Calories cycling

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  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,808 Member
    Out of curiosity I worked out my average calories per 5km over a year and it came to 103 net cals.

    3efoep2g0ogv.png

    But I'm pretty sure I'm heavier than you, ride a bit faster than you and if you are in The Netherlands (???) probably do more climbing than you (although I'm not a big climber). If your ride speeds and terrain are fairly consistent (mine aren't) or you are happy taking a long term view using an average is a nice and simple method to implement, but I wouldn't pick someone else's average unless that person's variables are close to yours.

    PS - for you I'd simply recommend using Strava's KJ number as a decent net cal estimate. Simple, reasonable and also free has a lot to recommend it.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,768 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Out of curiosity I worked out my average calories per 5km over a year and it came to 103 net cals.

    3efoep2g0ogv.png

    But I'm pretty sure I'm heavier than you, ride a bit faster than you and if you are in The Netherlands (???) probably do more climbing than you (although I'm not a big climber). If your ride speeds and terrain are fairly consistent (mine aren't) or you are happy taking a long term view using an average is a nice and simple method to implement, but I wouldn't pick someone else's average unless that person's variables are close to yours.

    PS - for you I'd simply recommend using Strava's KJ number as a decent net cal estimate. Simple, reasonable and also free has a lot to recommend it.

    Oh yes, I do cycle slower, and it's flat, but usually windy. I always have faster intervals but also have to stop at traffic lights or go slower for other traffic reasons. This is a very build-up country. When I stop for a cache I usually stop my watch, but not for other reasons.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    Hmm.. can I use Strava in the background, and use google maps for navigation on the same phone? As I'm usually cycling from coordinate to coordinate Strava would not help for navitation.

    You're using a Garmin watch, right? They can send the data to Strava on your behalf when it syncs. Strava will then recalculate everything and estimate your power and calorie use.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,768 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    Hmm.. can I use Strava in the background, and use google maps for navigation on the same phone? As I'm usually cycling from coordinate to coordinate Strava would not help for navitation.

    You're using a Garmin watch, right? They can send the data to Strava on your behalf when it syncs. Strava will then recalculate everything and estimate your power and calorie use.

    Hmm.. something to look into. Of course I also want the data in Garmin connect, but as with running this doesn't seem to be a problem. With the only issue that my phone has the better gps chip and gives more accurate distance/pace data. Boooh Garmin!
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    In Connect there's a setting to hook your account to to Strava, Training Peaks, etc. That just means after your watch sends Garmin your data, the cloud shares a copy with whoever you said. They don't delete their record, they just also send it along for you.

    Strava notoriously doesn't trust data it doesn't capture itself (it's complicated). Things like total distance, moving time, elevation gained, and candies burned can all be different on Strava vs Connect because Strava takes the raw data from the file and runs its own algorithms over it.

    The main down side is some people get frustrated because both systems have their own gear feature. If you're using that in Connect, just keep using it there. 🙂
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 7,333 Member
    edited May 2021
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    In Connect there's a setting to hook your account to to Strava, Training Peaks, etc. That just means after your watch sends Garmin your data, the cloud shares a copy with whoever you said. They don't delete their record, they just also send it along for you.

    Strava notoriously doesn't trust data it doesn't capture itself (it's complicated). Things like total distance, moving time, elevation gained, and candies burned can all be different on Strava vs Connect because Strava takes the raw data from the file and runs its own algorithms over it.

    Is that specific for cycling? Or perhaps it depends on the specific device?
    My Garmin (Vivoactive 4) and Strava data for walking are identical for distance, calories, elevation gain, Strava just seems to copy Garmin's data for everything except moving time.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    If your device (1) has a barometer altimeter, and (2) says so, Strava believes the elevation data. If not they take the lat/lon coordinates in the file and look the elevation up from their own data. So depending on the VA4, and where you walk, you may or may not see a difference?

    What I've observed (and this is repeated a bit on bike forums) is that the distances are very close, you have to go a long way to see a difference. For me it was in the ballpark of 0.1 mile disagreement for every 20 I ride. I've seen posts from people who were upset because their Garmin said 100.3 miles and Strava says 99.6, and now people don't think that counts as a century. 🤬 So you wouldn't necessarily see it walking.
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