I stumbled across Cycling Performance Tips while researching the accuracy of my Garmin Forerunner 305′s estimates of calories burned. Reading through Exercise Physiology – Energy Requirements of Bicycling was very enlightening for me. I understood many of the mechanics of cycling already, but this article provided much more detail about how everything works together and I had no idea about things like Thermic Effect and the advantages of front shocks. In essence, to determine the energy requirements what really matters is:
- the weight of the cyclist and equipment
- the distance
- the terrain (flat versus hilly)
- the speed of the ride
- headwinds or tailwinds
Ultimately I was able to make a better assessment of my caloric needs while training. I now have the conclusion that the Garmin gives a fair but inflated estimate and that things such as HR really don’t play much in how many calories are burned during an activity.
