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Caloric Expenditure When Cycling

E. W. [Wim] Kok, Peace Region Brevet Co-ordinator

 

In his submission on pace-line riding, Tom Hocking wrote that a substantial amount of energy can be saved when drafting. It may be of interest to look at the following info regarding energy requirements. Richard Rafoth in his 1993 book "Bicycling Fuel: Nutrition for Bicycle Riders [Publisher: San Francisco Bicycle Books. p. 31] included an interesting table about the exponential increase in caloric requirements as speed increases. It is not difficult then to calculate how much can be saved by using a pace-line.

Riding Speed  Calories Expended
[Mph]   [Kph]   [Cal/Mile]  [Cal/Km]   [Cal/Hr]   [Cal/Minute] 
5   8.0   7.4   4.6   87   1.5  
6   9.6   8.3   5.2   100   1.7 
7   11.2   9.3   5.8   114   1.9 
8   12.8   10.5   6.6   134   2.2 
9   14.4   11.9   7.4   157   2.6  
10   16.0   13.4   8.4   184   3.1 
11   17.6   15.1   9.4   216   3.6 
12   19.2   16.9   10.6   253   4.2 
13   20.8   18.9   11.8   296   4.9 
14   22.4   21.1   13.2   345   5.7 
15   24.0   23.4   14.6   401   6.7 
16   25.6   25.8   16.2   463   7.7 
17   27.2   28.5   17.8   534   8.9 
18   28.8   31.3   19.5   613   10.2  
19   30.4   34.2   21.4   700   11.7 
20   32.0   37.3   23.3   797   13.3 
21   33.6   40.6   25.4   903   15.0 
22   35.2   44.0   27.5   1019   17.0 
23   36.7   47.6   29.8   1146   19.1 
24   38.4   51.4   32.1   1283   21.4 
25   40.0   55.3   34.6   1433   23.9 
26   41.6   59.4   37.1   1594   26.6 
27   43.2   63.6   39.8   1767   29.5 
28   44.8   68.0   42.5   1954   32.6 
29   46.4   72.5   45.3   2154   35.9 
30 48.0   77.5   48.2   2365   39.4 

Note: Rafoth bases this table on the following assumptions: a 75 kg rider with a 10 kg bicycle, a base metabolism of 50 cal/hr and a 25% efficiency for the human "machine" For estimation purposes these values are sufficiently accurate for all cyclists.

Source: R. Rafoth 1993. Bicycling Fuel: Nutrition for Bicycle Riders. San Francisco: Bicycle Books. p. 31

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