Originally Posted by
Jim Kukula
For a given person on a given day, a higher heart rate means burning more calories. But comparing two people who are at different fitness level... say they're both at 150 bpm - the fit person would be burning many more calories than the unfit person. Getting fit lets you put out more power, and burn more calories, at any given heart rate.
First, thanks to you and chasm54 for your replies.
Now, I think I get what you're saying here: that two different riders at very different levels of fitness would burn different a different amount of calories, with the fitter rider burning more. I suppose that would be due to the more fit rider riding at a greater speed than the less fit rider. I suppose this because I presume that the fit rider would have lower HR than the unfit rider if both were traveling at the same speed. If that's what you're saying, then I think it agrees with what my question was suggesting. So, wont an unfit rider will use more calories than a fit rider at 15 mph because (s)he will have a greater HR? If both riders are at 150 bpm, wouldn't the fitter rider likely be traveling at a greater speed than the unfit rider? I don't doubt I'm missing something here; I'm not (nor have) making (made) a claim. I'm just honestly trying to gain some understanding here.
Thanks