Energy Report: Lazy? Choose Cycling!
This page is translated from the original post "Bilan énergétique : paresseux, optez pour le vélo !" in French.
- 31/12/2023 9:45
A study proves that there is no better solution than the bicycle in terms of energy expenditure versus distance traveled.
Effort-savers need to rethink their beliefs: the bicycle is the best way to gain weight! Of course, this is a provocation, but it is not entirely false. Why? Because the bicycle – muscular or electric – is the least energy-consuming mode of transportation on the planet. Whether the energy is electric or purely caloric (in other words, belly fat).
Even walking is outranked. On average, walking burns about 280 calories per hour for an average person, while a bicycle at a moderate speed burns approximately 560 calories per hour. But the calculation does not include the distance traveled!
Energy efficiency can be measured in joules per kilogram and per meter (J/kg·m). For walking, this value is about 0.75 J/kg·m, while for the bicycle, it is much lower, around 0.15 J/kg·m, showing that the bicycle is roughly five times more energy-efficient. The mechanical efficiency of the bicycle is estimated at around 98%, while that of walking is significantly lower. This is partly because the bicycle uses gears and wheels to minimize energy loss. With a push, you can advance several meters. And downhill, it’s a whole different story…
An average walker covers about 5 km in an hour, while a cyclist at a moderate speed covers about 18 km in the same time. This means that for the same amount of energy spent, a cyclist covers a much greater distance.
In short, if you are lazy, adopt a bike. In a slim chance, you might even like it :-).
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