Pinnacle of development

A striking comparison to remind us how heavy and inefficient the "modern" car is

The official UCI minimum weight limit for racing cycles in the Tour de France is 6.8kgf (15lbsf). Below this weight the UCI deem that the bike could be unstable and dangerous. I should stress that a "vehicle" of this weight will allow the rider (average weight say 60kgf) to complete all 21 stages of the race and, in doing so, cover some 3,430km. I dread to mention the ascent and descent covered in those 21 days. In stark contrast to this the cars we drive are typically 1500kgf making them some 220 times heavier.

The bikes may be at the pinnacle of development but this is surely a striking comparison to remind us how heavy and inefficient the "modern" car is!

Bob Johnson, Edinburgh, Scotland

Next letter: Olympics 2012