As I prepare for my next tour, I´m really curious...what is the average calorie burn for women on a fully loaded tour? I know that weight/speed/age/pounds (both bike and rider) factor in, plus the road, itself, but I see a lot of complicated formulas and I was just wondering if there´s a loose rule of thumb that can be used. I´ve seen some say about 40 cals/mile, but is that realistic?

The reason I ask is that I completely lose my appetite when I´m riding (hard to believe since I´m not exactly shy around food) and would like to make sure I keep fueled. I know what I roughly need to maintain my basic weight without riding, but just want to get an idea of what to add to keep from royally bonking.

BIG thanks in advance!

(27 days to go, but who´s counting?)