Cycling to lose weight

[ColinJ]

Not sure of the above, I thought at a steady pace (say at least 18 mph on average) you will do well to burn 500 calories per hour. I may be wrong, comments from others ?

I used to ride the Manchester 100 in 6 hours and burn a pound of fat each time. I was averaging just under 17 mph, and burning about 575 cals/hr.

How much does the Op weigh? This will have an influence too I believe on calories burnt for a given amount of effort?

It doesn't make a lot of difference on the flat. I put the numbers into some bike calculator software and what a 150 lb cyclist burned 543 cals doing would only cost a 250 lb cyclist an extra 27 cals. It makes a huge difference when climbing though - the same speed up a mere 2% drag would cost the 150 lb cyclist about 1,000 cals/hr and the heavier cyclist about 1,200.

 

[vickster]

Interesting, we have no idea of the OP's 11 miles. In Yorkshire, it would all be uphill, in London, mostly flat

 

[VamP]

Interesting, we have no idea of the OP's 11 miles. In Yorkshire, it would all be uphill, in London, mostly flat

Of course if it was all uphill, he'd eventually run out of oxygen and suffocate...

 

[Thomk]

Interesting, we have no idea of the OP's 11 miles. In Yorkshire, it would all be uphill, in London, mostly flat

We also have no idea how often the OP commutes by bike.

 

[vickster]

Indeed we know very little about the OP

 

[VamP]

I used to ride the Manchester 100 in 6 hours and burn a pound of fat each time. I was averaging just under 17 mph, and burning about 575 cals/hr.

It doesn't make a lot of difference on the flat. I put the numbers into some bike calculator software and what a 150 lb cyclist burned 543 cals doing would only cost a 250 lb cyclist an extra 27 cals. It makes a huge difference when climbing though - the same speed up a mere 2% drag would cost the 150 lb cyclist about 1,000 cals/hr and the heavier cyclist about 1,200.

The 250lb cyclist would have to be phenomenally strong to ride uphill for an hour at a speed that would net him 1200 calories. Like pro level strong. Even 1000 cals/hour requires well above average level of fitness.

 

[Dusty Bin]

According to Endomondo - 40 minutes of turbo training does 650 calories.

what, even 40 minutes of spinning 34/25 at 60rpm..??

 

[VamP]

According to Endomondo - 40 minutes of turbo training does 650 calories.

If you're 350w rider maybe... and subject to @Dusty Bin comment.

 

[redcard]

On top of this cycling before eating breakfast or drinking anything with sugar is good way to burn fat. (the distance can't be too far else you will hit the wall- 11 miles should be ok).

Not sure that cycling before breakfast or drinking anything with sugar would have any effect on fat burning. Your point about distance is just words.

I'd like to know the science behind that.

 

[jowwy]

Ok - i'm 240lbs - last night i did a gut wrenching 10mile TT on the turbo - time was 27.52 with average speed at 21.6mph average 89rpm and my garmin and turbo data said a calorie burn of 402 calories.

i personally have always worked on the premise of 40cals per mile, rightly or wrongly so both my data readings are not far out.

so there is no way you can spin at 60rpm for 40mins and burn 650 calories

 

[VamP]

theres no link to effort - could be churning a 52/12 on resistance 5 and it would be still be the same.

And that my friend tells you all you need to know about the usefulness of Endomondo.

 

[MrGrumpy]

At 220lbs myself, I can do a lumpy 10 mile TT in under 28mins, but climbing is much harder, found that out on the local 1mile 8% on average climb at the weekend on the fixed.

However as everyone else is saying, to lose weight you need to change your diet and excersise can help with that but I`m guilty and sure the rest are as well,if you think that you can commute 20+ miles everyday and stuff your face with all sorts, you will lose weight.

I know what my vice is and its the weekend wines, I reckon if I could cut that out alot then I could shift a stone at least

 

[screenman]

I can do a 10tt on the turbo in less than 15 minutes quite easily, I just do not have the tyre touching the roller

Sorry but TT on a turbo is meaningless unless used as a reference for next time you do the same, of course you will need to calibrate the turbo, to get the same reading.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Heres how I measure turbo effort...

10x3, 5x4, 10x3, 5x4, 10x3 [130]

Time multiplied by resistance level basically. Always in the same gear, except for a 1 min x 52/12 out of saddle interval every session. The number at the end is its "score".

In isolation it means nothing whatsover, its just a tool to compare sessions.

Wow - and you think sports science is a load of hoodoo..

 

[screenman]

Do you calibrate your turbo to come up with a consistent score. Must admit I now only cycle for pleasure and exercise so I do not get as technical as I used to. I do 2 road sessions, 3 swims and 2 turbo sessions a week, so maybe a bit more than just exercise. But with nasty arthritus my racing days are over.