"steve" wrote in message
...
Edge 305 & Calories

My new Garmin Edge 305 calculates the calories I have supposedly used
during a ride. Knowing the calories and time I should be able to
estimate my wattage for the ride. However, when I do this I get more
that a Kilowatt. I rode for slightly less than 2 hours and used 1750
calories. If I really could generate over a kilowatt for an hour I'm
in the wrong business. I know about the Kcal vs cal issue but neither
answer makes sense.

I figure there are three possibilities.

1 - The 305 over estimates the calories used.

2 - The number is the calories to run the old bod + what ever I have
to generate for the ride. This still doesn't maker sense to me
because, if I remember right, the base rate for a person is about 200
watts and I don't believe I can generate 800 watts either.

3 - I'm missing something here

BTW does anyone know what algorithm the edge uses to calculate
calories?


Thanks
Steve G

Your device is estimating calories burned. You may be comparing to power
applied to the pedals as measured by a device such as a powertap or SRM.

Your "motor" is not 100% efficient. You are expending calories to work you
brain, digest your food, grow your fingernails, etc. Perhaps 25% of your
caloric expenditure ends up being transferred to the pedals to propel the
bike.

BobT