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Vigorous vs. Very Vigorous Biking?

caslanghout
caslanghout Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello, I've been biking 16-18mph and logging it as vigorous but I'm wondering if it should be very vigorous instead? The database doesn't include speed, etc. Thanks!

Replies

  • BhangraPrince
    BhangraPrince Posts: 123 Member
    Vigorous
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Depends to a large degree on you and the bike - but the database does include speed ratings BTW.

    Examples:
    Bicycling, 14-16 mph, vigorous (cycling, biking, bike riding)

    Bicycling, 16-20 mph, very fast (cycling, biking, bike riding) - this one is far too wide a spread of speed though, huge difference in effort between 16 and 20mph. Especially for someone like me with the aerodynamics of a brick outhouse. :neutral:

    Why don't you use an app like Strava which you can personalise to a degree?
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    It really depends on if you're outdoors or indoors, your size, fitness level, etc.

    I can ride outdoors solo for an hour at 22mph and consider that only 'vigorous'. However a similarly fit though smaller, lighter rider who is more affected by wind resistance at that speed might find it 'very vigorous'.

    Also, hills play into this huge. If I head west into the mountains I'll find an 18mph average pace 'very vigorous' because clydesdales like myself use a LOT more energy going uphill.
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Depends to a large degree on you and the bike - but the database does include speed ratings BTW.

    Examples:
    Bicycling, 14-16 mph, vigorous (cycling, biking, bike riding)

    Bicycling, 16-20 mph, very fast (cycling, biking, bike riding) - this one is far too wide a spread of speed though, huge difference in effort between 16 and 20mph. Especially for someone like me with the aerodynamics of a brick outhouse. :neutral:

    Why don't you use an app like Strava which you can personalise to a degree?

    This was going to be my suggestion as well. Strava, Endomondo and MapMyFitness are all good options, IMO.
  • niblue
    niblue Posts: 339 Member
    The problem is that it really depends on conditions. 16-18mph outside in anything other than relatively flat terrain is pretty good going for any decent distance (say 40 mile+). In hilly/window conditions it's very, very good going where as on a turbo-trainer or on flat/windless conditions it's not necessarily all that tough.
  • daweasel
    daweasel Posts: 68 Member
    I always log the lower option. I train with a heart rate monitor and MFP way, way overestimates in my opinion. Speed isn't a very good measure of intensity, as on different types of bikes 16-18mph will be easier or harder, or different conditions (hills vs flats, headwind vs tailwind, solo vs sitting behind others).

    If it helps, for an easy ride I burn about 320, moderate 400-450, harder ride 500ish, if I'm racing about 600 (calories per hour). I'm Female, 168cm, 67 kg...your weight and all that would make a difference, but perhaps to give an idea?
  • canary_girl
    canary_girl Posts: 366 Member
    I agree, speed not the best way to measure intensity. My hardest workouts are uphill "sprints"

    For me, a "vigorous" hour cycling is about 150ish average heart rate, with my max around 175. I burn around 100 calories every 10 minutes at that intensity. "Very vigorous" would average high 150 to 160ish with a max around 180 or more.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    caslanghout wrote: »
    Hello, I've been biking 16-18mph and logging it as vigorous but I'm wondering if it should be very vigorous instead?

    With standard assumptions (you weigh about 150 lbs, your bike is 20 more, and you're riding on the hoods on flat ground with no wind) it takes 116 watts to go 16 mph and 156 watts to go 18 mph. That burns 418 or 562 kCal per hour.

    http://www.bikecalculator.com/
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,932 Member
    This is what the database says.

    Bicycling, 16-19 kph, light (cycling, biking, bike riding)
    Bicycling, 19-23 kph, moderate (cycling, biking, bike riding)
    Bicycling, 23-26 kph, vigorous (cycling, biking, bike riding)
    Bicycling, 26-32 kph, very fast (cycling, biking, bike riding)
    Bicycling, <16 kph, leisure (cycling, biking, bike riding)
    Bicycling, >32 kph, racing (cycling, biking, bike riding)


    16-18 mph is about 26-29 km/h or "very fast" ... although personally, I'd go for a level lower than that because I find that the calories burned are more accurate that way.
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