Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Flat Riding Is Very Different

I am on the more populous side of the state this week for some nerd training in the Bellevue area. I brought my road bike with me and did a little research to find an eleven mile trail from Redmond to Bothell that follows an old railroad right of way. It has been converted to a nice, paved trail. Though it has some sloping hills, it is the longest relatively flat path I have ever ridden since nothing around my home goes that far without going up a mountain somewhere.

Even with slowing down for various pedestrians and other clusters of people I was still able to average just over 20mph for the entire ride. There was a stretch where I didn't have anyone in my way and I was able to just gear up and hit it. That was the fastest non-descent I have ever sustained. It felt pretty sweet.

At one point, for about three miles or so, I had a couple of guys in full kit drafting me. That doesn't happen back home anywhere either. After a while they just turned off somewhere.

I think I will be heading back there each evening this week. If the Garmin is to be believed it was around 2106 Calories. I really have no idea how accurate that is though. MyFitnessPal estimates it quite a bit lower, but it just uses speed and time.

Anyone know if the Garmin is to be trusted on Calories burned?

lived in panama city for a number of years... flat is fun sometimes... but not all the time thats for sure... enjoy it for the little while though :)... you'll get to grind up those hills again soon

I am on the more populous side of the state this week for some nerd training in the Bellevue area. I brought my road bike with me and did a little research to find an eleven mile trail from Redmond to Bothell that follows an old railroad right of way.

I'm guessing you were on the Sammamish River Trail. It's the eastside extension of the Burke-Gilman Trail, and you can follow it all the way downtown from Redmond.

I'm guessing you were on the Sammamish River Trail. It's the eastside extension of the Burke-Gilman Trail, and you can follow it all the way downtown from Redmond.

Not at the hour I started. As it was I was using my light by the time I got back to the car. If I get an earlier start one of these nights I will do more.

It was a nice trail. A little narrow in places for the number of people using it (particularly under bridges), but it is very nice the people who managed to organize all that were successful. A lot of people are enjoying that resource.

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got till its gone".

I used to curse the HILL that we call the county that I live in. I can not ride anywhere that I am not climbing. So, last fall and earlier this year, I had the opportunity to ride a 35 mile flat. I rode this route 4 times and each ride realized how lucky I was to have my hills.

At first, the idea that I was maintaining 17 mph for miles was pretty cool. Then it happened, my mind and body said "Where is the coasting?" When you ride flat, you have to pedal???:wtf:

I dig my hills:thumb:

I think I will be heading back there each evening this week. If the Garmin is to be believed it was around 2106 Calories. I really have no idea how accurate that is though. MyFitnessPal estimates it quite a bit lower, but it just uses speed and time.

Anyone know if the Garmin is to be trusted on Calories burned?

For me the garmin is about 1.4x my actual burn. It's the highest calorie counter I've ever seen. That's with HRM. It is even higher without.

That Garmin is not to be trusted for calories burned. Cut the number by at least a 3rd.

When trying to lose weight, best to underestimate calories burned, and overestimate calories eaten.