| During the cold winter months when snow and ice are | | | | energy expenditure by up to one-third.The number of |
| on the ground, it's too dangerous to ride a bike, so | | | | miles ridden divided by the conversion factor for the |
| many cyclists run instead. The standard comparison is | | | | speed of riding equals the number of miles running to |
| that one mile of running equals four miles of cycling, but | | | | use the same amount of energy. Here's the |
| that's lousy science. Although running requires the | | | | conversion table:MPH:Calories per mile:Conversion |
| same amount of energy per mile at any speed (110 | | | | factor |
| calories per mile), riding is affected by wind resistance | | | | 10: 26: 4.2 |
| so the faster you ride, the more energy you use. So | | | | 15: 31: 3.5 |
| you have to compare running and cycling at different | | | | 20: 38: 2.9 |
| cycling speeds.Dr. Edward Coyle of The University of | | | | 25: 47: 2.3 |
| Texas in Austin determined average values of oxygen | | | | 30: 59: 1.9How to use the table: For riding 20 miles at |
| consumption by cyclists to develop a table to estimate | | | | 10 miles per hour, divide 20 miles by the conversion |
| the approximate caloric equivalence between running | | | | factor of 4.2 to get 4.8 miles running. For riding at 20 |
| and cycling. He found that if you ride 20 miles at 15 | | | | miles at 20 miles per hour, divide 20 miles distance by |
| mph, you burn 620 calories (20 miles X 31 calories per | | | | 2.9 conversion factor to get 6.9 miles running. For riding |
| mile = 620 calories). Take the 620 calories and divide | | | | 20 miles at 25 miles per hour, divide 20 miles by 2.3 to |
| them by 110 calories per mile for running and you get | | | | get 8.7 miles running. For riding 20 miles at 30 miles per |
| 5.63 miles to burn the same number of calories. So | | | | hour, divide 20 miles by 1.9 to get 10.5 miles running.Dr. |
| riding a bicycle 20 miles at 15 miles per hour is equal to | | | | Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 |
| running 5.6 miles at any speed.Coyle's derived | | | | years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; |
| conversion figures are for an average-size adult | | | | he is board certified in four specialties, including sports |
| (approximately 155 pounds). A larger cyclist would | | | | medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and |
| divide by a slightly higher number; a smaller cyclist, by a | | | | health reports at weekly newsletter on fitness, health, |
| slightly lower one. Wind and hills are not accounted for | | | | and nutrition. |
| in the table; nor is drafting, which can reduce your | | | | |