calories spent cycling

Question
QUESTION: Hey jerry, how are you doing?

Tell me , if i ride about 7 miles per hour up hill, whose slope is such that down hill with NO effort i come with speed of 25 miles per hr.

So is the effort i apply going uphill equivalent to riding on plains at 25+7 = 32 miles per hr ??
Though looks logical am i missing something here.

according to some website at my weight i will spend 1000 calories per hr for speed >20 mph.

so if i ride for 20 mins uphill, will i be loosing 1000/3 = appx 330 cal.

are my calculations right, or am i missing some important fact?

specially will moving up at 7 mph be equivalent to 32 mph on plains.

sidd

ANSWER: Hi Sidd,

The thing I think you have missed is how long are you riding up the hill at 7MPH. how long is the hill. Do you turn around and come back down the same hill? Or do you go down the other side of the same hill?

The calculations are probably skewed somewhat but are probably somewhere in ball park range if you get my drift.

You probably won't be burning exactly 333 calories but you will probably be burning in the neighborhood of 300 Calories.

As far as will it be equivalent to ride 7 Mph uphill or 32 on the plains, yes and no. You see when you are riding uphill you are pushing against gravity as resistance, when you are on the flats the wind etc is resistance but gravity pull is not near as much. So in my opinion you will burn more calories going up the hill then riding the flats.

You realize that the more resistance your ride against the more muscles you will build and these muscles will also burn calories long after the actual ride.


Hope this helps

Have a great day.

Jerry Goodwin
www.bmgfitness.com
www.healthandfitnessebookclub.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I rode about 20 mins uphill on smooth road, and came back the same road.

yes you are right air resistance i have not calculated while coming down, it will be far less while going up. so in actual it will be a bit more than 32 mph of equivalent speed on plains.

why i was asking this question was to have a rough estimate as how many cal i burn while going up (which is the only part of ride, as no effort is consumed while coming down).

since hills can vary in inclination, no one will give a rough estimate, only speed on plains is taken.
so i was just calculating to measure things.

thanks anyways.. so i am around the right answer of 300 cal per 20 mins for the hill i ride.

bythe way, my aim is to reduce weight...

i am on follwing plan.

20-40 mins ride uphill about 300-600 cal burn.
i am 22, 5 feet 4 inches weigh 145 pounds and bmr is roughly 1600.
and diet - a balanced one, eating eggs for a little extra protein. = 1100-1200 cal

so hows it.. i miss anything..
is diet fine or 1100-1200 will put me in starving mode.
they do put a line on 1200 cal , but i am 5 feet 4, and i am sure it will be a little less for me.

how can i make sure to not loose muscles.

bytheway i am at 145 pounds , and wish to loose about 17 pounds in next 2-3 months.

sidd  

Answer
Hi Sidd,

You are correct that you should burn about 300 Calories per 20 minutes.

Since you will also be building some muscle which will burn more calories, because the muscle will need calories to sustain itself.

You should also be watching your nutrition plan. You will lose weight faster and get healthier if you follow a plan that contains both an exercise and a nutrition element.

Here is one of the very best available. http://www.easiestdietintheworld.com/?hop=trainerjer

Hope this helps

Have a great day

Jerry Goodwin
www.bmgfitness.com
www.healthandfitnessebookclub.com