Calories being utilized while cycling, BMR?

[Ogedei]

So I was messing with on-line calorie caluclators, and while I realize they are at the very best, very rough estimations of what someone might burn.

So my question is. I punched in 2 hours, avg speed 19km/h. Does cycling like this really burn anywhere close to 1800 calories, which is what it told be as a calorie burned thing, or is this rough estimation completely on CRACK.

Thanks, just trying to re-evaluate my diet based on the new level of physical activity.

I suppose another question would be, for the HB BMR forumla, what would you guys use as a multiplier for say lifting for 30-45 minutes 3x a week. Usually 6, 3x8 lifts, combined with cycling 22km 3 or 4 times a week? 1.55, or would you go higher?

Thanks.

Og.

[ODB]

I found these sources:

http://www.annecollins.com/calories-...n-exercise.htm: 1200 calories in 2-hours of fast cycling

http://www.enee.umd.edu/~emad/CC/calories.htm According to this chart I would burn 1476 in 2-hours averaging 16 mph. (I'm at 190lbs)

http://faculty.washington.edu/kepete...e_calories.htm This one gets me to 1740 burned in 2 hours of "fast" cycling.

So I guess depending on your weight and the intensity fo the ride (hills, sprints, wind) I would think that 1800 is doable. I'm certainly no expert on this but I love doing the research.

Joe

[Ogedei]

Yeah I think those sound more reasonable in all honesty, I believed 1800 to be sorta high, especially having read what guys like Lance Armstrong burn training in a day of cycling.

I'm averaging about 11mph so that would throw me at about 495 cals per hour. Probably a decent estimate. so to hour ride would be about 1000 cals.

I'll work with those numbers for now and see what it gets me.

Thanks.

Og.

[ODB]

Remember Og, it's really all a guess. 11 mph on a mountain bike with a lot of elevation gain is great and burns way more than a road bike on fairly flat road.

I might recommend that you get a good heart rate monitor and link you workouts to that for figureing calorie burn. That is the only way I know of to get an accurate reading on your workout in excersizes like running, swimming and cycling.

BTW, How is the riding going?

[Ogedei]

yeah I think the heart rate monitor is gonna get purchased in the next few weeks. I really just wanted a rough guess so I had a clue how much more food I should eat based on the new activity level.

Well The biking is going well, probably slapped 90km on to it over the last weekend. Pretty much all road work. Calgary has like 400km of bike paths so they say. I road to work on Monday, going to the gym after riding for 45 minutes made that workout ass as well. Live and learn. Coming home was alot more uphill than I was prepared for, so I was pretty hungry/tired when I finished although it was still only about 45 minutes. Once I get in better cycling shape I might return to that route until then I will stick to the slightly less hilly, yet longer route I think.

Love the bike, love the computer feedback, love it all!

Oh except the temperature dropped to freezing last night and it snowed. Stupid Calgary weather.

Og.

[ODB]

Oh except the temperature dropped to freezing last night and it snowed. Stupid Calgary weather.

two words - "studded tires"

[Ogedei]

It didn't snow THAT much, I just don't have appropriate cycling clothing for this type of weather. I could probably figure something out. But the cold weather will be gone in a week, so good enough. I can wait it out. I have oher things to spend money on, heart rate monitor and I am probably going to take the first course for something called AFLCA, which is a provinical fitness certification. Just to get my feet wet.

Og.

[Kaiser]

For me, I always used to use 600 kcals for one hour of tough spinning. A CSCS told me that was way too low. and when I got my HR monitor with the 'OwnCal' tracking feeature, it showed between 700 and 1000 per hour... clsoer to what she said.

Outside, depending on the intensity, I am at 1700-2200 for 2 hours of actual riding.

BTW, HR is only a proxy for kcals burned. To get a real number, you would need to get on an exercise bike and have a submaximal LT test done. My club is offering these now and I may get it done.

Also, LA burns fewer calories than you per time period because his body has adapted to cycling and he is EXTREMELY efficient at doing it. He can crank out more watts (power) for fewer kcals than most anyone can.

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Second part of question: H-B estimation of RMR - is just that: an estimation. It doesn't apply to a large portion of the general population. I am living proof. When I had my RMR tested, it came up a full 500 kcals less than H-B predicted, and even more difference from other online calculators like that on fitday.com. The only way to know for sure is to have it tested.