Physics Lesson

[HoosierGiant]

So, I'm minding my own business, toiling away at household labor this afternoon when the small girl-child saunters into the kitchen and announces, "A bike turns 90% of your energy into movement, so it's the most efficient transportation in the world." Which, of course, led to the following three questions flitting through my brain in rapid succession: a) How does she know that? b) Why doesn't my 90% equate to the kind of average speed I'd like to see?, and c) What the heck am I doing standing here with my hands in the dishwater when I could be out touring the countryside?

Answers: a) Information courtesy of Can You Feel the Force? , an elementary physics book by DK Publishing. b) Guess I'm too old for that. c) Rainy weather and 18mph winds gusting to 31mph not conducive to riding.

Also of interest, the book went on to note that, "A car converts only 25 percent of its energy into movement energy, and most of that is used shifting its own huge weight. In fact, the energy you use to cycle 0.6 miles (1km) would shift a car only 66 feet (20 m)."

So... Congrats and happy cycling to all of you beautifully efficient machines!!