Training & Nutrition - What burns more calories: slow climbing or faster, longer flat riding?

I've got various routes I can take when I go riding - some are relatively flat and others are have me climbing mountains. The former I can ride for a longer distance and faster, but the latter I'm riding shorter and much slower. Which is the best for burning the most calories? I'm guessing the mountain climbing? I feel I use my upper body as well when I'm trying to "pull" myself up a mountain and mash on the pedals, but just sort of sit there when I'm cruising on a flat surface. And just kicking up the cadence even a little more on a mountain can raise the heart rate. And I'm not concerned about "efficient riding technique" or anything like that - just burning calories. I can even throw in 50+ lbs into my panniers if that helps me burn more.

Power is power. Flat, hills, doesn't matter. Whatever gets you working harder for more time will burn more calories.

I'd watch your heartrate. Higher heartrate should equal more calories/minute (assuming you can hold that rate). Riding on the flats at 25mph might burn far more than spinning up a hill at 50rpm in the granny gear.

Power is power. Flat, hills, doesn't matter. Whatever gets you working harder for more time will burn more calories.

+1.

Just increase your intensity. A heart rate monitor can really help.

Just increase your intensity. A heart rate monitor can really help.

So would that also apply to riding a trainer? If I kept my heartrate the same via a HRM, it wouldn't matter if it was climbing a mountain, riding flats, or riding my trainer at home while watching TV?

power is power. short ride high intensity vs softer, longer duration can be equal burners...depends on what you do...


what really burns the most calories, is riding in such a fashion that you can keep riding and not develop lactic acid or pain...staying on the bike longer....


that basically means 75-85% MHR, just below lactate threshold riding. and a few hours of that. where you are sweating but not dying and can stay like that for hours. this burns the most because you can do it the most


on shorter rides, any type of standing up costs 13% more energy give or take...

hills yeah they burn, but if you ride a hill in a low gear slow, you'll burn less.

So would that also apply to riding a trainer? If I kept my heartrate the same via a HRM, it wouldn't matter if it was climbing a mountain, riding flats, or riding my trainer at home while watching TV?

Let me clarify -- I find a a HRM useful because it helps me make sure I'm not working too hard, thereby riding for a longer duration (the benefits of which are pointed out, above).

So would that also apply to riding a trainer? If I kept my heartrate the same via a HRM, it wouldn't matter if it was climbing a mountain, riding flats, or riding my trainer at home while watching TV?

power always = power. hr does not always = hr. You can be generating different power for the same hr depending on conditions. Calories track to power, HRMs can only estimate calories based on hr.

I've got various routes I can take when I go riding - some are relatively flat and others are have me climbing mountains. The former I can ride for a longer distance and faster, but the latter I'm riding shorter and much slower. Which is the best for burning the most calories? I'm guessing the mountain climbing? I feel I use my upper body as well when I'm trying to "pull" myself up a mountain and mash on the pedals, but just sort of sit there when I'm cruising on a flat surface. And just kicking up the cadence even a little more on a mountain can raise the heart rate. And I'm not concerned about "efficient riding technique" or anything like that - just burning calories. I can even throw in 50+ lbs into my panniers if that helps me burn more.

In general, longer riding is better. You spend more time in the aerobic range, and you will need to go deeper into your fat reserves during the ride. You also get a higher percentage of your time in the workout zone, as you spend a smaller percentage in workout.

Nutrition during and right after the ride can also help control your hunger.