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2009-08-03 3:37 PM

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Subject: Calories Burnt Biking

I'm currently in the peak of my training plan, getting ready for my first oly.  I'm also a 187 pound, 5'10 32 year old male that previously weighed 380ish and has about 16% bf according to my tanita scale.  

Three weeks ago I increased my calories from about 2200 a day to somewhere around 3000 because I was feeling very run down as my training intensified. I use livestrong and wanted to try to net at least 1500 a day after exercise, which is still a 900 calorie deficit from maintenance for me supposedly. So, the good news is I feel better, but the problem is that I'm now gaining weight.  I would assume I'm eating too much now? 

So, I am wondering if my garmin 305 is overestimating calories burnt, especially on the bike.  The numbers seem kinda rediculous.  Today I did my short ride.  I did  22 miles @ 18.08 mph.  According to my 305, I burnt 1463 calories.  That seems rediculously high. 

The last time I looked at a run I burnt 638 for 42 minutes of 9:36/mi running.  It just seems out of proportion, and who knows maybe the garmin is getting the running wrong too.

So, is there any way to more accurately measure calories burnt during biking?  Anyone have any advice on figuring out how to adjust your diet to your training? 

Thanks!



2009-08-03 4:23 PM
in reply to: #2324951

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking
Garmin grossly overestimates biking calories burned. It seems closer on the run, but I use 100-125 cals / mile for that...
Your mileage varies, but from what i've read the most accurate way of determining calories burned on bike is to use a power meter, but those are $$$.
I generally use one of the following:
25-30 calories / mile for low effort rides & commuting
500 cals per hour for moderate effort rides
600 cals per hour for intense effort rides
Try starting at 500 cals per hour and see where that takes you with your weight loss.
You can also search through the forums for 'calories burned biking' and find some other formulas that people use.

Oh yah, and a lot of people do base + 1/2 calories burned, so for you 1500 + 1/2 cals burned. On heavy weeks sometimes this doesn't cut it for me hunger-wise, so i'll up it to 3/4 of cals burned.


Edited by kirih 2009-08-03 4:28 PM
2009-08-03 4:24 PM
in reply to: #2324951

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking

The Garmin is completely wrong when it comes to biking.

I have been wearing a Bodybugg (which measures calories burned) and have found out that biking calories is pretty much overestimated by everything especially by the Garmin.

Running calories fit 99% according to my Bodybug though.

I am the same weight as you and my bike burn is about 400 calories an hour when going ~ 15mph up to 500 calories an hour for 18-19mph.

Dividing my Garmin numbers for biking by 3 has been fitting pretty goodly and I have been constantly loosing weight.

Eating 3000 calories seems a lot. I did not even eat that during my peak weeks of HIM Training which were 14-16 hours of training. I was at about 2400-2500 avg for those weeks and lost 2lbs each week.

 



Edited by Joblin 2009-08-03 4:26 PM
2009-08-03 4:47 PM
in reply to: #2325075

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking
3000 a day for someone training that much is not a ton a cal.

when my training is at 15 hours a week, i am sitting on 3000ish a day and not changing weight, and i am around 150-155.

2009-08-03 5:01 PM
in reply to: #2325133

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking

newbz - 2009-08-03 9:47 PM 3000 a day for someone training that much is not a ton a cal. when my training is at 15 hours a week, i am sitting on 3000ish a day and not changing weight, and i am around 150-155.

But according to his logs he is not training 15 hours a week! For July it is like 6-8 hours a week....



Edited by Joblin 2009-08-03 5:02 PM
2009-08-04 1:25 AM
in reply to: #2324951

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking
I have estimated, from a bit of trial and error and some heart rate monitor stats that I burn around 15 calories per mnute when riding at around 18mph average. That would give around 900 cals per hour for a solid hit out. Try plugging in some numbers based on that. BTW I am 5'10" (ish) at 278lbs.


2009-08-04 7:20 AM
in reply to: #2324951

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Subject: RE: Calories Burnt Biking
I have found that almost every calorie spent calculator grossly overestimates the number of calories burnt while riding a bike.
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