Old 02-08-13 | 03:58 PM
  #153  
jaltone
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Joined: Dec 2011
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bikfor, can I assume that your question's relevance is vis-a-vis a fitness plan? If so, I am in the same boat as you. Back in 2010 that is all I could do as well, i.e., 10 mph average with lots of huffing and puffing and coasting on a flat course at that. I was prediabetic and needed an exercise program.

I would say that back then I was burning around 100 to 200 calories per hour. This is probably where you are now on your bike. Do not be disheartened. Just ride like you are doing now. Keep at it even when the temperatures drop, and in a year you'll be surprised at how you'll be able to continuously pedal for one hour without ever having to coast.

Also, each year you'll gain stamina, strength and become faster. I'm middle aged and started cycling only in 2010. I've gained about 1 to 1.5 mph each year. Nowadays I burn around 400 to 600 calories per hour, depending on effort for the day. I need to keep on cycling forever to prevent myself from becoming a fully diabetic person. Not a chore though, I've discovered that I do really enjoy road cycling. You and I, we'll never be fast racers. We just want to race against ourselves day after day. Hope this gives you encouragement. Good luck.

Originally Posted by bikfor
I recently picked up a street worthy road bike (Scott S50) and have also recently began to ride daily or semi-daily. I've pledged to myself to ride atleast 10mi a day to begin with (takes me an hour) and was wondering how many calories I'm burning. All of those online calculators say about 600 per hour as well as archived posts on this forum. But you're not pedaling the entire time, right?

When I jog a mile in 20min my treadmill tells me 175 calories burned and this sounds accurate. I'd rather burn calories cycling than jogging as its much more fun to me.

It does feel like I've been on a long very light run after I'm done cycling but 600 calories? Really? I'm beat after my 175 calorie jog and sweating much more (probably due to lack of wind when jogging compared to doing 25mph on my bike).
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