Walking is four times less efficient than this common exercise
The efficiency stems from the bicycle's design, which allows for a compact, circular leg motion, reducing the energy wasted on swinging heavy limbs.
Bicycles utilise wheels for smooth rolling contact with the ground, eliminating the energy loss and jarring impacts associated with each footstep in walking or running.
Gears on a bicycle help muscles operate at their peak efficiency by allowing them to maintain an optimal contraction speed, preventing them from becoming less effective at higher speeds.
Overall, cycling is considerably more energy-efficient, being at least four times more efficient than walking and eight times more efficient than running, though very steep gradients can favour walking.
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BBC News
5 hours ago
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The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Eight of the best cycling destinations around the world
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France Journalist and cycling enthusiast Paddy Maddison loves the French Alps and would argue that the gruelling Alpe d'Huez climb, with 21 hair pin bends soaring 1,860 metres into the sky, is a worthy challenge any biker can take on. After a trip last year, he wrote: 'Over the years, the winding mountain pass leading up to the [Alpe d'Huez] resort has served as a backdrop for some of the most memorable moments in pro-cycling history … To cyclists, it's a sporting landmark akin to Silverstone or Wembley. The key difference is that anyone can come and pit themselves against the iconic 21 hairpin bends. And I mean anyone…' Begin your ascent in the town of Le Bourg d'Oisans and make your way up to the resort, stopping at the many cafes and cultural sights along the way. Journalist Chrissie McClatchie also loves France as a cycling destination – but as well as pedalling up a peak, she recommends biking across the picturesque promenades of Nice. 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BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Work continues on Birmingham Camp Hill Line railway project
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