Training & Nutrition - MTB-ing can burn more calories than roadbiking?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
Cassava_boy
10-28-02, 09:38 PM
Hi my name is Abrams from Asia.
Sorry about my bad english but I hope you can understand me...
I wanted to know how many calories that burn when mountain biking.
Is mountain biking burn more calories than road biking?

Mambwe
10-29-02, 07:36 AM
Not sure how many calories you burn. I guess it all depends on the terrain you ae riding and how hard you are working. But i am almost positive that you burn more calories mountain biking then road biking. It is easier to ride on the street then it is on the trails, there fore you work harder. hope this helps.
MichaelW
10-29-02, 08:41 AM
You cant say one burns more calories, it depends how hard you work.
Road time trialists ride so they collapse with fatigue as they reach the finish line. They couldnt work any harder if they wanted to.
MTBing does use more upper body strength, and cyclo-cross uses even more muscles as it involves running.

webist
10-29-02, 09:24 AM
There are so many variables. Either can burn more calories depending on heart rate, your body weight, terrain, etc. I've had real hard and real easy workout on both.
alexeicharkham
11-06-02, 09:47 AM
I think all things remaining equal, mountain biking is harder - thicker tires and softer surfaces = more work
MichaelW
11-06-02, 10:20 AM
Thicker tyres mean for the same power-output, you go slower. They dont neccessarily make you produce more power.

If a roady and an MTBer are riding side by side on the road, the MTBer is producing more power. If a rider outputs 200watts on his road bike on the road, and 200watts on his MTB on the trail, its the same 200 watts.
Maelstrom
11-06-02, 07:07 PM
Typically mtb burns far more calories. An averga 170pnd males burns I think 700 per hour. A roadies would have to be pushing VERY hard to come close to that.

Keep in mind this is xc technical riding not a dirt road.