Start here · Essential guide
The Science of Cycling Physics
A plain-language tour of the forces on a moving bike: gravity, rolling resistance, air drag, friction and inertia, and how they combine on every ride.
Science, Health and Safety
Forces, drag, momentum and speed explained.
Start here · Essential guide
A plain-language tour of the forces on a moving bike: gravity, rolling resistance, air drag, friction and inertia, and how they combine on every ride.
How wheels, frame shapes and accessories affect air drag on a bicycle, and why the rider's position usually matters more than any single part of the bike.
Where a rider's effort goes, from the drivetrain and tyres to the air, plus simple habits that generally waste less energy and make riding feel easier.
Why a bike speeds up quickly or slowly depends on power, mass and gearing, with smooth, safe techniques for getting up to speed from a stop.
How air drag grows with speed, and what body position, clothing and wind generally change, explained in plain words without complicated formulas.
What momentum and inertia mean on a bike, why heavier loads are harder to start and stop, and how smooth riding works with them rather than against them.
How to carry speed over small rises and through corners by trading speed for height and keeping a smooth line, and why stopping limits come first.
How air drag and rolling resistance trade places as the main thing holding you back as speed rises, and what that means for riders on different bikes and surfaces.
How steering geometry, trail and gyroscopic effects generally help a bike stay upright, with honest notes on what scientists are still working out.
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