| It's an interesting problem because there are so many factors and even the goal isn't constant from day to day. Goals - get from A to B as quickly as possible - get from A to B as safely as possible - get from A to B as enjoyably as possible Factors - fitness of rider - type of bike (Riding a fixed gear bike up a steep hill is bad for enjoyment, but riding a mountain bike up a steep hill is not) - weather (headwinds, tailwinds affect time, affects safety of certain routes as well - don't tell me to ride down a steep windy hill when there is a possibility of ice) - time of day (affects safety due to light levels) - traffic volume - number of lights/stop signs (this affects fast riders more than slow ones because of the effort wasted accelerating and braking is greater) - number of turns (turns make the rider slow down and wait for traffic and also increase the complexity of following a route) - scenery/environmental factors (eg. ride through an industrial area or through a waterfront park) |