The differential solves a geometry problem so quietly that most drivers never notice it exists: two wheels on one axle must turn at different speeds through every corner. This is the gear train that lets them disagree, the traction failure it creates, and how limited-slip and locking diffs fix it.
Drivetrain
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How a Differential Works: The Gearbox That Lets Wheels Disagree -
The Engineering of a Modern Bicycle A modern bicycle is a stack of trade-offs hiding behind marketing copy: frame material that trades fatigue life for ride feel, gearing math that decides whether you spin or grind, brakes that manage heat instead of just friction, and wheels where wider finally got faster. We trace the numbers that actually matter and where the dollars genuinely go.