Originally Posted by
chaadster
Yeah, is there seriously any doubt that you'd do more work by constantly pedaling? The amount more would depend on the power at which you pedal, but it would be more no matter
what.
It all depends on how much power you put to the pedals. You could easily burn fewer calories by constantly pedaling, by simply not pedaling as hard.
What matters is how much work you do. That's determined by the time, distance, elevation change, and speed.
If you cover the same distance, over the same terrain (assuming same bike, and same position on the bike) you do essentially the same amount of work, whether you constantly pedal, or pedal and coast.
In fact, it's possible to burn more calories pedaling then coasting, to the extent you increase your speed when you pedal, and let it drop while you coast. The squared increase in wind resistance with the increase in speed, will result in an increase in the total work for the same distance over the same time.