Bicycle Efficiency
QUESTION 1.
Bikes are considered one of the most energy efficient means of travel when counting calories of energy per kilogram of weight per kilometer of distance traveled. Which of these things is more efficient than a cyclist?
- Boeing 737 jet
- Fruit Fly
- Greyhound dog
- Greyhound bus
- Hummer
- Helicopter
- Hummingbird
- Mouse
- MTA subway
- Salmon
- Thoroughbred race horse
QUESTION 2.
Cyclists face several common forces which, depending on circumstances, cause varying amounts of assistance and resistance. Name four of those forces, and, for each one, describe two circumstances which can maximize and minimize that force.
SAMPLE ANSWER: Bio-mechanical friction. A broken knee maximizes friction, a proper bike fit minimizes friction.
QUESTION 3. A fixed-gear cyclist goes on a one hour record ride. Her average cadence is one hundred revolutions per minute. Her bike has exactly ten meters development. How far does she go with how many pedal revolutions?
BONUS QUESTION:
Her bike is most likely which one?
- a used Colnago pista
- a Cervelo P4
- an open recumbent
- a faired HPV
- a solar hybrid pedal-electric
