Anyone kow how much energy is in a gallon of gasoline? I would like to figure my "miles per gallon" assuming I burn 1,000 calories on my 20 mile roundtrip commute...

Thanks!

It is complicated by the fact that those calories you consume took oil to make and transport to you.

(unless you are a self sufficient farmer who only uses manual labor and no outside energy/food sources)

Al

Supposedly about 30,000.

Figure out how many gallons of gas are in 1000 calories of human food and you'll have a better metric.

this says about 500 hours of human output:

https://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Research.html

Well, no need to get that precise. I don't want to factor the petroleum in my tires and tubes either. MPG for cars don't factor in the fuel used to bring the gas to the station. I realize that a lot of the energy from both sources (gas and food) is expelled as heat, but still, there has to be some approximation of mpg for riding a bike.

this says about 500 hours of human output:

https://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Research.html

HEY THAT"S IT! thanks!

ok, the source says there is 38,000 kcal of energy in a gallon of gas. If it takes me 1,000 kcal to go 20 miles, I get the equivalent of 760 mpg.

More food for thought

https://www.fromthewilderness.com/fre...ating_oil.html

But don't think too hard as your brain is one of the largest calorie consumers in your body

Al

I don't think that one would burn 1,000 calories biking 20 miles. But I like your concept.

Well, I'm so glad you asked! A bit over 900, according to this page.

I've got a backpack sign that advertises this fact. I was wishing I was wearing it today when that Hummer passed me!

A lot of folks can burn 1000 calories over 20 miles.

720 mpg? Sure, that's what the sticker says, but what does it really get?

Damn, that it one scary site.

City or Highway? What about on "Premium" grade fuel? Then what do you consider premium grade food & drink?

Just guessing here, but...

Don't forget there is a distinct pleasure in *eating* the fuel you are about to use. Double bang for your buck. Petrol/gas doesn't taste particularly nice, and to pay to hear it gushing into a vehicle's tank is not overly pleasurable. Sadly, the mpg and energy figures don't measure these intangibles.

well according to logic of what comes in must go out...two chili dogs contain what, about 2-3000 gallons of gas?


...at least I knwo if I eat one, I'm avoiding other people for at least a day

Speaking of food and gasoline, The LifeAfterTheOilCrash site referred to above (or maybe an article it linked to) said that in America, typically 6 (I think it was?) calories are consumed in petroleum to bring a single calorie of food to the average consumer. That's scary.

suppose my bike ran on light beer.....now how many miles per gallon?

100 calories per 12 oz.
8.3 calories per ounce.
x 128 ounces in a gallon = 1066

so I guess approx 20 miles per gallon of light beer.

So maybe beer isn't the most optimum fuel....especially for my commute, imagine beer-bongin a 6-pack before work and at work before the return trip.

So I'm getting 50 miles per burger?

Howstuffworks says that vegetable oil is nearly as energetic as gasoline. So, you could drink a gallon of vegetable oil and see how far you get.

You could just skip this and measure the distance from the jug to your nearest toilet.

Ugg....veggie oil...I'd rather have a prune smoothie.

Now, how many miles per gallon of wasabi does a person get?

Great thread and information!

Today I did 43 miles and my HRM estimated that that was just shy of 2,000 calories. Assuming its anywhere near correct, I'd say its likely that many people can burn 1000 cal/20 miles. Ofc, I'm a big guy (220) and today's ride had 2000 ft of climbing and a nice steady wind to help up the ante a bit.

Oh I don't know, a gallon is going overboard, but olive oil is pretty good as a concentrated form of energy. As are other food fats if you know how to use them properly.

By the way, is it possible to produce your own biodiesel using waste cooking oil from restaurants and the like. It's cheap as chips, but can only be used in diesel engines. Produces an exhaust that smells of a fish and chip shop.