Any idea how many calories would typically be burned on a 25 mi ride assuming flat terrain and ideal conditions?
Bruce Rodgers said:Any idea how many calories would typically be burned on a 25 mi ride assuming flat terrain and ideal conditions?
Some rough numbers (flat road, no wind):Bruce Rodgers said:Any idea how many calories would typically be burned on a 25 mi ride assuming flat terrain and ideal conditions?
Rider weight (and likely age) plays into it as well. Here is a link that adds weight into the equation. This chart is more in line with what my Garmin and Polar HRM's calculate. (Roughly 55-60 calories per mile at 18-20 mph . ( I tip the scales at 195-200 lbs.)Kerry Irons said:Some rough numbers (flat road, no wind):
10 mph, 15 calories per mile
15 mph, 20 calories per mile
20 mph, 30 calories per mile
25 mph, 45 calories per mile
30 mph, 60 calories per mile
The numbers I quoted assume a 200 lb rider + bike combination, and use the very commonly quoted 24% metabolic efficiency for a fit person. 20 mph requires about 175 watts, so to get 55 calories per mile would mean a metabolic efficiency of 14%. This would mean a very out of shape couch potato riding a beach cruiser with underinflated tires.99trek5200 said:Rider weight (and likely age) plays into it as well. Here is a link that adds weight into the equation. This chart is more in line with what my Garmin and Polar HRM's calculate. (Roughly 55-60 calories per mile at 18-20 mph . ( I tip the scales at 195-200 lbs.)
I was thinking 10 miles at 20mph = 300 calories??? No way.walter2007 said:"15 mph, 20 calories per mile"
So 20 miles or 1 hour of riding would only burn 400 calories. Seems low too me especially at 200 lbs.
15 mph on flat roads with no wind is a VERY low effort ride. About the same effort as walking at 3 mph, which is, coincidentally, 300 calories per hour.walter2007 said:"So 15 miles or 1 hour of riding would only burn 300 calories. Seems VERY low to me.
So why is 600 calories per hour at 20 mph "no way"? Do you have some solid numbers to disagree with this rough estimate? You'll find it referenced in Bicycling Science, 3rd Edition, David Gordon Wilson, MIT Press.axebiker said:I was thinking 10 miles at 20mph = 300 calories??? No way.
If I rode 20, but I was talking 10 - even though I usually ride 25-40 most days.Kerry Irons said:So why is 600 calories per hour at 20 mph "no way"? Do you have some solid numbers to disagree with this rough estimate? You'll find it referenced in Bicycling Science, 3rd Edition, David Gordon Wilson, MIT Press.
I'd trust Bicycling Science BTW. It is a *very* analytical and thorough book.axebiker said:If I rode 20, but I was talking 10 - even though I usually ride 25-40 most days.
"20 mph, 30 calories per mile" according to you. So if I rode average 20 mph (that's moving for 10 miles, that equals ACCORDING TO YOUR QUOTE about 300 calories. If I got out (using a Polar HRM) and ride and average of 17-18 mph over 25 miles, I usually come in more along the lines of 1200-1500 calories. According to your figure, I'd burn more like 750. I think that data is flawed, and I don't care who your source is.
And who rides absolutely flat, no wind conditions anyway? Come on...
You're basing this on the numbers from an HRM? I think it was Zinn who refered to them in his review as random number generators. They sinply do not have enough data to calculate Calories. With a working/calibrated power meter, you can get to within plus/minus 10-20%. Anything else (HRM, GPS, etc.) is just marketing. - TFaxebiker said:If I rode 20, but I was talking 10 - even though I usually ride 25-40 most days.
"20 mph, 30 calories per mile" according to you. So if I rode average 20 mph (which I consider a pretty fast average speed) for 10 miles, ACCORDING TO YOUR QUOTE equals about 300 calories. If I got out (using a Polar HRM) and ride and average of 17-18 mph over 25 miles, I usually come in more along the lines of 1200-1500 calories. According to your figure, I'd burn more like 750. I think that data is flawed, and I don't care who your source is. If I was only burning 600 calories over a 20 mile distance at 20 mph, I'm going to quit cycling as a fitness tool.
And who rides absolutely flat, no wind conditions anyway? Come on...