Calorie accuracy?

[pmcdonald]

The RideControl app lists a calorie figure after each tracked ride, under the vague title 'Energy'. Does anyone know how this is measured, and how accurate it is? I've done a few rides lately that have returned figures around the 1,000 kcal range. I'm certainly pushing myself hard on these rides above the measly 25 km/h motor cutoff speed, but my partner is scoffing at the values the app reports! I've never bothered tracking exercise metrics before so I have no yardstick here.

 

[TMH]

I've wondered this too, and the only thing I can figure is that bikes with torque sensors can measure the amount of energy/effort you are providing to the system. I guess that with this information along with the time which various energy levels are exerted, the system can make an estimation of calories burned. Probably other metrics would be required for an accurate measure, but at least an estimation can be provided.

 

[rich c]

My wife is a calorie number person, supposed to be an eating deterrent. If it was, she's been on it long enough to weigh 50 pounds. Just how accurate do you need the calorie count? Think it will make a difference on your riding? Just saying it's a number and nothing more.

 

[Sonoran49]

I am still waiting for my Giant e-bike to arrive, but I ride 3,000 miles a year on my analog gravel bike. I don't think that any app can come close to calculating calories accurately. The app doesn't know your weight, the wind speed /direction, elevation gain, etc. The Giant e-bikes does know the torque so that might help with the calculation, but the other variables cannot insure accuracy.

Just my 2 cents. Ride Safe.

 

[abercrombie]

I use a Wahoo Bolt, Strava along with a heart rate monitor for more accurate readings.

 

[pmcdonald]

I am still waiting for my Giant e-bike to arrive, but I ride 3,000 miles a year on my analog gravel bike. I don't think that any app can come close to calculating calories accurately. The app doesn't know your weight, the wind speed /direction, elevation gain, etc. The Giant e-bikes does know the torque so that might help with the calculation, but the other variables cannot insure accuracy.

Just my 2 cents. Ride Safe.

Totally. The bike and app combo track and have access to rider torque input, distance, altitude gain or loss, age, weight, height, gender. That's a reasonable data set to start from but who knows what happens from there (hopefully the app developers..)

Just how accurate do you need the calorie count? Think it will make a difference on your riding? Just saying it's a number and nothing more.

No difference whatsoever to my riding. My curiosity stemmed from my partner making the comment the other day along the lines of if these estimates are accurate then I need to start carb and calorie loading before my rides!