General Cycling Discussion - MythBusters Bicycle Episode?

I'm sure anyone (in the US) who hasn't been living under a rock for the last few years is likely familiar with the show "Mythbusters". In the show, team of people take myths and test them to confirm or bust them; also a lot of things get blown up. Many of the episodes are themed such as "Movie myths", "Shark myths", and "Truck myths".

I would like to see a bicycle myths episode.

What are some bicycle myths that you might like to see tested?

I'd like to see them test the safety of a bike helmet in really ridiculous situations, such as navigating through a mine field, or a hail of gun fire.

Or a design challenge pitting Jamie and Adam against each other to design the ultimate commuter bicycle. At the end of the episode, they would have to ride the bicycle through an obstacle course filled with urban hazards such as broken glass, pot holes, car doors flying open, simulated torrential rain, etc.

Actually, they did have a bicycle episode. Something about conserving energy by drafting other cyclists.

Id like to see the logistics of drafting and how much you can save

prove breaking away wrong.

test stopping.

see if carbon explodes and make it explode.

see if they can break long enough to pop a tube.

see how much force is needed to break a stem.

Actually, they've sort of run out of myths. A lot of their later material is/was movie special effects, which were never claimed to be real or possible in the first place.

The durability of different frame materials in different conditions.

To finally end that steel vs carbon vs alu vs ti vs whatever debate! :lol:

One big myth is what keeps a bicycle upright. Most people will tell you it's because of the gyroscopic behavior of the wheels. However, we know it's actually the headset angle.

Actually, they did have a bicycle episode. Something about conserving energy by drafting other cyclists.

I saw that one. It was ridiculous on a number of levels. The guy rode a full suspension MTB in some sort of body armor get-up, he drafted a tractor-trailer at 20mph, and they used heart rate as the proxy measurement.

How hard would have it been to scare up a PowerTap? Hell, just drop a line in the Road Bike Racing forum and they'd have half a dozen guys who'd do it.

Myth to test: the safety of various riding practices... Parents still teach their kids to ride facing oncoming traffic because it is 'safer.' There is one myth to test. Or the 'ride like you're invisible' strategy.

I agree with the fact that their shows are getting ridiculous though. Watched one last night where they proved that superheroes can't get changed superfast in a phone booth (which of course they CAN because they are SUPERheroes who can do things that the MB gang can't)

The myth of the spontaneously exploding X-Mart bike that will kill you and destroy the economy.

*runs and hides*

I saw that one. It was ridiculous on a number of levels. The guy rode a full suspension MTB in some sort of body armor get-up, he drafted a tractor-trailer at 20mph, and they used heart rate as the proxy measurement.

How hard would have it been to scare up a PowerTap? Hell, just drop a line in the Road Bike Racing forum and they'd have half a dozen guys who'd do it.

+1
Yes, it was quite rediculous.
I think this was a from that episode, while they were goofing around between takes, (different bike):
https://home.swbell.net/mcpoop/MMACH_5/images/bike_crash.gif

Wow a helmet woulda help there :rolleyes:

Id like to see the logistics of drafting and how much you can save

prove breaking away wrong.

test stopping.

see if carbon explodes and make it explode.

see if they can break long enough to pop a tube.

see how much force is needed to break a stem.

Actually, at least I've seen people debate the whole issue of breaking a rim by braking too long. There's gotta be some 2000' descent hill where they could just let it head down the hill at 20-25mph while riding the rim brakes to build up heat, then use a thermocouple or something to see how hot it gets the rim. For failure testing, I'm guessing it would have to be under lab-type conditions, like their tire-blowout test.

Have a bike wheel coast in contact with the drive wheel of a pickup truck with the bed removed so you could apply full bike brakes while still getting 25mph wheelspeed or something. It would be interesting to see if the brake pads would overheat to thermal failure (like brake fade from overheating on car brakes) or if they could hold out long enough to damage the rim. Ultimately, I think most people find bicycles boring, so it probably wouldn't make it on TV.

Wow a helmet woulda help there :rolleyes:


Or one that would stay strapped to his head instead of coming off at impact.

One hotly contested topic on BF is how much power you gain (if any) on the upstroke using clipless pedals.

Myth to test: the safety of various riding practices... Parents still teach their kids to ride facing oncoming traffic because it is 'safer.'


Wait, WTF?
I always assumed people do this because they're stupid or lazy about crossing the street or something.
But there's a belief that it's actually Safer??
Where does this come from and whats the 'logic' in that being safer??

They need to test Campy versus Shimano.

Wait, WTF?
I always assumed people do this because they're stupid or lazy about crossing the street or something.
But there's a belief that it's actually Safer??
Where does this come from and whats the 'logic' in that being safer??

Well, if one rides under the assumption that every car is out to hit you, it is a tremendous advantage to be able to see them coming towards you rather than having them coming up behind you.

When running, I always run facing traffic. When biking in the city, it's pretty impractical because of stop signs/lights and turns and whatnot. But out on rural roads, I can't think of any tactical disadvantage to riding on the wrong side of the road. (i don't do it though).

I can't think of any tactical disadvantage to riding on the wrong side of the road. (i don't do it though).

Well, since your speed opposes that of the oncoming car, a possible collision will be that much worse...
Also since you're moving towards each other, your reaction time before potentially colliding is much less than if you were both going to same direction. (Use a mirror or get into the practice of turning head and looking around...)

Then there's all the other bikes in the lane going the designated direction who are running into you...
(this would apply to running on paths as well... becoming an obstacle to other runners...)

I'd like to see them test the safety of a bike helmet in really ridiculous situations, such as navigating through a mine field, or a hail of gun fire.

I'd also like to see them test one as a flotation device after crashing into the ocean after skydiving out of a plane on a mountain bike.

But out on rural roads, I can't think of any tactical disadvantage to riding on the wrong side of the road. (i don't do it though).

The real issue is that most auto/bicycle accidents happen at intersections. When you ride on the wrong side of the road, every time you approach an intersection you are coming from a direction that's not expected by other road users.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saqb4MtVm4o&feature=related

I would like to see the Mythbusters do a Bicycle show more along the lines of Utility Cycling. Maybe a show based on a CSX Commercial… How much can you haul/pull with, or on a bicycle safely. Or, how efficient is a bicycle for such things as a machine.


I think it would be great to help break the general publics view that bicycles are just toys, and not for everyday use. Could be fun to see how much a regular person could move with a bike...:)

The real issue is that most auto/bicycle accidents happen at intersections. When you ride on the wrong side of the road, every time you approach an intersection you are coming from a direction that's not expected by other road users.

Exactly.

Try this... next time you drive (or ride for that matter), see how often you look for oncoming vehicles (including bikes) in the wrong lane.

I'd like them to test the myth that commuting by bike actually saves money over driving. Saving gas maybe, but they have to eat the way I eat and count the grocery bills! :eek:

That's why I said it's not practical in the city and contrasted that with rural roads (where there are few intersections, and few cars to meet at the intersections you do happen to come to).

Honestly I can't say I want them testing any myths where they are going to be the ones doing the riding. I saw one episode where they were testing whether or not you could use suction cups to scale a building or air duct or whatever. Adam was the one who was to be climbing the building using his home made rig. In the end the main reason they said the myth was busted was because Adam just wasn't personally strong enough to scale the building, not because of equipment problems (or at least none that couldn't be easily fixed with a little refinement on the design). I think the same thing would prolly happen with a bike episode, probably disproving that bikes can be used for commuting to work or something similar.

I'd like to see them take on the generally accepted bike brake legal standard; being able to skid both tires on dry, clean pavement.

Wait, WTF?
I always assumed people do this because they're stupid or lazy about crossing the street or something.
But there's a belief that it's actually Safer??
Where does this come from and whats the 'logic' in that being safer??

First I am not saying it is a reasonable excuse but I can tell you how it happened in some states. In the old days kids were taught to ride their bike much like they were taught to walk on the sidewalk. Even in school kids were taught to ride against traffic so they could see cars coming at them but they were also told to ride on the sidewalk whenever possible. It wasn’t until bicycles became just another vehicle in California that they switched their view. It is very hard to make a turn from the left turn lane if you are riding against traffic.

They did the one based on drafting, based off of the great scene in Breaking Away. They totally botched it. They used a huge, bulky mountain bike. It was embarrassing just to watch.

But, yes, you can totally draft off of big trucks. The guys in the road cycling forum talk about doing it all the time.

How about testing the "Moth Effect"? i.e. the phenomenon that a flashing light will cause drivers to unconsciously steer *toward* the light?

How about testing the "Moth Effect"? i.e. the phenomenon that a flashing light will cause drivers to unconsciously steer *toward* the light?


I've wondered about that one myself for a while, and also whether the effect is any greater if the driver is drunk at the time (something that regularly happens in this part of the world).

My thoughts on some myths...

#1 - Rider ability vs grams($$$)
#2 - How much energy does drafting conserve / expend.
#3 - How likely is a tire to explode on a loaded touring bike on a mountain descent due to atmosphere and heating of the rim.
#4 - Prepackaged foods (Power Bars, etc) vs Real food (Bannas, Bagels, etc) which work better.
#5 - Urban commute, car vs bike, which is faster.

My thoughts on some myths...

#1 - Rider ability vs grams($$$)
#2 - How much energy does drafting conserve / expend.
#3 - How likely is a tire to explode on a loaded touring bike on a mountain descent due to atmosphere and heating of the rim.
#4 - Prepackaged foods (Power Bars, etc) vs Real food (Bannas, Bagels, etc) which work better.
#5 - Urban commute, car vs bike, which is faster.

In all seriousness, #3 and #5 sound doable for the show, and would probably be fun to watch. :thumb:

Top Gear did the urban commute in London: Hampster on a bike, James in a car, Jeremy in a speedboat on the Thames, and The Stig in the Tube.

The bike won, if I recall correctly.

I'd like them to test the myth that commuting by bike actually saves money over driving. Saving gas maybe, but they have to eat the way I eat and count the grocery bills! :eek:

People who drive cars eat too.

i'd like to see them take on the generally accepted bike brake legal standard; being able to skid both tires on dry, clean pavement.

:) :) :)

Top Gear did the urban commute in London: Hampster on a bike, James in a car, Jeremy in a speedboat on the Thames, and The Stig in the Tube.

The bike won, if I recall correctly.

That's been done lots of places. The bike usually wins. Whenever I've read about one of these contests, however, it has been promoted by some bicycling group. I suspect the routes have been cherry picked to maximize the advantages of bicycling.

"...see if they can break long enough to pop a tube."

Yes, this is possible. I did it once when messing around on some sandy pavement. Took a couple long braking sliders and "pop!" (it was loud) there went tire and tube. The bike shop was incredulous. BUT - suffice it to say the tire was also old and needed replacing.

I saw that one. It was ridiculous on a number of levels. The guy rode a full suspension MTB in some sort of body armor get-up, he drafted a tractor-trailer at 20mph, and they used heart rate as the proxy measurement.

How hard would have it been to scare up a PowerTap? Hell, just drop a line in the Road Bike Racing forum and they'd have half a dozen guys who'd do it.

Yeah but as ridiculous as it was... it worked to prove drafting was real... his heart rate was much lower in the drafting run.

They need to test Campy versus Shimano.

Hey! The religion forum is that way ====> !

In all seriousness, #3 and #5 sound doable for the show, and would probably be fun to watch. :thumb:

5 has been done... by the crew of Top Gear... Car vrs Bike vrs Boat vrs Stig in public transit...

Bike was first, Boat second, Stig third and then the Car.

I also saw some other group do a bike vrs smart car through NYC... bike won that one too.

Search Youtube.

In the old days kids were taught to ride their bike much like they were taught to walk on the sidewalk. Even in school kids were taught to ride against traffic so they could see cars coming at them but they were also told to ride on the sidewalk whenever possible. It wasn’t until bicycles became just another vehicle in California that they switched their view.

How long ago were those "old days"? How old were the school kids who were "taught" to ride on the sidewalk? Are you speaking from experience or hearsay about schools teaching such bicycling techniques and how recent were those lessons being given? I'm 61 and never met anybody who was ever taught in school to ride a bike in the wrong direction.

+1
Yes, it was quite rediculous.
I think this was a from that episode, while they were goofing around between takes, (different bike):
https://home.swbell.net/mcpoop/MMACH_5/images/bike_crash.gif

That just proves that Tori Bellachi is brain damaged.

They need to test the myth that people actually pull up while pedaling making clipless more efficient over platforms.

They did the one based on drafting, based off of the great scene in Breaking Away. They totally botched it. They used a huge, bulky mountain bike. It was embarrassing just to watch.

But, yes, you can totally draft off of big trucks. The guys in the road cycling forum talk about doing it all the time.

Did they ever test the stretch of highway in between Bloomington and Indianapolis to see if it was possible for a good road biker to reach those speeds to cause a semi to be pulled over for speeding keeping up with a bike?

Top Gear did the urban commute in London: Hampster on a bike, James in a car, Jeremy in a speedboat on the Thames, and The Stig in the Tube.

The bike won, if I recall correctly.

It's been done in quite a few cities, and the result would probably depend on where and when you ran the test. Over the last couple of weeks, the cars have been faster on my commute due to school holidays and dramatically reduced congestion. Next week, I'll be faster once again.

High speed wobble.

myth to test: headphones.......the widowmaker.

It's been done in quite a few cities, and the result would probably depend on where and when you ran the test. Over the last couple of weeks, the cars have been faster on my commute due to school holidays and dramatically reduced congestion. Next week, I'll be faster once again.

Clearly, London is a very congested city. They also did an episode where a car lost to a runner. I think they drove the London Marathon course.

Found it on wikipedia: Episode 7 of Season 6 (2005)

Myth to test: Cyclists "fare best" when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.

Note: the test must require that "fare best" be defined and measured in some meaningful manner.