Reply to: Is it easier to cycle or walk up hill?

[TimberWolf]

Perhaps uphill or plane doesn't matter if the vehicle is efficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iar5DDvk8fg

Nice find. It looks at if that bicycle uses extremely low gearing.

[Grinder]

Perhaps uphill or plane doesn't matter if the vehicle is efficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iar5DDvk8fg

I would think balance is difficult at those speeds.

[Nicelook]

Happyciency

Is it easier to cycle or walk up hill?

Perhaps uphill or plane doesn't matter if the vehicle is efficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iar5DDvk8fg

[threaded]

Is it easier to cycle or walk up hill?

It depends on the steepness of the hill, the combined weight of rider and cycle, and how fast you're trying to go up the hill.

A bicycle gains a lot in efficiency terms on a person just moving forward, but you start to lose this against accelerating the extra weight of the bicycle against gravity up a hill.

So it varies.

[TimberWolf]

a yog before I go, apple / bannana & chicken breast when I get in, slalad for lunch with chicken, and reasonable dinner when I get home and lots of beer !

You must be pretty fit - and have no need for the gym or a car?

[PerlOfWisdom]

Surely the further you get up the hill, the easier it becomes...

Not to my house, the hill gets steeper all the way. It's so steep that it counterracts the reduction in gravity, and the loss of CO2 and sweat!!!

[n5gooner]

You must eat a large breakfast.

a yog before I go, apple / bannana & chicken breast when I get in, slalad for lunch with chicken, and reasonable dinner when I get home and lots of beer !

[Mich the Tester]

I cycle to my current gig, its 23 miles each way with some big hills on the way, which climb to about 160m. It takes me about 1h 10m each way. If I didn't ride up them I'd never get to my client. I think its easier to ride, unless its really steep and the bike wants to topple backwards !! oh and I do weigh 100Kg and my bikes about 22lb's

You must eat a large breakfast.

[n5gooner]

I cycle to my current gig, its 23 miles each way with some big hills on the way, which climb to about 160m. It takes me about 1h 10m each way. If I didn't ride up them I'd never get to my client. I think its easier to ride, unless its really steep and the bike wants to topple backwards !! oh and I do weigh 100Kg and my bikes about 22lb's

[Churchill]

Surely the further you get up the hill, the easier it becomes...

[TimberWolf]

If you're comparing riding a bike with pushing it up the hill, then cycling uses less energy. With each step the centre of gravity moves up and down which uses extra energy.

Also, presumably you have to go back down at some point which will use no energy at all on a bike.

I think part of the reason cycling up a hill feels harder than walking up is because you tend to cycle up faster than you walk. Even though the total energy used may be the same regardless of speed of ascent, the power is greater the faster you go. Regarding bobbing up and down, that's what cyclists seem to do when they cycle up steep hills too, they tend to use their walking muscles and gait, but on pedals.

[PerlOfWisdom]

If you're comparing riding a bike with pushing it up the hill, then cycling uses less energy. With each step the centre of gravity moves up and down which uses extra energy.

Also, presumably you have to go back down at some point which will use no energy at all on a bike.

[TimberWolf]

Is that despite the benefit of standing up on the pedals - the heavier the rider, the more downward force which translates into forward motion.

Yep, doubling the weight doubles the energy need to climb a hill.

[Grinder]

Hills are even worse for heavy people.

Is that despite the benefit of standing up on the pedals - the heavier the rider, the more downward force which translates into forward motion.

[TimberWolf]

Where do I get a bike that weighs -20 kg?

Hills are even worse for heavy people.