Originally Posted by
NumbersGuy
If our body was 100% efficient then we’d get back all that energy, but it’s not, so there is wasted energy with every movement.
Sure, but the "mgh" part of raising your leg is at least fully recoverable. I was keeping it simple. I didn't even consider the simple fact that more total mass anywhere on the bike/rider increases the total power required to accelerate or climb a hill.
Was trying to stick to a specific point.