calorie readouts on bike computers

[mcelliott]

oyster said:

On a road bike at 16mph I doubt you'll burn as many as 1000 in an hour. At 18mph you might, or at 16mph on a MTB/Hybrid.

Best thing to do is be a bit pessimistic rather than optimistic.

Throw in 1500 ft of elevation and a decent headwind and 1000 cals per hour is easily attainable.

[shouldbworking]

dubbs said:

More important than burning calories is burning FAT - the two aren't the same.

Cycling is fantastic for burning fat and one of the most efficient ways of doing so

With respect, they are the same. Aerobic exercise like casual cycling results in about 50% of calories burned coming from fat, Higher intensities it might drop to maybe 35% from fat, but you burn that much more overall that it still represents a much more effective way to burn fat - and it takes less time too.

[andySC]

swerni said:

How far have you cycled ?

I've done just under 7000 miles.

[Fume troll]

Gnostic Ascent said:

I work on approx 1000 calories for an hour at 16-19mph for an 85Kg person.

That is exactly right...

...on some bike with a certain set of wheels, on some tyres at some pressure, on some gradient, on some road surface, in some weather conditions, wearing some clothes, carring some weight...

Cheers,

FT.

[amnesia182]

I presume you're talking about my thread... ?

The Garmin Edge 500 uses data about age, gender, weight, fitness activity level, cadence, speed, gradient, temperature etc to calculate estimated calories. (I currently weigh 204lbs BTW)

I would be surprised if wasn't pretty accurate.

On my average commute to work I burn 370-400 calories (7 flat-ish miles @ 17mph). A 55 mile very hilly ride @ 4000 calories I would have thought is comparable.

The only way I could get a more accurate calculation would be to get a power meter, but they are £1k+ and as I am not a super-fit-athlete (or ever likely to be) I will spend the cash on something else.

[summit7]

I think there are alot of people kidding themselves on this thread - 4000 calories for 55 miles no way.

500 calories per hour on a road bike, 55 miles comfy three hour ride, 1500 calories tops.

[oyster]

summit7 said:

I think there are alot of people kidding themselves on this thread - 4000 calories for 55 miles no way.

500 calories per hour on a road bike, 55 miles comfy three hour ride, 1500 calories tops.

If you weight 10 stone maybe.