Mileage theory

[Kitsune06]

then perhaps it would be best to keep the heavier bike for training, and if she wants a light bike for zoom during events (livestrong?) then she should go for that, too.

[Veronica]

Go back to the original question

Is the health benefit/caloric burn determined by mileage or by time spent cycling/effort exerted?

Does having a heavier bike that is more work to ride a better workout than a bike that rides smooth as silk?

The health benefit comes from time and effort. If she spends less time and less effort, what's the point of a new bike? (except better fit, which is a big issue.)

I think Pooks has to decide, will a new bike make her get out longer and more often? That's what will aid her in burning calories.


V.

[mimitabby]

Bottom line, if it's more fun, she's going to ride more and harder and have fun
zooming around. The more you ride, the more calories you burn the more muscles you build. if a bike is frustrating and ponderous, you're going to leave it parked.
I get a great delight out of jumping on my Bianchi and making those tires spine!

[fikustree]

Have you tried using a Heart Rate Monitor? That makes all the difference for me. You can even see a guesstimate of calories burned.

The "rule" that I learned from running is that you would burn the same amount of calories going for a half hour run as an hour walk.

With more resistance (heavier bike, more hills, harder gears) you will build muscle and adding muscle increases your calorie burning capacity because muscles need fuel to work.

So in the end you could ride all day somewhere flat or you could go for a tough hilly ride at a fast pace and get a better workout because you will burn calories for a while afterwards.

In the end, it is best to do both long slower rides and shorter tough rides because your body will probably respond best to changing things up.

[pooks]

I probably should get a HRM. It just looks like it would drive me crazy, fastened around me like that.

There's no doubt in my mind that I need a new bike. I'm just weighing all sorts of things, and I've gotten mixed messages on the benefits of an easier ride, that's all. It just seems logical that working harder will burn more calories. I won't intentionally be buying a heavy bike, mind you, just to burn more!

[Pedal Wench]

I probably should get a HRM. It just looks like it would drive me crazy, fastened around me like that.

There's no doubt in my mind that I need a new bike. I'm just weighing all sorts of things, and I've gotten mixed messages on the benefits of an easier ride, that's all. It just seems logical that working harder will burn more calories. I won't intentionally be buying a heavy bike, mind you, just to burn more!

As I said, you'll probably use the same amount of energy. If you maintained a speed, say 12 mph on the heavy bike, you are correct - you'll use less calories on the lighter bike to maintain that speed - it will be easier. But, if you're used to a certain amount of effort, the new bike, at that same effort, will go faster. Given the same output of energy, you'll just go faster on the new bike. So, you can burn the same, if not more calories on the new bike, because you'll go faster!

[SadieKate]

I probably should get a HRM.

You know, lots of people over the eons have managed to get fitter and faster without a HRM. I think I read somewhere that Tom Boonen doesn't use a HRM. To each his own, but somehow I think at this state of your cycling life you just need to find a bike that fits you, makes you happy and you have fun riding.

A friend of mine would have said "buying a Ferrari to squish grapes." Right now, you're squishing grapes. If you decide later that you want to make wine, you'll know whether you need fancy techno-gradgets to do it or if the simple joy of riding and knowlege of your body is enough.

[li10up]

Pooks, this may help. My first bike when returning to bike riding was a mtn bike. I took it out on the road and although a good workout (maybe too tough) I couldn't get far from home and therefore didn't really enjoy the ride that much. I decided to get a road bike. I quickly went from 6 mile rides to 12 miles and then to 20. Within a year I had done my first metric century. I honestly believe the road bike will make riding more enjoyable and therefore you will ride further and longer. You'll get further away from home (or wherever you start) so you will see more interesting things and have more variety in your rides. And we all know that "Variety is the spice of life."

[fikustree]

I didn't mean to imply that you need a HRM- I just found it very eye-opening when I got one. I was either working to hard because I was extremely motivated or not working enough because I am naturally lazy. The make some now that are built into a sports bra!

[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

[Veronica]

Is the health benefit/caloric burn determined by mileage or by time spent cycling/effort exerted?

Does having a heavier bike that is more work to ride a better workout than a bike that rides smooth as silk?

I was answering this question with specific data to back up my answer.

I don't really care whether she buys a new bike or not. I wanted to answer the question she asked not give anecedotal evidence about whether or not a new bike would help her achieve her goals.

V.

[DarcyInOregon]

Pooks, you will make the right decision for yourself. The question you asked about calories burned versus the weight of the bike really isn't that important, but it is a question that everyone who is going through your decision-making process asks. If it was an important criteria in the type of bike being ridden, you would see the majority of cyclists on heavy comfort bikes. You don't. Cyclists on the road are on road bikes, not comfort bikes, and they are all fit and healthy. Just look outside to see what is the norm and you will have your answer.

Darcy