Calories used commuting?
Discussion
Does anyone know how to approximate calories used when commuting?
I can find various calculators on the web of varying complexity. Some factor in estimated drag factors, surface areas, elevation changes and all sorts of things, but they invariably seem to assume cycling at a constant speed.
Needless to say, when I'm commuting, I'm not travelling at a constant speed. I'm averaging around 12.5mph for 15 miles, but can't figure out a way to factor in all the traffic lights, barriers at the end of cycle paths and so on. The route is basically flat (there's a grand total of 43m climbing and 62m descending on my way in), but I'll spend on average 5-6 minutes actually stationary, and the rest of the journey varies from that to around 20-22mph.
I suppose I'm looking for a cycling equivalent to urban vs extra-urban car consumption figures, but as yet I've failed to find anything.
I can find various calculators on the web of varying complexity. Some factor in estimated drag factors, surface areas, elevation changes and all sorts of things, but they invariably seem to assume cycling at a constant speed.
Needless to say, when I'm commuting, I'm not travelling at a constant speed. I'm averaging around 12.5mph for 15 miles, but can't figure out a way to factor in all the traffic lights, barriers at the end of cycle paths and so on. The route is basically flat (there's a grand total of 43m climbing and 62m descending on my way in), but I'll spend on average 5-6 minutes actually stationary, and the rest of the journey varies from that to around 20-22mph.
I suppose I'm looking for a cycling equivalent to urban vs extra-urban car consumption figures, but as yet I've failed to find anything.
About 500 calories an hour, says google. If you wanted to geek out on it, video your route, mark the gradients out on a map, and work out how to map that into an exercise bike. It should be able to tell you calories burnt.
Either way, the answer is enough if you are losing weight, or you need to eat fewer pies if you aren't.
Either way, the answer is enough if you are losing weight, or you need to eat fewer pies if you aren't.
It's not so much the gradients as the stop/start nature of it.
Endomondo on my Blackberry generally reckons I'm burning around 800 calories each way. This seems rather on the high side, but I don't know if it takes the stopping and starting into account in its calculations.
My motivation is definitely more geek than finely balanced intake motivated!
Endomondo on my Blackberry generally reckons I'm burning around 800 calories each way. This seems rather on the high side, but I don't know if it takes the stopping and starting into account in its calculations.
My motivation is definitely more geek than finely balanced intake motivated!
davepoth said:
About 500 calories an hour, says google. If you wanted to geek out on it, video your route, mark the gradients out on a map, and work out how to map that into an exercise bike. It should be able to tell you calories burnt.
Either way, the answer is enough if you are losing weight, or you need to eat fewer pies if you aren't.
500/HR is what I burnt on my commute (from HR monitor) - I was going a damn sight quicker though!Either way, the answer is enough if you are losing weight, or you need to eat fewer pies if you aren't.
My polar HR monitor reckons about 800/hr on my 17 mile 50-55 min commute. HR will ave 165-170.
An elliptical trainer at the gym reckons about 1000/hr when 'going for it' at a similar HR.
The rowing machine will probably sit there & laugh at me and say I'm doing 300/hr or somesuch as I'm dying.
It is tough to know, different methods give different numbers, in itself this is rather unscientific, as some must be very wrong!
I estimate about 700cals each way on my ride - certainly if I don't eat like a horse I run out of energy. I easily eat more than an extra 500 cals on a cycle day, and still lose weight/get fatigued if I cycle multiple days in a row.
An elliptical trainer at the gym reckons about 1000/hr when 'going for it' at a similar HR.
The rowing machine will probably sit there & laugh at me and say I'm doing 300/hr or somesuch as I'm dying.
It is tough to know, different methods give different numbers, in itself this is rather unscientific, as some must be very wrong!
I estimate about 700cals each way on my ride - certainly if I don't eat like a horse I run out of energy. I easily eat more than an extra 500 cals on a cycle day, and still lose weight/get fatigued if I cycle multiple days in a row.
stuthemong said:
My polar HR monitor reckons about 800/hr on my 17 mile 50-55 min commute. HR will ave 165-170.
An elliptical trainer at the gym reckons about 1000/hr when 'going for it' at a similar HR.
The rowing machine will probably sit there & laugh at me and say I'm doing 300/hr or somesuch as I'm dying.
It is tough to know, different methods give different numbers, in itself this is rather unscientific, as some must be very wrong!
I estimate about 700cals each way on my ride - certainly if I don't eat like a horse I run out of energy. I easily eat more than an extra 500 cals on a cycle day, and still lose weight/get fatigued if I cycle multiple days in a row.
Same result for me on the gym cross-trainer, about 1,000 calories/hour with HR at average 150/160ish. Did two hours today on the gym exercise bike with the same (1,000/hr) at average hr of 150, mix of intervals and steady pedalling. I reckon commuting especially through London or similar congested area would be a fair bit less than this.An elliptical trainer at the gym reckons about 1000/hr when 'going for it' at a similar HR.
The rowing machine will probably sit there & laugh at me and say I'm doing 300/hr or somesuch as I'm dying.
It is tough to know, different methods give different numbers, in itself this is rather unscientific, as some must be very wrong!
I estimate about 700cals each way on my ride - certainly if I don't eat like a horse I run out of energy. I easily eat more than an extra 500 cals on a cycle day, and still lose weight/get fatigued if I cycle multiple days in a row.
Trying to keep at 1,000 calories/hour on the rower would see me blow up in about 5 mins though!
Interesting thread. Since we're (I suspect) mostly trying to lose weight, how much extra do ya need to eat to keep going whilst still leaning down.
According to the cross trainer, I can burn 1000+ cals in an hour, on the static bike 1200+, but my bike computer says I burn about 800/hour (all similar HR) - unless it's an endurance ride in which case I drop to about 500/hour - 2500cals in 5 hours.
What is the "right" diet to follow to keep going - I love Jam Roly Poly, rhubarb crumble and cheesecake, but I guess that's not the right kind of power food.
According to the cross trainer, I can burn 1000+ cals in an hour, on the static bike 1200+, but my bike computer says I burn about 800/hour (all similar HR) - unless it's an endurance ride in which case I drop to about 500/hour - 2500cals in 5 hours.
What is the "right" diet to follow to keep going - I love Jam Roly Poly, rhubarb crumble and cheesecake, but I guess that's not the right kind of power food.
swerni said:
Chris treat yourself to a garmin monitor. How much you burn will be dependent on how hard you are pushing.
You will be burnin a lot more than many by virtue of the fact you are propelling more weight than most.
The more you lose the less you will burn for the same effort.
I'm toying with the idea of getting a Bluetooth heart rate monitor to add to my Blackberry. Endomondo on that reckons at the moment that I'm burning around 800 calories each way, but I reckon this is probably over-optimistic.You will be burnin a lot more than many by virtue of the fact you are propelling more weight than most.
The more you lose the less you will burn for the same effort.
Presumably there must be apps (even if Endomondo doesn't do it alone) that can take the combination of heart rate and GPS data to give me a reasonably accurate figure without having to spend the sort of money that a dedicated monitor will cost?
Or are the Garmin monitors cheaper than I'm expecting?
ETA - If I were to go that route, I'm inclined to think I'd want a chest strap and remote monitor rather than this sort of giant!!
Edited by Kermit power on Tuesday 31st May 22:05
Yeh, possibly. I find it interesting for comparative purposes but am under no illusion any of it is accurate.
I weigh 78kg. Always use a HR monitor too - great training tool. If I'm reasonably rested I can avg my HR at about 183 for 3 hours or so, peaking over 200 up big hills.
On my normal 30 mile ride I can average 21.4, and on saturday doing 90 I averaged 18.1, solo of course. It was bloody windy too!
Certainly not claiming any of that is particularly good/fast - but it works for me. Just wish I was faster!
I weigh 78kg. Always use a HR monitor too - great training tool. If I'm reasonably rested I can avg my HR at about 183 for 3 hours or so, peaking over 200 up big hills.
On my normal 30 mile ride I can average 21.4, and on saturday doing 90 I averaged 18.1, solo of course. It was bloody windy too!
Certainly not claiming any of that is particularly good/fast - but it works for me. Just wish I was faster!
swerni said:
I would say both the cross trainer and satic bike were very very optimistic.
Would also say 500 per hour is very low.
How much do you weigh?
Do you use a heart rate monitor?
I will burn around 800 calories an hour on a long ride (50 to 90 miles)
Chris treat yourself to a garmin monitor. How much you burn will be dependent on how hard you are pushing.
You will be burnin a lot more than many by virtue of the fact you are propelling more weight than most.
The more you lose the less you will burn for the same effort.
Would also say 500 per hour is very low.
How much do you weigh?
Do you use a heart rate monitor?
I will burn around 800 calories an hour on a long ride (50 to 90 miles)
Chris treat yourself to a garmin monitor. How much you burn will be dependent on how hard you are pushing.
You will be burnin a lot more than many by virtue of the fact you are propelling more weight than most.
The more you lose the less you will burn for the same effort.
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