@fullywoolly @log @ellie original figure is from "Bicycle Technology" by S.S. Wilson which reviews the technological marvel that is the bicycle, including also cross-sections of a Sturmey-Archer Hub. It's quite good reading for any #Cycling enthusiast.
https://notfine.com/bikes/articles/Scientific_American-Mar1973-Bicycle_Science.pdf
@fullywoolly @log @ellie there was an "updated" version of the figure in 2025 that was basically just copying this article's work and added in a bunch of distracting animation to the figure which conveys no information. I prefer the original but in the interests of completeness, I'll link the more modern one here:
@fullywoolly @SnoopJ @log @ellie Speaking of finding the original article, the 1970 article by Tucker cited in the Scientific American article doesn't plot the bicycle rider! The data aren't in the table either, which only lists:
Cherokee airplane
Volkswagen automobile
Cadillac automobile
Sikorsky S62 helicopter
Grand Commander
F105F jet fighter
DC 9-10 jet transport
DC 8 jet transport
@spacehobo @SnoopJ @log @ellie I like that it has conversion factors for fat, glycogen, and gasoline.
@fullywoolly @SnoopJ @log @ellie Oddly, Tucker cites his own work on the energy efficiency of various models of jet aeroplane.
@SnoopJ @fullywoolly @log @ellie found this
@Fangh @SnoopJ @log @ellie I saw that too and another one from presumably Colorado State University that showed very small numbers for ebike and escooters. I'll admit that I'm pretty weary of infographics without knowing the context and data that lead to their creation. I feel myself seeing them and saying "oh that's pretty this must be right" and I feel my defenses going up.
@Fangh @SnoopJ @fullywoolly @log @ellie
You could add a Saturn 5 going to the Moon to the end of that list at about 12,000 J/m/p.
I'd also like to see those numbers divided by each method's average speed as well.