Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2008-09-07 5:46 PM

User image

Extreme Veteran
580
500252525
Kansas City, MO
Subject: Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations

Anyone figure out how to get these to work - as in, accurately?  Mine seems to be posting about twice the number of calories it should for any given workout.  Based on my Polar heartrate monitor, as well as the various treadmill, ellipticals, and stationary bikes I've worked out on, I'll typically burn from 700 - 1000 calories an hour depending on the intensity of the workout.  The 405 today, for example, says I burned 3,213 calories on a 2 hour, 4 minute ride.

I've gone into the user profile section in the Garmin training software and set it to my weight (195), age (yeah, old, so what?), and resting heart rate (58), but it doesn't seem to help.  Anyone figure this out who can give me a tip? 

Note:  on closer examination of my logs, it appears to only be wildly off on the bike.  My run of about an hour was 843 calories, which seems about right.  I am being careful to set the sport mode to "Biking" when I ride and "Running" when I run, so I don't think that's the issue.



Edited by ColdRingo6 2008-09-07 5:58 PM

2008-09-12 3:05 AM
in reply to: #1656702

Member
5

Subject: RE: Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations

Garmin's calorie calculations are notoriously wonky, but I've noticed huge improvements in the believability of my numbers after getting the GSC10 speed and cadence sensor.

 It makes sense, if you think about it. Your wristwatch can never tell whether you're coasting or pedaling, so it seems to always assume that you're pedaling. The cadence sensor gives it that data, so it doesn't give you too much credit for coasting downhill at 25mph.

2008-09-12 9:37 AM
in reply to: #1656702

User image

Expert
789
500100100252525
Lake Forest, Illinois
Subject: RE: Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations

I'm in the same boat you are.  Mine is posting numbers about 1/3 higher then my polar.  I find it pretty annoying since the polar has shown itself to be incredibly accurate over the last four years while costing alot less.

Then again I guess for the Garmin it all went into the GPS and HRM with the software being a bit of an afterthought when it comes to caloric burn etc.

2008-09-12 9:47 AM
in reply to: #1669662

User image

Extreme Veteran
580
500252525
Kansas City, MO
Subject: RE: Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations
xoxojustin - 2008-09-12 3:05 AM

Garmin's calorie calculations are notoriously wonky, but I've noticed huge improvements in the believability of my numbers after getting the GSC10 speed and cadence sensor.

 It makes sense, if you think about it. Your wristwatch can never tell whether you're coasting or pedaling, so it seems to always assume that you're pedaling. The cadence sensor gives it that data, so it doesn't give you too much credit for coasting downhill at 25mph.

Yep, I have the speed and cadence sensor too, just high on the bike and pretty good on the run.  I'm not seeing the cadence sensor making it any better, but I don't have a baseline without one to compare it to.

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Forerunner 405 Calorie Calculations Rss Feed