Originally Posted by
Altair 4
This just seems wildly optimistic on the calories burned, or am I completely misunderstanding MapMyRide?
Yes. MMR gives you credit for a lot more calories than most people burn. Using a HR monitor and a power meter I can confirm I burn 20-40 calories per mile, and to burn 40/mile I have to be hammering at race pace and close to FTP. Riding at a leisurely pace on flat ground, 20-30 calories per mile more than covers it.
FWIW, I've compared GPS based (i.e no HR or power) calorie estimates from MMR, Strava, and Garmin. As a rule, Strava tends to be the most conservative estimate, although they're still pretty generous when you compare to estimates based on power and HR.
My advice is to assume your calorie burn is 20 cal per mile, or no more than 500 cal per hour if you're trying to lose weight. Similarly, assume you're actually eating more calories than your food log apps indicate. Over time, your weight will tell you if you're on targt or not.
BB