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