Burning Calories

[harveymt]

I will be starting to cycle to work with the main reason being to burn calories to keep my weight down. I can cycle up a greenway to work so can probably do it in the same amount of time as driving. I might as well spend that 15 mins each way burning calories as opposed to sitting in the car. Taking a rough guide from the CardioTrainer app I use to record walks and hikes I do the 3 or 4 miles to work should burn 400 calories over a return trip.

My question is related to clipless pedals. Is the reason for using these greater efficiency when pedalling? You are pulling the pedal up as well as pushing down? That greater efficiency would result in less calories burned? Being that I want to maximise my calorie burn I should stick with plain pedals?

On a related note, will lighter bikes and accessories will mean it's easier to propel the bike giving a lower calorie burn?

Cheers

 

[Arsen Gere]

Clipless give a much nicer feel for your feet. They stop you getting sore feet by using stiffer shoes. You will improve and become more efficient whatever you do, but you can always go faster to burn more calories.
The pull up is a bit of a myth, most folks just take the weight off the rising foot which improves efficiency.

Bike weight does feature in calorie calculations but the resistance due to wind burns a lot of calories. Just go a bit quicker to burn more.

 

[Pale Rider]

Just go a bit quicker to burn more.

And go a bit further.

The most efficient way of burning calories is to raise your heart rate so you can feel it, but not too much, but do so over a longer period.

Turning yourself into a wheezing wreck by sprinting is not efficient for calorie burning and puts you at greater risk of a heart attack.

 

[paul04]

Once you get use to cycling to work, then start going home the long way round to add a few more miles+burn off a few more calories

 

[Boon 51]

Agreed... go futher.

 

[Sandra6]

I'm never convinced by apps that tell you doing x for y long burns z calories. I used to swear by it but if it was right I should be a size 8 by now!
As soon as your commute becomes "normal" to your body and stops feeling like an exertion you won't get any further in your weight loss unless you lower your calorie input and up your exertion.
But, if you're interested in these things, 80rpm is allegedly the optimum speed for fat burn.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Lets put it this way according to calories burnt using various apps (including HRM and garmin) I should have lost just under 4 st I havent really changed my diet much, havent really needed to, I was I guess 13 1/2 to 14 st, last time I weighed about 2 wks ago or so I was 12 1/2st, waist was about 36" it's under 34" I think. The mileage to do that 3822 miles, calories burnt (supposedly) 183,075 or 47 a mile or 316 an hr, it's easy to forget cycling is more efficient than walking

 

[Cycleops]

Using clipless pedals will give greater efficiency but won't have a marked effect on your calorie burn. Some like them , some don't. If you buy the shoes you will find walking in them difficult unless you get some with recessed cleats, even then they will feel odd with the stiff soles. If you buy Shimano shoes you will need to buy a size larger than your regular shoe.

If you intend to reduce weight you will need to modify your diet as four miles will not reduce your weight by calorie burn significantly, but I am sure you know that. A lighter bike with narrow tyres will make it easier to pedal but I am not sure you want that! Good luck.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I found using the www.sparkpeople.com app / website useful for tracking food consumed against exercise done.

 

[Saluki]

I found using the www.sparkpeople.com app / website useful for tracking food consumed against exercise done.

I love sparkpeople and have been a member there since 09, awesome site and very helpful for people of all ages and exercise choices.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I love sparkpeople and have been a member there since 09, awesome site and very helpful for people of all ages and exercise choices.

I tend to use it for about a week a few times a year and it's always a revelation. I struggle with it a bit because the majority of my meals are made from scratch.

 

[Powely]

Eat less, cut out the rubbish and go faster/further to burn more. You could also try interval training but not sure it'll be suitable for your commute journey.