Bike Riding
LuvORR
Posts: 36
I am new to bike riding-
I bought a cruiser and went on an eight mile ride on Friday. It felt so good and was too fun to be considered exercise. I bough a speedometer today to really calculate my speed. However, MFP told me I burned many calories even at a slow pace. Is this for real?
I bought a cruiser and went on an eight mile ride on Friday. It felt so good and was too fun to be considered exercise. I bough a speedometer today to really calculate my speed. However, MFP told me I burned many calories even at a slow pace. Is this for real?
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Replies
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I am new to bike riding-
I bought a cruiser and went on an eight mile ride on Friday. It felt so good and was too fun to be considered exercise. I bough a speedometer today to really calculate my speed. However, MFP told me I burned many calories even at a slow pace. Is this for real?
I dunno. Did you spend 100% of the time pedaling, or did you coast?
Speed is a bad indicator anyway. Riding a hybrid @ 14 mph is a lot more work than a road bike @ 16...0 -
I have a BMF armband that calculates calories burned and well it doesn't register a WHOLE lot unless I'm going uphills and sweating my butt off then it's considered vigorous and I get a good exercise in. I would under calculate slightly if the ride was easy for you.0
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Buy a Heart Rate monitor if you want a more accurate estimate. MFP is notorious for over estimating your calorie burn. Even with a HRM you still have a estimate, albeit, a much more accurate estimate.0
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You can burn a surprising amount of calories riding a bike. I burn about 800 calories an hour of riding.0
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I pedaled the entire time and did sweat enough, but its still did not seem difficult to me.0
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How fast and how long did you ride?0
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I got a 7 speed cruiser a few weeks ago, I've ridden it to work (2.5 miles) with my heart rate monitor. I generally go by the heart rate monitor's calorie count, which is about 30% or more LESS than any of the entries on MFP. Add to that the fact that HRM's are usually off anywhere from 7 to 20% and I almost feel like I'm GAINING by working out, lol.
I'd suggest either knocking 30% off the MFP entries or getting a monitor so you're not overeating if you're eating back your calories. Even when I casually ride I can get my heart rate into the target without feeling like I'm overexerting myself, just pedal the whole time.0 -
Only a heart rate monitor will tell you for sure, but the MFP estimates are usually in the ballpark. The database has entries for three or four speed ranges - as a beginner, you are probably on the low end so log it as pleasure <10 mph.0
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I find that MFP typically over estimates my caloric burn during my bike rides, often by nearly 1/3. I always manually edit the entry. I use a Garmin bike computer that calculates calories by monitoring my heart rate and using my current fitness level. This is more accurate but still, I believe, over estimates my calories. I have a spreadsheet with a formula taken from a fitness experts web site which calculates my calories based on average heart rate, age, sex, fitness level etc. The number derived typically comes in at about 85% of the number given by my Garmin.
Now, I will say that I was also shocked by the number of calories I burned on a bike when I first started riding. I was having too much fun for this to be real exercise and yet the weight kept coming off. Once at my target weight I could ride a nice long bike ride and enjoy a nice post ride pizza dinner and a beer knowing I still wasn't eating as much as I had burned.
Keep enjoying your bicycle.0 -
So I did eight miles in an hour and a half. Slow pace- Nothing too extreme since I am new to this lol
I usually do not eat back most of my calories. I can stay within my calorie goal all week. I do need the extra calories on the weekends. But I am going to stop my cheat days on weekends since I have only dropped 9 pounds in 45 days.
I figured I could start doing other exercises like bike riding since sometimes making it to the gym is hard.0 -
Granted these numbers are averages and not necessarily what an individual will burn. The only way to know your specific burn is with a HRM, but it is an interesting comparison.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/229356-calories-burned-running-vs-biking/0 -
:drinker:0
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Based on the formula I use and some estimates, for 90 mins I bet you burned about 500 - 600 cals at a easy pace0
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Based on the formula I use and some estimates, for 90 mins I bet you burned about 500 - 600 cals at a easy pace
It actually told me I burned 481
It sounded a bit extreme since I walk on Saturdays for about 2 hours and I burn about that much doing so. However, many bike riders encouraged me to ride and told me how beneficial it was.0 -
481 sounds reasonable to me...calorie burn is all about heart rate and time heart rate is at a certain level. That is why all are recommending a heart rate monitor for accurate calculation.0
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I love bikes.
And agree for the HRM.0 -
481 sounds reasonable to me...calorie burn is all about heart rate and time heart rate is at a certain level. That is why all are recommending a heart rate monitor for accurate calculation.
I will have to invest in one for sure.0 -
I am new to bike riding-
I bought a cruiser and went on an eight mile ride on Friday. It felt so good and was too fun to be considered exercise. I bough a speedometer today to really calculate my speed. However, MFP told me I burned many calories even at a slow pace. Is this for real?
The most accurate way to calc cals burned for any kind of activity is by a HRM. Once you really get into biking you will most likely get into either trail riding (mountain or hybrid bike) or road biking. The cruiser is fun here and there but IMO the road or trail riding is more exciting and pleasurable. Welcome to the club.0 -
25-30 calories per mile is a good rule of thumb.0
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Doesn't sound that far off. About 5 calories per minute.0
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At 160 pounds, my burn averages out to the following:
sleeping 1 cal per minute
warm-up 2.5 cal per minute
light exertion 4 cal per minute
moderate exertion (breathing heavy, can talk) 6 cal per minute
vigorous exertion 9 cal per minute for 1st 30 minutes; 12-15 cal per minute after 30 minutes.0 -
I am new to bike riding-
I bought a cruiser and went on an eight mile ride on Friday. It felt so good and was too fun to be considered exercise. I bough a speedometer today to really calculate my speed. However, MFP told me I burned many calories even at a slow pace. Is this for real?
The most accurate way to calc cals burned for any kind of activity is by a HRM. Once you really get into biking you will most likely get into either trail riding (mountain or hybrid bike) or road biking. The cruiser is fun here and there but IMO the road or trail riding is more exciting and pleasurable. Welcome to the club.
Thank you! I do ride my bike now on amazing bike trails we have near my home and I envy all experienced bike riders passing me on their fancy bikes :happy:0
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