Aero bikes on roof racks *save* money on fuel.

[gaijintendo]

Let's pretend that your numbers for drag are right. By putting your bike on the roof of the car you're using 10% extra fuel. By making it an aero bike (whatever one of those is) you're saving 15% of the extra 10% - so you're using "only" 8.5% extra fuel

(100+10)-(100+8.5)=1.5
Also I am comparing a car with a Raleigh Grifter Vs a car with an aero bike on the roof.

 

[gaijintendo]

Why are you planning on driving 100,000 miles with a bike on the roof?

To make a point.

 

[Dirk]

OK let's look at the "facts". I can see where you get the £200 saving: -

100,000 miles at, say, 40 miles per gallon = 2,500 gallons used. Convert to litres = 11,375 lt. if our fuel costs are, say, £1.20 / litre then 100,000 miles driven costs us 11,375 x £1.20 = £13,650. If we save 1.5% because our bike that's been on the roof rack for all the 100,000 miles is aero; then our saving is £13,650 x 0.015 = £204.75.

Put 2 bikes on the roof and save twice as much......a very good argument for n+1.

 

[Dirk]

Good idea, get one of those racks they have on team cars.
View attachment 348216
Save loads that way.

Perpetual motion in action.

 

[DaveReading]

So, first up, I for some reason thought the earth was 40k miles

Substitute kilometres for miles and you'd be right.

 

[Bollo]

Good idea, get one of those racks they have on team cars.
View attachment 348216
Save loads that way.

Fuel efficiency was not a primary requirement.

Team Sky are supplied with motors by Ford now, so some of the mechanics tool about in a Sky branded Mustang. It makes the Jag look like a Prius.

My crap photo at the St Lo stage start....

 

[Lozz360]

Oh dear lord.

So, first up, I for some reason thought the earth was 40k miles, but let's put that aside.

What I was doing was emphasising 100k miles was an impressive distance. I'm using every trick in the rhetoric book, currently being written by the reigning political ethos.

It's about things that sound impressive, not facts.

Your response to my first post on this thread was that I could (should) consider the facts. Now you say its not about facts.

100,000 miles is FOUR-TIMES-AROUND-THE-PLANET. Why are you not impressed by that?

I'd be impressed if you cycled 100,000 miles instead of driving that distance.

 

[gaijintendo]

Your response to my first post on this thread was that I could (should) consider the facts. Now you say its not about facts.


I'd be impressed if you cycled 100,000 miles instead of driving that distance.

You really don't want me to get this bike, eh?

I invited you to check the validity of the subject, and at the end whether my spiel "sounded ok". I fully appreciate it's nonsensical. Buying a new bike is nonsensical. This is not about sense. It just has to sound compelling.

 

[gaijintendo]

Have you considered something more probable like "it will make me a better lover"?

Let me have a go.

1. I promise to go out more often
2. I might smell 5% less bad after cycling
3. The roof sagging gives the house a lived in look.
4. I will list all the bikes I resisted purchasing and present that balance as money saved.

 

[derrick]

Can someone verify this statement? That's true, yeah?
I am working on some internal marketing techniques here should I wish to buy a new bike.

It looks like a bike racked up drops efficiency by about 10% and an aero bike is generously 15% less drag... So that's a saving of 1.5% in very general terms.

If you pockle the numbers up, 100,000 miles cycled with an aero bike will save you £200!

That's 2.5 times around planet earth.

Bargain!

How does it sound?

It would take me 30 years to do that mileage.

 

[Lozz360]

You really don't want me to get this bike, eh?

I invited you to check the validity of the subject, and at the end whether my spiel "sounded ok". I fully appreciate it's nonsensical. Buying a new bike is nonsensical. This is not about sense. It just has to sound compelling.

No it makes perfect sense. To get an aero bike it will cost at least £1,000. To make those savings you will have to strap it to the roof of the car, drive it for 500,000 miles and spend nearly £70k on fuel not to mention the cost of maintenance and depreciation for a car to achieve half a million miles. I'm sure your missus will easily agree that it would be a good idea.

Why not just explain to her that new aero bike means you will ride more, which means you will get more exercise, which means you will look better naked.

 

[gaijintendo]

No it makes perfect sense. To get an aero bike it will cost at least £1,000. To make those savings you will have to strap it to the roof of the car, drive it for 500,000 miles and spend nearly £70k on fuel not to mention the cost of maintenance and depreciation for a car to achieve half a million miles. I'm sure your missus will easily agree that it would be a good idea.

That's incredible. You explained the joke perfectly. +1

Why not just explain to her that new aero bike means you will ride more, which means you will get more exercise, which means you will look better naked.

Sounds dangerous. That happened a couple of times in the last 5 years. It could cause children. But I can always promise that, and eat more to offset any positive effects.