Which uses most energy?

[PurpleMoonlight]

Riding on the flat at a constant speed

or

Constantly slogging up hills and coasting down the other side

[MrTom]

The first thing that came to mind was uphill-downhill due to the fact that I feel as though I'm tired and therefore used more energy.

However from my GCSE PE knowledge, on the flat you would be doing aerobic respiration which produces alot more energy compared to anaerobic respiration to produce energy for uphill which uses oxygen from the cell. You would have more energy available on the flat to utilise.


I'm going with my first guess, uphill-downhill. It's atleast more fun.

[paranoid airbag]

<pedant> neither, as you change choose how much you put in </pedant>

but, if the same power output used to tow you up and down a hill, and going along the flat, going along the flat would be quicker - so, you'd need more power to go up and down on the same speed.

[Mars]

Assuming the same duration of ride, and you start and finish at the same altitude, then ignoring wind resistance or additional friction forces at speed, you will use the same amount of energy.

[oyster]

Mars said:

Assuming the same duration of ride, and you start and finish at the same altitude, then ignoring wind resistance or additional friction forces at speed, you will use the same amount of energy.

It's mostly because of wind resistance that riding up and down hills uses more energy. There are other factors too such as more use of the brakes on downhill sections.

If you travel 10 miles in 1 hour on the flat and 10 miles in 1 hour up and down hills then you'll use more calories on the hilly route.

[Y282]

PAY TAX OR GET OFF THE ROAD, HIPPY!

[oyster]

Y282 said:

PAY TAX OR GET OFF THE ROAD, HIPPY!

Which tax would that be? The VAT on the bike? The income tax on the salary?
Maybe the VED on my 2 cars?

Remind me again, how much VED does a Prius owner pay?

[shalmaneser]

Up and down, certainly!

All other things being equal, then you're creating potential energy going up the hill, and using it inefficiently going down, via drag of various types!

[PurpleMoonlight]

Well it seems the majority say up and down uses more, and one apparent anti cyclist.

The flat is far more enjoyable though in my opinion.

[Parrot of Doom]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Riding on the flat at a constant speed

or

Constantly slogging up hills and coasting down the other side

I wear a heart monitor connected to my phone, which tracks my rides. If I ride on hillier terrain I burn more calories than I would if I rode on the flat.

When you descend on the other side of the hill, you're still burning energy.