller circle to move faster than your bigger circle. When your pedals make one rotation, the smaller circle has moved more than one rotation.
A bicycle takes the motion of your legs and multiplies their effort. So it is easier to get farther with one movement of the leg.
Add in gears and these circles can be manipulated for more and more leverage – bigger circle under your feet and smaller circle on the rear wheel for faster rotation.
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