How many calories do MTBers burn?

[JohnH]

Last year I was a member of a gym, so I found out that 10 minutes on the recumbent stationary cycle burned about 80 calories and 6 or 7 minutes on the step machine burned about 110 calories.

I'm currently trying to lose a bit of weight, so I'm just wondering how many calories you burn when you grind your way up hills and along trails of mud and shit for an hour and a half...

Anybody know if it's possible to work this out??? :?

 

[REKIBorter]

Read somewhere that XC racing burns 1,000 cals per hour. I wouldn't take much notice of the cals used on gym machines myself. Exercise regularly and eat a sensible healthy diet is all you need to do. If you can get to ride with others at the same time it helps lots.

 

[CAS]

Exercise doesn't burn off pounds unfortunately. Diet has to play a part as well!

 

[Steve Kish]

Not so with me, Cas. Riding my bike does burn calories. Unfortunately though, I seem to put out the flames by smothering them in cakes!

 

[fagin]

Not enough judging from my gut

 

[orange71]

I'd heard more like 6-700 cal/hr with hard riding.

 

[CAS]

Some sites have a calorie burn calculator based on your weight and sport = I think coolrunning.com has one. It suggests my calorie burn is about 30 per mile.

My OH burns 45 per mile on the same calculator. Must depend on the type of ride as well I guess.

 

[JohnH]

Some sites have a calorie burn calculator based on your weight and sport...

Well I googled "Calorie burn calculator" and found this...
http://www.internetfitness.com/calculat ... rncalc.htm

I inputted my weight (12st. 2lbs = 170lbs) and the duration of exercise in minutes (90), and according to this site, an hour and a half of mountain biking uses up 1040 calories.

So that's probably a good rough guide! (prizes to Orange71 for the nearest guess! )

 

[llamedos]

Depends how hard you are going !!!

 

[Andy R]

It also depends on altitude gained, of course.