Burning calories

[johnnyb47]

Hi to all. I'm a little confused by the set amount of calories you would burn over a set distance. If for instance I cycle hard over 10 miles would I burn roughly the same amount of calories as to if I only cycled moderately over the same distance. My understanding is that I will because I would be in the saddle for longer if I took it easy.
Many thanks for reading and replying to this post.
Johnny

 

[Tin Pot]

No, because effort and energy release are not linearly related due to the efficiencies of the human body and wind resistance. The energy consumption increases disproportionate to speed achieved.

Cars are the same, you will burn more fuel travelling the same distance at 70mph than at 20 mph.

 

[Apollonius]

On the subject of calories, I am always puzzled by the ratings for calories used given by different software. Garmin reckons I have burnt almost twice as many as Strava - on the same ride. 30 a mile is a reasonable base.

 

[Tin Pot]

On the subject of calories, I am always puzzled by the ratings for calories used given by different software. Garmin reckons I have burnt almost twice as many as Strava - on the same ride. 30 a mile is a reasonable base.

It's completely made up.

 

[johnnyb47]

Thanks for the info. It makes perfect sense now with your clear explanation .

 

[johnnyb47]

Hi again. I'm more curious than anything else but what sort of calories would I be burning over a 16 mile ride averaging around 14.5 mph on a road bike. I'm around 14,5 stone. Sorry for the dumb questions but I'm now doing this trip every other evening alternated with 12 on the other days.

 

[Roadrider48]

Just ride and eat sensibly and excess weight will remove itself.

 

[johnnyb47]

Fair comment buddy. I must admit I'm really enjoying getting back in the saddle again. I've been through a fairly rough patch recently with losing my mum and splitting with wife ( she had been having a string of affairs ) and after spending to many months drinking and stewing in front of the TV its been a revelation to discover an old passion again in the form of cycling. Physically I now feel a lot better and have now started to take better care of my body but the positive mental aspect has been huge. I feel so much more focused and a lot less stressed about life. Anxiety has also diminished to tolerable levels. I really do put all this down to my humble road bike and getting back to the basics in life.

 

[Roadrider48]

Fair comment buddy. I must admit I'm really enjoying getting back in the saddle again. I've been through a fairly rough patch recently with losing my mum and splitting with wife ( she had been having a string of affairs ) and after spending to many months drinking and stewing in front of the TV its been a revelation to discover an old passion again in the form of cycling. Physically I now feel a lot better and have now started to take better care of my body but the positive mental aspect has been huge. I feel so much more focused and a lot less stressed about life. Anxiety has also diminished to tolerable levels. I really do put all this down to my humble road bike and getting back to the basics in life.

Works for me mate. It frees my mind to just ride.

 

[Tin Pot]

There is no sensible answer to your question, except that it will be more calories than you would have burned if you'd stayed at home sitting on the sofa. Just keep riding your bike and stop worrying about calories.

I'm with TMN on this, and perhaps one step beyond - I hate talk of calories. Having been completely duped for a season and gaining bodyfat on weeks I put in 11hrs training in three sports...maybe I'm allowed to get angry.

Eat a healthy diet, eat more if you are hungry and drink more if you are thirsty...*not* because you think you ought to or you "deserve it".

And enjoy your exercise

 

[Nigelnaturist]

According to data I recorded using the bryton site, its about 25% fat cals to 75% carbs, however you burn more fat cals at a lower hr.

 

[tallliman]

I thought they'd disproved the lowish hr fat burning thing?

 

[Tin Pot]

I thought they'd disproved the lowish hr fat burning thing?

Indeed it was never proven in the first place.

You use the glycogen stored in your muscles first, then anything available in the bloodstream (eg from gels/energy drinks), then the other energy sources - these are a combination of fats, proteins and carbohydrates around the body.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Tin Pot
A bit of data I recorded from the Bryton site I have highlighted two of the extremes in HR