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Old 01-14-2010, 03:04 PM   #12 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
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hydrocarbons

Quote:
Originally Posted by kenwood View Post
Well, I'm trying. 'hydrocarbon fiber' is just mumbojumbo; our muscles are 'a form of hydrocarbon fiber'. Wood, and bamboo for that matter, is cellulose fiber in a lignin matrix.
The entire bicycle frame flexes, both in torsion and bending. To my knowledge, there are no parts which 'need' flexibility, unless one is referring to tires. Flexibility, as the opposite of stiffness, is a relative property controlled by the designer of the bike to produce the desired ride qualities and performance, from race to beach cruiser. One doesn't just add some flexible parts to the stiff ones to make a bike...
Muscles are made of protein and many other compounds. Their fuel is derived from hydrocarbon, usually fructose or sucrose. Cellulose is also a sugar, but too tough for us to digest with our single stomachs.

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