Mileage theory

[Veronica]

The equation is simple, more miles ridden equals more calories burned.

Actually that's not true. It's about how much you exert. If you look back at my data I added in the distance for each ride. I burned more calories on the slightly shorter ride because I worked harder.

V.

[SadieKate]

Exactly.

For instance, a fast short ride with a lot of hills can burn more calories than a leisurely and longer flat ride.

Not to mention, as one becomes a better cyclist you come more efficient in your effort. Someone with a smooth good pedal stroke can burn less energy than someone who moves around a lot on their bike. The first person gets better power transfer to the bike and rides a straighter line.

[DarcyInOregon]

Actually that's not true. It's about how much you exert. If you look back at my data I added in the distance for each ride. I burned more calories on the slightly shorter ride because I worked harder.

V.

Veronica, you are looking at specific rides. Pooks is attempting to make a decision as to keep her heavy comfort bike or to purchase a road bike, and the question she asked is what everyone who is thinking of transitioning to a road bike will ask. Over the long term, she will burn more calories on a road bike because she will bike more miles. It is that simple.

After she gets the road bike, she can get into the micro analysis of the declining heart rate as her fitness level increases, riding harder and faster to increase the heart rate, and so on. In the long run, Pooks will burn more calories and more body fat with a road bike because she will ride more miles, and as the decision-making process is going on Pooks needs to be looking at the long-term, not the micro aspects of specific rides.

Darcy

[DarcyInOregon]

Pooks, I resumed my cycling with a heavy hybrid comfort bike. Within 5 months I purchased my road bike. Sure, the comfort bike is fun to ride, and yes, it requires a lot of energy to pedal it. However, the heavier the bike, the more limited you will be on how you can bike, and the more limitations you have the less miles you will ride.

Here is the difference between the comfort bike and the road bike, and it has nothing to do with your question about calories.

With the comfort bike, it was a tool to use to gain fitness.

With the road bike, I finish a ride and I exult in my prowess. I exclaim, 'I AM THE WOMAN!" Since I ride almost every day, I am empowering myself constantly.

Yes, that is the difference, and it is a signifciant difference - all mental. With the road bike, my successes give me self-affirmation which permeate into all other aspects of my life, and it makes me a confident self-assured woman.

Darcy

[SadieKate]

Sorry, Darcy, but that only works if she also increases time (duration) on the bike, assuming the intensity goes down because a road bike is more efficient. I can bike fewer miles on my mountain bike and burn far more calories per hour because it is a more intense exercise. Miles do not guarantee longer duration.

Bottom line, it depends on frequency, duration and intensity. If she gets a bike, any ol' bike, that is more fun than she has now Pooks will probably increase one or more of the above. It's all good.

[Geonz]

And it's not a question that lends itself to a simple "X calories" answer - and different people are more suited to different kinds of riding.

Here's a factor that I"m dredging up from the past, which I remember 'cause it's basically true for me. I don't *like* speed for long distances... I have to pay too much attention to the riding and those fast rides have a different attitude, which I enjoy now and again but not as my main fare.
If I'm doing high mileage I would rather ride *hard* at 15 mph on my hybrid than 18 on my ... light hybrid ...
The neat thing about having both kinds of bikes is that my options are *so* expanded. I can get in good shape riding my big ol' thing and have a good "social" time. If all i had was the fast bike I wouldn't ride as often (this is just me!) - because I'd have to be in the mood for fast.

On the other hand, I have gotten strong and fast. Having the slow bike gives me more optoins for groups to have fun riding with. When I started - for those first five years - it would have been really nice to have a faster bike so that I could have kept up with the medium-groups and had a good time. It might not have taken five years to get strong and fast