What Bike is Most Efficient for Getting to Work?
We’ve all seen them, the huge number of different bike riders on the morning commute. All wearing different cycle clothing, from suits to lycra. All riding different types of bikes ranging from streamlined road bikes to slow and steady granny bikes.
Obviously the choice that people make as to which type of bike to ride is based upon what they are going to use it for. A range of things have an affect on which bike you use, how far you have to travel, what you require to take with you, finally, whether or not they have showers.
Most people believe they have the most efficient way for commuting to work. But have they really? Would it work out faster for a granny bike to get to work over a fixed gear bike? You wouldn’t think so at first, however, I believe i can prove you wrong.
If you choose 4 different cyclists and time how long it takes them to get to work, we’ll then see who’s fastest. If we take 2 lycra wearing cyclists, one of a fixed gear one, the other on a road bike. Then take another two cyclists, one in a dress on a granny bike and the other in casual clothing on a mountain bike.
Of course the majority of people will assume that the fixed gear and the road bike will take easy victory over the other 2. This is true, however, they haven’t won the race yet. Once these 2 arrive at their place of work, they are sweating uncontroably. So for them, as well as your travel time, you have to factor in your time for a shower at work.
For the other 2, the mountain biker did get there quite quickly, however, still a little sticky, a shower might be required. Finally, the easy going granny bike, it may come in last, however, the rider is sweat free. With no need to have a shower, the rider can simply walk straight into work.
So once you add up all the time taken to get to work, plus then add on shower time. The granny bike takes the victory at a steady speed. It really does go to show that slow and steady wins the race.
Next time you go on the commute, take time to think if you’re getting there fast enough.
