Too many variables IMO to make such a broad generalization. How steep of an incline can one walk up vs. ride a bike up? How about some gnarly woods. Lots of rugged places you can walk but impossible to ride. Throw some deep snow and ice in there and see which is is more "efficient". Ride through 1 foot deep water and then try riding in it.

More like something to think about the next time you use psychotropic drugs.

Am I the only one who thinks it's not good form to quote yourself as a source supporting a factoid you put out there?

But it does make things easier. I guess I could write a short piece claiming there's proof that the moon is made of green cheese. Then I'll go on an astronomy forum and post that the moon is really made green cheese, and provide a link supporting the claim.

--------------------------

BTW - it was tempting to accuse the OP of circular reasoning, but that doesn't really apply here. So, for future reference, does anyone know of or have a term to describe the act of citing one's own past writing as supporting evidence for a claim?

This isn't true at all. The common Swift can stay in the air for ten months, straight.

The Common Swift Is the New Record Holder for Longest Uninterrupted Flight | Audubon

Seriously?

Did you write that article?

I'm voting for the sloth. Assuming there is no need to hurry, the sloth has to be most efficient. I mean, he could walk at that speed like, forever.

It's from the Audubon society, and no :lol: I know very little about birds. Saw a cool program about them though - they sleep on the wing, literally. Something about how they also shutdown certain areas of the brain while cruising.

Oh my, yes the sloth is a good contender. Glad I can contribute before the lock :p

No explanation was called for. I was simply driving a nail home.

:innocent:

Wait, so you're saying the moon isn't made of green cheese??:foo: Wwwhat?

Not at all. I was simply pointing out an easy to "prove" it.

BTW - watching the partial eclipse last month, I've become convinced that it isn't made of green cheese. It looked more like an aged Mimolette.

Phew! You just about turned my world upside down.:twitchy:

Actually a steel wheel on a steel rail is the most efficient, but the bicycle is second.

Indeed. We are also free to comment on those posts, so long as our comments are within forum guidelines.

I am not making personal attacks or insulting the OP when I point out that he has made three basically meaningless posts and comes across as someone who does not know at all what he is talking about.

My impression is that the OP trying to create posts on topics with which he is totally unfamiliar. I do not know why.

I would suggest the OP write about his/her bikes or personal cycling experiences. So far, we have seen three posts---this one on "Efficiency," "Safety," and "How to fail at business by not really trying." (Whoops, I missed "Bicycle Technology Picture Book.”)

Every one of these posts strike me as not be honest ... as in, the person is not honestly seeking a discussion on the stated topics.

Again, I would suggest the OP post about his/her bikes and riding experiences. If the OP chooses to do otherwise, that is also fine.

If a person walked up to me at a party and said stuff like this I would politely walk away ... unless it was my party in which case I would ask they guy who invited him and why he was there.

This forum is sort of in between. So I want the guy to actually talk honestly about stuff he knows about .... and I will responds in the same fashion.

That seems fair and not unrighteous.

Except that in relativity theory, time doesn't slow down for you in your frame of reference, so you wouldn't notice any difference. You might, however, experience less atmospheric pressure the farther up the hill you go, so the higher you get, the less you'll weigh.

Don't discount the lowered drag as atmospheric density drops at altitude.

I think if you include the energy cost of fuel production and distribution, mpg equivalent comes out about the same for 4 or 5 people cycling or car-pooling in a modern high-mpg vehicle.

I think it's the opposite. Time runs faster the further you are from earth's center.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grav..._time_dilation

and add to that, if you ride Really fast ......

Riding uphill
 

No drugs.i ride uphill and it is hard. Why. Why can’t I just jackhammer along like on level ground. Physicists have not discovered the Graviton. I learned about that 40 years ago. They found the Bose particle. That is mass related. Mass distorts time. Seems there is no carrier for gravity. What we perceive may have a different cause than we thought.
Because I quit believing in gravity, I hit the hills harder because it is not as difficult as it seems. Perception. Perhaps oxygen depravation. Don’t know, got a job, ride my bike a lot. Maybe I belong homeless on the river trail, just chose to pay my mortgage, bills, and taxes. In California. Where it is mostly perfect everyday, the beach is close, and I can ski once in a while.

Actually he has started several rather odd threads in different forums. I can't see how many posts he has made when I am using my phone app but I'd guess he's about half way to 50. When he reaches 50 he can start posting links to his site and others.

Or maybe he's really not sure how to use a forum.

HINT to the OP: Tell us a bit about yourself and your cycling CV.

Anyone who believes bicycles are more efficient in every situation hasn't watched a grand tour race climb with the world's fittest athletes grinding along slowly while tubby old guys dressed up like giant pandas and half naked vikings carrying giant foam rubber hammers trot alongside the cyclists blowing kisses, groping the cyclists and whatever other awful things crazy fans do on grand tours.

Overall efficiency decreases somewhat as the grade increases while climbing, because you are propelling not only your own body weight, but the weight of the fully laden bicycle underneath you, which would be anywhere from an extra 20lbs to 60+lbs if you've got a loaded touring rig.

:popcorn

Not to mention the weight of being soaked with champagne spittle from the half nekkid potbellied viking wielding a giant foam rubber sledge hammer. The horror...