What was the best thing before sliced bread?

[Moscow Mule]

In a standard riding position aero losses equal all other losses combined at around 14 mph, and beyond that speed aero losses rapidly becomes the dominant loss. Which is why bikes don't 'travel fast enough for aerodynamics to be a significant factor' - because it becomes too much like hard work at higher speeds. At high speeds a bike can become less efficient than car because of aerodynamic losses.

Good article

[TimberWolf]

I guess the thing with bikes is that different types suit different people, so I'm usually happy with a hybrid for commuting, though I sometimes wish I could get my hands on a 1k+ ultra-light and aerodynamic road bike, just to see how much difference it would make.

The physics is pretty well understood and I sometimes play around with various parameters to get an idea of the forces and energy involved using different setups, which is a lot cheaper than buying the bikes and bits. Slick tyres help a lot at slow speeds (before aro losses dominate) and the riding position at higher speeds.

[Grinder]

The biggest problem with the pedal bicycle is that the 'engine' ie human is so big & heavy - especially in my case.

If someone can invent one that doesn't need the rider, it would be near 100% efficiency, and the drag could be reduced to near nothing - a simple tube with a sharp point and tiny wheels would do it - almost no drag - triple-A batteries all along inside and a very slim motor inside. Might need some big outriggers with wheels to balance I suppose - then its not a bicycle though.

[BrollyBonce]

The regeneration of the species through sex and childbirth was the best thing before sliced bread.

It is still the best thing.

Next.

[Mr Crosby]

Nothing. here in NL the bread is kept unsliced at the baker, but when you buy it they automatically slice it. I always ask for unsliced bread and am confronted with stares of disbelief. I then explain that the bread stays fresh for longer if it's unsliced and that I rather like really big thick, irregular slices of toast.

I was introduced to chips & mayo in the NL along with a strange cooked sparrow in the automat's in A'dam.

[pmeswani]

I would have went for knives

Well, it was until the Hoodies used it for different reasons. :-/.

But I am debating whether sex was the best thing before Sliced Bread, as the nation has bred a generation of Hoodies and Chavs.