Estimating cycling calories?

pestopoli
pestopoli Posts: 111 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hallo! Quick Q for all the cyclists!

I am going to start biking to work tomorrow for 3 days/week - 14 mile round trip. Did it last summer and loved it!

I'm still saving for/research HRMs, and won't be getting on for at least a couple of weeks. Is there a way to estimate calories burned while cycling? I know it would be inaccurate, but I just want SOMETHING to put in my exercise diary, so I can regulate how many calories to add to my diet. Is there some guess-y formula involving time and distance and body weight?

Everyone here rocks, and thanks so much!

Replies

  • pestopoli
    pestopoli Posts: 111 Member
    Bump :)
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    I would just use the mfp estimates.

    So jealous of your biking, I can't wait to get started with that again!!!
  • bsexton3
    bsexton3 Posts: 472 Member
    Depends on way to much to estimate. How fast are you cycling? What is your heart rate, how long? What kind of shape are you in? Yesterday, I did 27 miles in 3 hours. I burned 1,200 calories according to my heart rate monitor. I was cycling with a friend and visiting most the way. When I cycle alone, I usually burn 650 an hour. That is having my heart rate in the 140 range. So, it depends.

    If I am guessing simp;y to input here, go by how your breathing works. If you are not really sweating, and can talk normal, your heart rate is between 90-110. If you are sweating and still can talk well, your heart rate is between 120-140. If you are unable to carry on a conversation, it is above 145. That is if you are in okay shape to begin with.

    Then, go to a heart rate calculator on the web. Input your age, weight, height and time with a guessed heart rate. That is the calories burned. Probably 400-650 and hour. That's my guess.
  • Cyclink
    Cyclink Posts: 517 Member
    I've written on this topic before and would encourage you to search for those posts.

    The calorie burn from cycling has much more to do with your speed and the terrain than your fitness. There are a few efficiency factors to consider, but nothing near what many people claim. There are a few laws of physics that your body cannot break, what I have come to call the "power plant problem": no matter what shape you are in, good or bad, there's no way you burn more calories than pro athletes at the peak of human performance are capable of. Trust me: if you are not winning races, you are not burning 1000 calories per hour on the bike.

    Heart rate monitors and MFP both grossly exaggerate the calories from cycling. We're talking like 30% or more. MFP lumps 16 mph and 20 mph together, which is laughable. 16 mph is not that fast while 20 mph has major wind resistance due to the speed, but MFP thinks the calorie burn is the same.

    Remember that in order to burn more calories cycling than walking, you need to actually be putting in some effort. If you are easy-pedaling, you won't be burning much at all.

    Bsexton3's heart rate numbers might work for him as a 50-year old 220 pound male, but they are meaningless to anyone else. Heart rates vary a lot from person to person. Some people are breathless at 110 BPM and many other people can carry on conversations into the 160 BPM range.

    That said, the calorie numbers are probably close: If you assume somewhere between 6 and 10 calories a minute, you won't risk overeating.
  • bsexton3
    bsexton3 Posts: 472 Member
    s cycling than walking, you need to actually be putting in some effort. If you are easy-pedaling, you won't be burning much at all.

    Bsexton3's heart rate numbers might work for him as a 50-year old 220 pound male, but they are meaningless to anyone else. Heart rates vary a lot from person to person. Some people are breathless at 110 BPM and many other people can carry on conversations into the 160 BPM range.

    That said, the calorie numbers are probably close: If you assume somewhere between 6 and 10 calories a minute, you won't risk overeating.

    I agree. For being 50, overweight, yet riding 2,000 miles a year, these are my numbers. If I eat 650 calories an hour extra when cycling, I don't lose weight. If I eat more, i do. Each person is their own and need to learn where you are.

    Before I purchased a heart rate monitor, I borrowed a friend's for a couple days to get an idea of mine. After a while, I finally got my own. Truth is, if you are eating less calories than you think you are burning, and you are gaining weight, you aren't doing it right.
  • dtdam
    dtdam Posts: 20
    I use mapmyrun.com to estimate calories burned on a bike ride. You actually put in your route (mapmyrun has an elevation built in). It also has my stats: age, height, weight. Once I complete a workout, I put my time in and it gives me the number of calories. Of course this is ballpark without an HRM, but I also don't have an HRM.
  • AGUNIAK
    AGUNIAK Posts: 2
    Hi there,

    I recommend the application Endomondo Pro which you can download on your smartphone. It has great features for varierty of sports & activities.

    I use mine for walking to & from work. It measures your time, calories burn, overal & interval speeds etc

    Enjoy your cycling:)

    Agnes
  • LadyPakal
    LadyPakal Posts: 256 Member
    My HRM gives me a calorie count of around 140 calories for 22 minutes (average). I average between 5.5 & 8 calories/min depending on wind direction. Comparing calories to the 10-12mph cycling in mfp, the HRM gives me fewer. Of course, when I first started cycling it was higher (170+ calories/22 mins).
  • AmberLee2012
    AmberLee2012 Posts: 540
    I use MapMyWalk or MapMyRide on my android phone and I love it! It tracks your pace and calories burned and lets you know everytime you have hit a mile. They also have MapMyRun. They are FREE too :)
  • tkcasta
    tkcasta Posts: 405 Member
    Strava ap. It's really nice, it is just an estimate, but it looks at speed, elevation etc.

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