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-   -   Zero per Gallon patch $0.00 (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1027055-zero-per-gallon-patch-0-00-a.html)

dtrain 08-28-15 01:03 PM


Originally Posted by ThermionicScott (Post 18114926)
Yeah, mathematically I prefer stuff like this:

https://cdn-shop.threadless.com/subs/big/82249.gif

and already own the shirt. ;)

The green one looks great. Yellow might be okay, but I'd have to see it on the other model.

scroca 08-28-15 01:18 PM


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18118289)
You misspelled the term; it is nit pick, with a c.

Is it too early to nominate a post-of-the-year?

kickstart 08-28-15 01:23 PM


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18118289)
You misspelled the term; it is nit pick, with a c.

Nit pick isn't a term, it's an idiom.

jfowler85 08-28-15 01:26 PM


Originally Posted by kickstart (Post 18118579)
Nit pick isn't a term, it's an idiom.

An idiom is phrase.

Definition of term: n. A word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept, especially in a particular kind of language or branch of study"

-Oxford English Dictionary

Ergo, nit pick is a term, as well as a phrase, as well as an idiom. It's also an expression, and a figure of speech. Additionally, it could be used as a synecdoche. Lastly, it could literally mean picking louse eggs.

kickstart 08-28-15 01:33 PM


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18118589)
An idiom is phrase.

Definition of term: n. A word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept, especially in a particular kind of language or branch of study"

-Oxford English Dictionary

Ergo, nit pick is a term, as well as a phrase, as well as an idiom. It's also an expression, and a figure of speech.

Dang man, you were supposed to leave something out so others could get into the act.:p

jfowler85 08-28-15 01:41 PM


Originally Posted by kickstart (Post 18118613)
Dang man, you were supposed to leave something out so others could get into the act.:p

Damn I got carried away.....stop me next time :)

baronvoncatania 08-28-15 02:01 PM

Thank-you.


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18118289)
You misspelled the term; it is nit pick, with a c.


lost_in_endicot 08-28-15 04:33 PM


Originally Posted by dtrain (Post 18118516)
The green one looks great. Yellow might be okay, but I'd have to see it on the other model.

+1!!

alan s 08-28-15 05:10 PM


Originally Posted by lost_in_endicot (Post 18119088)
+1!!

I'd prefer to see her without either shirt on.

Tim199 09-15-15 05:55 PM


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18115323)
That is not irony, it's just bad math. Fuel mileage is calculated by the simple formula

(Miles traveled)/(gallons used)

which, for a bicycle which has traveled, say, 10 miles is

(10mi)/(0gal)

The problem here is that any number divided by zero is undefined. Ie it is not possible to divide something by nothing.

It's undefined in the sense that there is no real number that provides the desired solution, but that doesn't mean it can't be analyzed usefully at another level.


(Xmi)/(0gal) is not a derivative. The variable x is the mileage, and it is not approaching zero (think of a vector) and will never be anywhere near what could be construed as infinity; the fuel consumed is always zero. In other words, the graph is linear and not an asymptotic function, the plots only move in one direction from a singular point of origin 0,0.
It doesn't need to involve derivatives. Just because derivatives are defined with limits doesn't mean limits can't be considered separately. In your 10 miles travelled example, consider the function f=10/g. Then the right sided limit of f as g tends to zero is positive infinity. You can think of the mileage in whatever model you would like to, it's just probably not a good idea to refer to other people's math as bad when you don't have a strong handle on the mathematics involved and didn't appear to read the link that explained it.

unterhausen 09-15-15 08:37 PM

something divided by zero is hardly undefined, lots of math depends on having infinity around. In fact, there are two kinds of infinity, countable and uncountable. The mpg of a bicycle is the uncountable kind of infinity. Some mathematicians are weird about the word infinity, my first calculus teacher didn't like to use the word.

GamblerGORD53 09-15-15 10:05 PM

Where the hell did you guys get the idea that bike riding is FREE **********
Just the tires cost about .9 cents a mile, each.

highrpm 09-16-15 08:29 AM

When I see that sticker, I immediately think of one of those garage sale tags. As in, you paid some ridiculously small amount for that bike.

jfowler85 09-16-15 09:57 AM


Originally Posted by Tim199 (Post 18167119)
It's undefined in the sense that there is no real number that provides the desired solution, but that doesn't mean it can't be analyzed usefully at another level.

But we're not talking about other analytics, we're talking specifically about the fuel mileage of a bicycle with respect to petroleum. It's a null and void concept from the get-go, because no petroleum is consumed in the act of pedaling a bicycle unless of course you are drinking it.




Originally Posted by Tim199 (Post 18167119)
It doesn't need to involve derivatives. Just because derivatives are defined with limits doesn't mean limits can't be considered separately. In your 10 miles travelled example, consider the function f=10/g. Then the right sided limit of f as g tends to zero is positive infinity. You can think of the mileage in whatever model you would like to, it's just probably not a good idea to refer to other people's math as bad when you don't have a strong handle on the mathematics involved and didn't appear to read the link that explained it.

The link provided, in the comment to which I was replying, leads to a basic explanation of limits at infinite which is a building block concept of introductory calculus - I was making that reference and not implicating derivatives into the discussion.

The thing is, if g in your function is gallons consumed, as in (10mi travelled)/(gallons petrol consumed), then g is always zero. g never existed from the start of this whole thing, which why the equation is always mi travelled/0g consumed. It's a linear trend with no slope, and no waxing analytical on the behavior of limits at infinity can change that. I once remarked that my bicycle got infinite mpg in that if I bought a gallon of gasoline it would sit the garage unused while I rack up miles on the bike...even this is erroneous because the metric mpg implies the petrol consumed.

canadian deacon 09-22-15 08:51 AM

...because math. :)

jfowler85 09-22-15 01:22 PM

That's what I keep saying.

dipy911 09-23-15 06:53 AM

Mathematically, I prefer 53 miles per burrito.
https://www.missionbicycle.com/store...-miles-burrito

rmfnla 09-23-15 10:46 AM


Originally Posted by dipy911 (Post 18187201)
Mathematically, I prefer 53 miles per burrito.
https://www.missionbicycle.com/store...-miles-burrito

I'm not drafting you...

dipy911 09-23-15 12:52 PM

:) Produce gas don't consume it!

e0richt 09-23-15 02:18 PM


Originally Posted by jfowler85 (Post 18118289)
You misspelled the term; it is nit pick, with a c.

I wonder if others know what it really refers to?

it refers to cleaning head lice eggs off of someone's head...
a lice egg attached to a hair follicle is referred to as a "nit"...

and because it is extremely small, it is also referred to when someone says "nit wit"

just thought I would add my 2 cents... ;)

Rollfast 09-23-15 02:28 PM


Originally Posted by rmfnla (Post 18187897)
I'm not drafting you...

You'll hardly notice without a steel cage surrounding you. That is the unforeseen benefit. :p

Rollfast 09-23-15 02:33 PM

The lack of petroleum burning *you still must LUBRICATE* is offset by repair costs if you are prone to breakdowns and broke.

it's impossible for me to even afford a motorcycle or scooter. I love my bikes though and put up with the agony.

At least the neighbors have a fun little dog I can borrow.

Rollfast 09-23-15 02:35 PM

By Crom! It's always something when Conan the Grammarian invades a thread tho.

prathmann 09-23-15 02:54 PM


Originally Posted by rmfnla (Post 18117978)
"Lard has about 2000 calories per dollar. You could ride all day for a buck or two. Let's see a car do that."

This might work with lard, too:

How To: Convert Your Diesel to Run on Vegetable Oil - Gear Box DIY - Car and Driver

Unless you have a free source of either lard or vegetable oil there's no point in this. Sure lard is a pretty cheap source of kcals. compared to most food, but 2000 kcal/dollar is hardly cheap compared to regular diesel fuel which has about 35000 kcal/gal - or well over 10,000 kcal/dollar. Those running trucks off vegetable oil generally have an arrangement with food places to get their used oil essentially for free.

And while eating straight lard may give you enough extra kcals. to support a century ride (or more), I doubt you'll be feeling too good with that as your steady cycling diet. With a more healthy and appetizing mix of real grocery foods it's hard to do much better than about 500 kcal/dollar at which point the cyclist may well be spending more on his extra fuel intake (over and above what he'd eat while sedentary) than the motorist zipping by him on the way to the same destination.

tjspiel 09-23-15 04:04 PM


Originally Posted by prathmann (Post 18188753)
Unless you have a free source of either lard or vegetable oil there's no point in this. Sure lard is a pretty cheap source of kcals. compared to most food, but 2000 kcal/dollar is hardly cheap compared to regular diesel fuel which has about 35000 kcal/gal - or well over 10,000 kcal/dollar. Those running trucks off vegetable oil generally have an arrangement with food places to get their used oil essentially for free.

And while eating straight lard may give you enough extra kcals. to support a century ride (or more), I doubt you'll be feeling too good with that as your steady cycling diet. With a more healthy and appetizing mix of real grocery foods it's hard to do much better than about 500 kcal/dollar at which point the cyclist may well be spending more on his extra fuel intake (over and above what he'd eat while sedentary) than the motorist zipping by him on the way to the same destination.

Most Americans consume far more calories than they need for the activities they engage in. If I were to quit riding my bike and start driving instead, I doubt my calorie intake would change much at all. Hopefully I'd find other ways to burn it off.

So no, it's very unlikely that I'm spending more on "fuel" than the dude next to me in his car. Especially since he may very well be consuming as much if not more calories than I am. He's just fatter.

If I were training for a century or for a triathlon, yeah, I'd eat more. For my commute? Not really.

Besides, how many kcals does it take to move a diesel vehicle 6 miles vs. me and my bike? Of course the speed will play a big role in the energy required, but I bet it takes a lot less for my bike and I.

It's an interesting argument, but just doesn't hold up IMO.


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