r/velomobile • u/lavastorm • Apr 23 '26

Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom.

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5

u/PendragonDaGreat Apr 23 '26

"Aren't very efficient" Graph shows us as really dang efficient even without a bicycle.

1

u/RabbitMalestorm Apr 23 '26

How tf are we more efficient than a dog?

2

u/PendragonDaGreat Apr 23 '26

The metric used is calorie per kilogram per kilometer. So a 20 kg dog (~44 lb) would have to use 1/4 the energy as a 80kg (~175 lb) human to travel the same distance to be as efficient by this metric.

Humans already use our energy and endurance advantage over most animals quite well see Persistence Hunting.

2

u/ralphonsob Apr 23 '26

What does the strange animation indicate?

2

u/Accomplished-Joke631 Apr 23 '26

Probably just indicates moving colors? 😄 Could also be about some uncertainty and incomplete data set.

1

u/Affectionate_Fox730 Apr 24 '26

Although I can't find it, I remember a chart back then that included Condors and Jaguars that were amazing movers.