A belt drive uses a looped strip of flexible material called a belt to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts. Belts are looped over pulleys to transmit power efficiently between shafts. Belts can drive pulleys in the same direction in an open belt drive, or in opposite directions in a crossed belt drive. Belts transmit power simply and economically over variable distances between non-parallel shafts while absorbing shock and reducing noise and vibration. However, belt slip and stretch can vary the speed ratio from the pulley diameter ratio.