Lunch Bike Ride

jpc763
jpc763 Posts: 24 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just completed a lunch ride of 23 miles. It was a solo ride and my average speed was 18mph and it took 77 minutes. I use a Polar HR monitor (knows age, weight and height) and when I returned it had calculated 952 calories burned.

I checked with MFP and it wanted to give me a whopping 1711 calories!

I assume I should stick with my Polar calculated calories, but was curious how it can be so different.

I feel great. It has been years since I could do a 23 mile ride averaging 18 mph!

Replies

  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Good for you! You must be so proud!! I rode a gym bike today for 2 miles, and considering I had a really rough beginning of the year, it made me so happy. All victories are awesome!!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Because the MFP estimate is a very wide speed range (16 - 20) - there's a vast difference between the effort required for 16 & 20 mph. It's really too wide a range to be useful.

    Nice ride.

    You might enjoy the September cycling challenge thread....
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10451695/september-2016-biking-cycling-bicycling-challenge/p1
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    Congrats.

    Probably based on MET and the category probably interpolated from the results from these two studies (see https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/home, MET for "Bicycling, 16-19 mph, racing/not drafting or >19 mph drafting, very fast, racing general" is estimated):
    • Moy, K., R. Scragg, et al. (2006). "Metabolic equivalent (MET) intensities of culturally-specific physical activities performed by New Zealanders." New Zealand Med J 119(1235): 1-16
    • Lucia, A., H. Joynos, et al. (2000). "Physiological responses to professional road cycling: climbers vs. time trialists." International Journal of Sports Medicine 21(7): 505-512

    How did you set your HRM zones? Zones based off Lactate Threshold Heart Rate test (see http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/joe-friel-s-quick-guide-to-setting-zones) is best followed by using heart rate reserve. Zones based on max recorded HR and or formula is a hit or miss. Also, what was the weather condition and course/ride composition? They can have significant impact on the work done.
  • jpc763
    jpc763 Posts: 24 Member
    Thanks!

    I used to ride every day and logged thousands of miles over the years. These days I am really trying to mix up my workouts so cycling is 4-6 days a month. I will try for 2 days this week but my monthly averages have been very low. I will join the October cycling challenge (although cycling can be a challenge in October in Colorado!).

    John
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    I'd trust the polar numbers more. Most people burn around 40 calories a mile, which only really changes if the riding surface and/or tires make it extra easy or hard.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    edited September 2016
    Something seems off on those Calories.

    On June the 12th of 2016 I did the Ride Cincinnati for Breast Cancer Research a Charity Sportive to raise funds to donate to the Barrett Research Facility here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

    I did a 45.0 mile ride and burned 2,028 calories.

    You rode 23 miles, which is roughly half at that and burned 1,711 calories.

    2028/45 = 45.06 calories per mile.
    1711/23 = 74.39 calories per mile.

    Even to bring it a little closer to home. Saturday I rode 26.8 miles on my Fixed Gear bike and burned 1,267 calories. Which is 47.27 calories per mile....And my Avg Speed on that bike was really close to your speed as well ... https://www.strava.com/activities/709047728

    That seems a bit off. IMHO.

    Congratulations none the less, that's an awesome accomplishment. That's something to be really proud of. It took me about 2 years of road cycling to build those kinds of speeds...
  • jpc763
    jpc763 Posts: 24 Member
    CincyNeid wrote: »
    Something seems off on those Calories.

    On June the 12th of 2016 I did the Ride Cincinnati for Breast Cancer Research a Charity Sportive to raise funds to donate to the Barrett Research Facility here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

    I did a 45.0 mile ride and burned 2,028 calories.

    You rode 23 miles, which is roughly half at that and burned 1,711 calories.

    2028/45 = 45.06 calories per mile.
    1711/23 = 74.39 calories per mile.

    Even to bring it a little closer to home. Saturday I rode 26.8 miles on my Fixed Gear bike and burned 1,267 calories. Which is 47.27 calories per mile....And my Avg Speed on that bike was really close to your speed as well ... https://www.strava.com/activities/709047728

    That seems a bit off. IMHO.

    Congratulations none the less, that's an awesome accomplishment. That's something to be really proud of. It took me about 2 years of road cycling to build those kinds of speeds...
    Note that I did not log the results that MFP gave me (1711). I logged the calories my Polar HR monitor gave me (952), which results in 41.39 calories per mile.

    Thanks for all the comments. Gym today, bike again tomorrow.

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