General Cycling Discussion - Am I using less calories over time?

Hi,

I'm wondering. Am I using the same number of calories to do, say, 25 kph, when really in shape that not? After a while, do you use less calories to maintain the same speed?

Thats a great question, I was alo wondering something along the same line. If I am riding the same distance will I burn more or less cals riding faster than if I rode (keeping an aerobic rate) longer in time?

After a while, do you use less calories to maintain the same speed?

Short answer, no.

In theory, no. It takes a certain amount of energy to move a given weight over a given distance. In practice, you'd certainly use fewer calories as you lose weight, and if your cycling technique becomes more efficient, that would make a difference, too. I dunno what effect gearing would have, though. If you get stronger and can ride two gears higher, you're turning the pedals fewer times but pushing harder on each revolution., so...

Nope, the same exact amount of energy is used. There is no way around the world of physics. Gearing does not matter, the same amount of energy is used.

Now, on your bike, one gear might be more efficient than another, that would make a difference. If you weigh less, than you will use less calories. You might become faster or the same amount of time will become easier to you, but you will use the same amount of calories. If you are more aerodynamic, you will use less energy also.

As pointed out by Velo Dog, you'll use fewer calories if you lose weight and are therefore doing less work...

however, you will also be building more lean muscle which will allow you to burn more calories when at rest.

I think it's probably a wash overall, but you may burn less while actually riding.

I argue u may (require less intake) when u become more efficient and energies are channeled directly to your pedalstrokes and not wasted elsewhere. Ur digestive system may become more efficient too and may convert more of the intake to energy and producing less waste... but of course am no doctor nor physiologist and maybe just b.s.ing

I was alo wondering something along the same line. If I am riding the same distance will I burn more or less cals riding faster than if I rode (keeping an aerobic rate) longer in time?

This is quite complex, because there is a lot of non-linearity involved. There is no general answer.