Calories Burned
 

Hello. I don't believe the calorie calcs out there. I bike 4 hours, at 14 mph, low wind, 1st half flat/downhill with the 2nd half uphill. I weigh 231 lbs and am in not very good shape. Please help me with the calories burned per ride. Most calcs say 3-4000 calories, but I'm not sure. Thanks.

Joe

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...alories-burned

Always worth looking to see if there's already a thread on the subject

you're correct... those are way over.

a good rule of thumb (and honestly thats all it is) is 350-400 calories per hour. some folks use 20 calories per mile....

I used to use the garmin 705 calories burned as my basis for tracking calories in calories out, that was until I got a power meeter. I now use the kilojules as a 1:1 ratio for calories burned and I'll tell you, the garmin is about 1000 calories high as are the calculators online. If I am feeling strong and there are no downhills, I'll generate 800 + kilojules an hour while riding.

That sounds like a good recovery ride. Although rules of thumb are generally poor estimates as well, those are some really whack numbers compared to what is usually thrown around.

Calories burned can only be estimated. If at the end of the day you are too satiated before bed then obviously your calorie intake was a little bit to high. I also agree 350-400 calories an hour is quite a bit low. Especially for your weight. I'm 187 lbs and average 650 cals an hour at a good tempo.

True, when I am busting along or doing intervals I am in the 550-600 range. HOWEVER, considering that new riders tend to OVERestimate their effort, I decided to go with a more conservative approach considering the statement "I am not in very good shape" in the OP.

He does weigh 231, which can make a big difference depending on how steep those hills are.

I use 35-40 depending on intensity/speed, and it's been pretty reliable in my calculations and maintaining my weight.

Nutritiondata.com has a good daily needs calculator on the bottom right hand side of the page. It is fairly accurate imo.