My fitness pal

[Becs]

Does anyone have any experience using a site/app called "my fitness pal"? I've just started using it, it seems pretty great except the amount of calories it estimates you burn cycling. I know these things are never completely accurate but it told me I burnt over 1000 calories for 90 mins at 12-14 mph which sounds ridiculous! Anyone have any idea how far out mfp's estimates are? Are the estimates from heart rate monitors any better?

In general I don't eat for any ride under 25 miles anyway but it would be nice to have a better idea of what I'm burning off (even if it is so I know how much cider/chocolate/cheese I'm allowed! :-)

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

I am not sure about your specific calorie burn but i just did a sportive and i used about 3500 in 4.5 hours, sounded about right to me at 780 calories an hour at an average of 17 mph.

When i used to do gym work i used to hammer the static bikes that had a calorie counter based on your weight and wattage produced, in hlf an hour i used to do 500 +, in an hour it was just under a thousand, but i was hammering along at 95 % of calculated max heart rate.

 

[vickster]

I read that on average, you burn around 40 calories per mile covered, at an average sort of pace on average terrain. Works for me as a decent rule of thumb. Son assuming you did 20 or so miles, 800 calories. 1000 does sound high to me. Your own bodyweight plays part too - if you are heavy, you will burn more than someone who is skinny

 

[AndyF]

I like the app especially for keeping count of what I've eaten during the day it has a lot of English food and portion sizes against many US based apps. As to it's accuracy on bike riding it has me @ 316 calories for my 6 mile little circuit (12-14mph moderate cycling). The Suunto T6 HRM has me @ 210 iirc.

 

[Andrew_P]

Yeah my Garmin over estimates also at the same level 900-1000 calories for 15-16mph 14.8 miles. Where as my old Sunnnto had it at 400-500 depending on how it was estimating my current fitness. The latter I feel is closer to reality, if the Garmin was right on a commutting day I would be in calorie deficit which is not likely.

 

[Becs]

I read that on average, you burn around 40 calories per mile covered, at an average sort of pace on average terrain. Works for me as a decent rule of thumb. Son assuming you did 20 or so miles, 800 calories. 1000 does sound high to me. Your own bodyweight plays part too - if you are heavy, you will burn more than someone who is skinny

Thanks! That sounds like a good rough guide. I tend to average about 16mph, it's pretty flat round here but I am tall with stone or 2 to lose so hopefully 40/mile is about right! I just want to make sure I'm eating enough for longer rides (60-80 miles) but still lose a pound or 2 a week!

 

[Surlyguy]

Hi. When i do my normal training route which is around 25 miles i usually burn around 18-1900 calories depending on how hard i go. I normally ave 14 - 15 mph on bumpy terrain with a few hills. I use a HRM all the time, i weigh 84kg so i'm probably burning more cals than most other cyclists.

 

[Garz]

I would say 600 calories per hour as I try to factor in the free-wheel and non-exertive parts of the ride. On a static or gym bike if you constantly pedal with resistance this would show a more accurate figure as cyberknight mentioned. If you take it easy or are able to sustain a conversation then your probably not working hard enough to warrant 600/hour so adjust to suit your tempo.

 

[Garz]

Hi. When i do my normal training route which is around 25 miles i usually burn around 18-1900 calories depending on how hard i go. I normally ave 14 - 15 mph on bumpy terrain with a few hills. I use a HRM all the time, i weigh 84kg so i'm probably burning more cals than most other cyclists.

Really?

My 23 mile loop which is the most regular I tend to ride the garmin says I burn ~750 calories. This is normally at around 17mph average (75% or zone 3). I'm fairly heavy build for a cyclist (more of a rugby players build) so would think 1800 for a 25 mile route is quite high.

 

[Surlyguy]

Hi Garz. When I use my hybrid bike which is quite light (Giant Crs 0) I'd normally burn around 1300 cals for my 25 mile commute. My touring bike on the other hand weighs around 25kg with the panniers and that's the bike I'd use more. Heart rate varies too, it would ave 140 on the hybrid and 160 on the other bike. I'd estimate I burn between 800 and 1000 cals an hour.

 

[cloggsy]

I use MFP in conjunction with my CycleMeter app when cycling.

I don't rely on MFP for calories burned during exercising!

 

[amaferanga]

Hi Garz. When I use my hybrid bike which is quite light (Giant Crs 0) I'd normally burn around 1300 cals for my 25 mile commute. My touring bike on the other hand weighs around 25kg with the panniers and that's the bike I'd use more. Heart rate varies too, it would ave 140 on the hybrid and 160 on the other bike. I'd estimate I burn between 800 and 1000 cals an hour.

Um I think you need to take the figures from your heart rate monitor with a massive pinch of salt.

I have perhaps the most accurate calorie counter on my bike - a power meter. The energy I expend is actually calculated and making only one assumption (the efficiency of the human body) I can determine calories.

And I can tell you that I don't even burn 1000 kcal/hour when I'm racing at an average speed of 26mph.

How much do you weigh? Unless you're very heavy and riding up some proper hills then you won't be burning 800-1000 kcal/hour to ride at 14-15mph.

Sorry to shatter your illusions.

 

[Garz]

I have perhaps the most accurate calorie counter on my bike - a power meter. . .

...And I can tell you that I don't even burn 1000 kcal/hour when I'm racing at an average speed of 26mph.

How much do you weigh? Unless you're very heavy and riding up some proper hills then you won't be burning 800-1000 kcal/hour to ride at 14-15mph.

My sentiments on the matter which I highlighted previously. The power meter is a more accurate tool which is why 700 seems reasonable but 1700 is the kind I burn on a 70 mile outing not a 25.

Surlyguy I think you should re-evaluate the calorie counting methods and multiply by 60%.

 

[Surlyguy]

Um I think you need to take the figures from your heart rate monitor with a massive pinch of salt.

I have perhaps the most accurate calorie counter on my bike - a power meter. The energy I expend is actually calculated and making only one assumption (the efficiency of the human body) I can determine calories.

And I can tell you that I don't even burn 1000 kcal/hour when I'm racing at an average speed of 26mph.

How much do you weigh? Unless you're very heavy and riding up some proper hills then you won't be burning 800-1000 kcal/hour to ride at 14-15mph.

Sorry to shatter your illusions.

Point taken thank you. I don't worry too much about calories anyway, I bought a HRM to assist my training as I'm looking to increase my endurance (Not worried about speed) I'm using a training manual which came from a well known magazine and i'm certainly feeling the difference after a few weeks! I intend to do touring with a few friends soon which is the reason I took up cycling in the first place. Oh and i've lost over a stone in the last 6 months too.

 

[Garz]

Point taken thank you. I don't worry too much about calories anyway, I bought a HRM to assist my training as I'm looking to increase my endurance (Not worried about speed) I'm using a training manual which came from a well known magazine and i'm certainly feeling the difference after a few weeks! I intend to do touring with a few friends soon which is the reason I took up cycling in the first place. Oh and i've lost over a stone in the last 6 months too.

Well that's great news pal, as long as your enjoying it, keep at it!