Bikes & Cars...

In a summer of $4-a-gallon gas predictions and $120-plus barrels of oil, we'll be hearing a lot about hypermiling. But what is it? Who can use it? Does it require a Prius to make it worth the effort?

Hypermiling is a series of techniques -- some obvious and safe, some tricky or of questionable sanity -- that maximize your car's mileage. While a lot of these techniques can be used by anyone, some require a hybrid's electric engine. And a hybrid, like the popular Prius or the Ford Escape, will see better fuel efficiency (more than 70 mpg) using these techniques than a high-mpg gasoline-only car like the Smart ForTwo.

Here are tips anyone can use:

1. As soon as a red light or stop sign comes into view, take your foot off the gas and coast.

2. When you restart, take it easy on the gas pedal. "No jackrabbit starts," as they said in the '70s.

3. On the highway, use cruise control. The more constant your speed, the better mileage you'll get. And don't speed.

4. If your newer car has a mileage gauge, use it. Look at it often. You'll find that knowing your fuel efficiency moment by moment becomes a challenge you can't refuse.

5. Keep tires properly inflated. If you're feeling a bit daring, and your tires are new or in excellent shape, push the psi past the rating a little.

6. Park at the highest point in the parking lot and coast as long as you can when you leave.

7. Lose the weight -- yours and your car's. Every pound counts when you're trying to ease the burden on your engine, so get rid of the tent and sleeping bags in the trunk from last weekend's mini vacation, or the box of files and paperwork that you never get around to lugging inside, or the unholy loads of garbage in the unused back seat.

If you've got a hybrid, try these:

8. Warp Stealth: Hybrid drivers are well aware that at low speeds, the electric motor alone powers the car. The "warp stealth" technique involves finding the sweet spot where the electric motor is doing all the work while the gasoline engine spins freely, but the car still travels at 42 - 55 mph. For a detailed, science-y explanation, click here.

9. Pulse and Glide: Press the accelerator pedal, nice and smooth, until you reach about 40 mph (the gasoline engine kicks in at 42 mph). That's the "pulse." Now let 'er ride on electric power to about 30 mph, then pulse again. This technique works with conventional cars, too, if you pulse then glide in neutral. Another super-geeky link to a detailed hybrid explanation here.

10. Use all-electric mode for the last mile or so of your trip to allow the batteries to recharge more quickly on your next start-up.

11. Similarly, if you're only stopping for ten minutes or less, push the "Park" button. Turn off all accessories -- radio, lights, etc. -- and let the electric engine idle. Turning the car off requires a little gas on restart. This is exactly the opposite of the tip for conventional gasoline engines above.

If you don't mind looking weird or tempting fate, try these:

12. Drafting requires you to be nose-to-tail with a semi. Close-ish won't cut it. Check out NASCAR races; that's how close you have to be to make this work. Hugging the rear end of a tractor-trailer at 75 mph seems a bit dangerous, but it saves gas for you and the truck driver.

13. Throw it in neutral on the downhill, and coast as far as you can up the next rise. Every traffic officer and safety expert will tell you that driving a car with the engine disengaged, especially with the idea of building up speed while you have minimum control, will tell you not to do this. Hypermilers will tell you to do it. Believe whom you will.

14. Improve aerodynamics by adding wheel skirts, folding in rearview mirrors, and blocking out your grille. Keep in mind that not having rearview mirrors or cooling air circulating around your engine are probably bad ideas.

15. Wear an ice vest, normally only seen in nuclear power plants, like veteran hypermiler Wayne Gerdes rather than entering the windows-down vs. AC-on debate.

For more information, check out:

The Hype About Hypermiling

Two Wheels Are Greener Than Four

Honda Civic GX Tops List of Greenest Cars

Driving Green = Fewer Greenbacks

Five Tips to Find the Cheapest Gas Near You

Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars: Save Gas, Save Money

Record Month For Selling Gas -- Saving Cars Getting Better Than 30 MPG