Originally Posted by
noglider
Smaller wheels need fewer spokes.
Casey Jones (!), I doubt the gear you used had anything to do with it. A higher gear transfers less torque, not more. I wonder what did that. I've never heard of that happening just from pedaling.
Both times I hopped on the right pedal hard and got half a revolution before it locked up. If I were in low gear it would have required a higher rpm to exert the same amount of force on the rear wheel, right? I'm no physisisisisist but I think that if I were in low gear, "hopping" on the pedal would have not turned the rear wheel as quickly and probably would not be as likely to twist the freewheel so quickly, bending the spokes. I agree, more tourque in low gear, that's why you put it in 4 wheel low when you go through the mud. Sorry I live in the south.