Cycling vs Running

[fritz1255]

I guess this topic belongs here, although I thought about putting it in the 50+ form because I am 51, and this is kind of an age-related question. I have had to quit running, at least temporarily, because my left foot has a bad case of plantar faciaitis (sp?) that makes it simply too painful to run. I am biking instead, but obviously would like to match my running workouts in terms of caloric expenditure. Does anyone know about how many biking miles are roughly equivalent to a running mile? I probably run about 9 minute miles, and my average biking speed is about 10 mph according to my GPS.

[grebletie]

From what I remember, it's 100 calories per mile, regardless of pace. I'd say at your pace, 35 calories per mile for biking is reasonable.

[aham23]

generically speaking its 100 calories per running mile and 40 calories per cycling mile. or you could head over to caloriesperhour.com (http://caloriesperhour.com) and use their activity calculators to get and estimate. later.

[Ricardo]

Any number is a guesstimate. It depends on your own metabolism and the intensity at which you workout.

RR

[HWS]

generically speaking its 100 calories per running mile and 40 calories per cycling mile. or you could head over to caloriesperhour.com (http://caloriesperhour.com) and use their activity calculators to get and estimate. later.

According to CPH.com, I burn 2472 cals in 2:25 on a 42 mile bike ride and 554 in a 36 minute 4 mile run.

That works out to 59 cal per mile cycling and 138.5 cal per mile running.

No wonder running seems so much harder.

[UmneyDurak]

According to CPH.com, I burn 2472 cals in 2:25 on a 42 mile bike ride and 554 in a 36 minute 4 mile run.

That works out to 59 cal per mile cycling and 138.5 cal per mile running.

No wonder running seems so much harder.

I think it's over estimating.

[unixpro]

Not necessarily. It depends on the kind of bike you're riding, and what else you're carrying on it. If you've got an ultra-light aluminum roadster and carry nothing but yourself, you're going to burn a lot fewer calories for the same speed and distance as someone with a tankish commuter bike carrying full panniers, water, repair kit, etc.

[HWS]

I think it's over estimating.

Probably, but most of the online calculators give me about the same result (and I like the sound of "I burned 2400 calories on my ride this morning. :D ).

[SSP]

Probably, but most of the online calculators give me about the same result (and I like the sound of "I burned 2400 calories on my ride this morning. :D ).

Most of the online calculators assume you're riding bolt upright...that makes a big difference in the calculations, especially if you're going more than 12 mph or so.

On a typical road bike ride, 35-45 calories per mile is more typical...the "rule of thumb" is 40 calories per mile and even that might be a little high (especially if you ride where it's flat, or spend time drafting).

[Bantam]

Running will spike the HR much faster than the cycling.

[fueledbymetal]

This is based purley on my own personal reasoning, but in addition to the caloires burned during a workout, I believe running will burn more calories afterwords as well since you're working more muscles & therefore more tissue needs repair.