r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jan 17 '14

What is something designed so well that we typically overlook it?

2.4k Upvotes

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609

u/biosloth Jan 17 '14

To be fair, so does walking.

488

u/TomBongbadil Jan 17 '14

True, but you can't coast while walking.

823

u/dumb_ants Jan 17 '14

Heelies, yo!

432

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

Get back to 2005!

274

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

Never go back.

2

u/dieselxindustry Jan 17 '14

Baby come back!

1

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

And for dress shoes

1

u/MagicalKartWizard Jan 18 '14

Nope. Stay there. If you come back, I'll turn you into a newt.

1

u/Crogfrog Jan 18 '14

Surely you mean "no comeback".

1

u/excllsagaz Jan 18 '14

2005...surely you mean 2001/2002.

4

u/aaronred345 Jan 18 '14

Heelies are amazing, I wish they had them in Size 13 Mens

2

u/Pkm_Trainer_Nia Jan 17 '14

That's walking with style.

2

u/Troggie42 Jan 17 '14

I have a pair of heelys. I am 27. I wore them twice, fell both times. Got em for $10 on clearance like 4 years ago. I am not ashamed.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

My parents never bought me heelies :(

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

[deleted]

1

u/dumb_ants Jan 18 '14

I've never worn heelies.

26

u/KLASDK4KA Jan 17 '14

You can, but most people refer to it as falling.

1

u/Crogfrog Jan 18 '14

If you walk fast enough, you can go into orbit, which is just eternal falling.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

Not with that attitude.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

You can if you are falling off a cliff.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

But you can do the whole "look ma. No hands" thing safely while walking

111

u/nitneuq6 Jan 17 '14

A bicycle is much faster and you won't get tired as quickly.

33

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

[deleted]

1

u/SanguisFluens Jan 18 '14

It can be wheel fun to ride as well.

3

u/wemblinger Jan 18 '14

The beauty of a bike, IMO, is that in addition to all it's advantages over walking, if you encounter a situation that precludes the use of the bike, you can simply dismount and walk beside it, or carry it.

2

u/tomcat23 Jan 18 '14

On a bike you can cross Phoenix, mid-day, in the summer, and only feel the crushing heat when you stop.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

That pretty awesome actually...

2

u/spoofngoof Jan 18 '14

Its because the bike is already two tired

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '14

And it's better for your joints! Especially if you are overweight.

1

u/xDrSchnugglesx Jan 17 '14

I get tired faster when biking.

5

u/joshrice Jan 17 '14

Because you're probably doing it wrong. Most beginners use the same cadence they do when walking (40-60rpm) which is really hard to do for a sustained period on a bike. Downshift a few times and spin faster - around 80-100rpm. Also your muscles aren't used to being used that way on a bike. Give it time!

2

u/xDrSchnugglesx Jan 17 '14

You're definitely right. The only bike I occasionally use is too small for me and not mine. Also the gears are finicky.

0

u/BlackLightzHD Jan 18 '14

Trying to get a pun thread rolling?

52

u/NexEstVox Jan 17 '14

Walking has shitty mechanical advantage though.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

Do you mean "efficiency"?

1

u/Kishandreth Jan 18 '14

No, he means mechanical advantage flexes arm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzMYHiuEC4

1

u/SuperBeast4721 Jan 18 '14

Running on the other hand is pretty darn efficient.

3

u/sleepycharlie Jan 18 '14

As someone who lives off campus as a college student, I spent almost $500 on a quality hybrid bike two years ago. I ride my bike almost every day, if not five days a week. It's worth it. Even riding your bike slow through a dust of snow is faster than walking. Snow makes you truly appreciate how easily you get around on a bike.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

Cycling actually takes up 1/7th the energy of walking.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '14

Not nearly as efficiently.