Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Garmin Edge 500 Calories Burned Accuracy...

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thebigx
05-01-10, 09:06 PM
Just wondering, how accurate (or as accurate can be) is the calories burned feature on the Garmin Edge 500? I just got it and went for a two hour ride. It said that I burned a total of 1241 calories.

This was mainly on some relatively flat roads, so not a lot of effort for this first time use. So is it pretty safe to say that I lost about that much (give or take a few cals)?

SpoonyGSR
05-01-10, 09:24 PM
Depending on your weight that might be accurate.

For my weight, cycling for an hour at 14-16 mph i burn about 1200 calories (using a bodybugg)

this calculator is the most accurate one i have used.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc
thebigx
05-01-10, 09:27 PM
Depending on your weight that might be accurate.

For my weight, cycling for an hour at 14-16 mph i burn about 1200 calories (using a bodybugg)

this calculator is the most accurate one i have used.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc

Oh wow! Thanks! According to that site, the Garmin is pretty accurate! Sweet deal!

SpoonyGSR
05-01-10, 09:32 PM
Yea.. I take it that the garmin has the chest strap, so it is constantly taking your heart rate into calories burned.. and im sure the software that you set up, had you put in your weight and some other info.. its probably not 100 percent accurate (nothing really is), however, it will get your within 95 percent.
socalrider
05-01-10, 10:36 PM
I found the Garmins to run high when compared to my Polar, about 10% off..
Accordion
05-02-10, 08:17 AM
Unfortunately all of the numbers above are horribly innaccurate. The only real way to determine calories burned is with a power meter. After talking with some friends about the numbers their power meters were showing here is the closest website that worked for me:

http://bikecalculator.com/wattsUS.html

This comes out VERY close to power meter readings.

My results from yesterday? I'm 195 pounds and rode for close to four hours, tons of climbing and high-speed intervals on the flats and I burned 1013 calories.
johnny99
05-08-10, 10:34 AM
Does the Garmin calorie counter use the HR or elevation data that the Edge is monitoring? I have a Garmin Edge 305 that has a terrible calorie counter. Simple formulas like 40 calories/mile are much more accurate.