Science | Interesting | How it works on Instagram: "A track cyclist’s opening struggle is a clear clash between physics and raw strength. With a fixed-gear bike—no freewheel, no shifting—the pedal and wheel move as one. This setup offers no help during the launch, and the high-speed gear ratio feels brutally heavy when starting from zero. Every ounce of force must be generated by the rider alone just to turn that first crank. The result is a slow, stiff, and visibly demanding acceleration as the