Originally Posted by
Mithrandir
This makes a lot of sense.
However it brings up another question: Is there room for long-distance rides in a weight-loss regimen? One of the most exciting parts of cycling is being able to ride metrics and imperial centuries, and this summer I had hoped to get into well-enough shape to be able to do a double metric. But will those rides, and the training required to be able to attain them, help with weight loss in any way?
The training for ramping up long distance riding isn't necessarily about speed, but more about the ability to control your intake/output levels over an extended period of time. Even if you're not pushing very hard, you'll still be burning through more calories than the suggested hourly intake rate of 250-ish.
I was able to maintain consistent weight loss even when I was riding back to back weekends of 300k brevets with a week of commuting in between. Things I had to concentrate on were making sure that I was consuming "good" calories during my ride and weekday meals, and didn't do any post-ride gorging, which was my real downfall prior to working on weight loss. In the day and a half after a long brevet, I'd slam down *way* more food than I burned off; totally negating any effects of the ride.
