Originally Posted by
livedarklions
It's the same amount of energy being exerted on it, but I don't think that means the same amount of energy is stored. If I exert 5w with my foot against a brick wall, the brick wall doesn't deflect at all. By your logic, that means the 5w is being stored in an infinitely small amount of space.on the wall. What I think is actually happening is the 5w is being dissipated into reshaping my foot.
Isn't resistance by definition the opposition of the flow of energy? If the stiffer bike is more resistant, then it is actually less energy that is being transferred to it.
We’re not talking about an infinitely stiff bike, however. There is still deflection, just less. And even so, physics sez force vectors must be balanced.
And even in your brick wall example, the force is reshaping your foot. It’s not magically pushing 90° down the wall. On a magical infinitely stiff bike, the lateral force is mashing rider A’s foot in the shoe, not pulling the chain.
And with that I’m done on the topic.