1 hour indoor training is confusing me

[masking_agent]

RE: 1 hour Carmichael Training (CTS) DVD vs 1 hour on my own indoor training.

I need all you experienced indoor riders' assistance. It appears I burn more calories on my own riding or 1 hour vs 1 hour of CTS DVD ?

According to my Garmin, I burn more calories (100+) on a regular 1 hour session of steady paced riding at 90-95 rpm with my heart rate staying around 60-75% max. And I feel fine afterwards. I mean i fell that I've ridden. But I'm not wiped whatsover. Its like doing a recovery ride or like doing what Carmichael calls an EM (Endurance Mileage) ride.

But when I do one of his videos, a 1 hour CTS DVD , my heart rate is up and down and like a roller coaster, and I'm completely spent and wiped after that hour, sweating more and felt I worked out a lot harder. But when i check my Garmin, I burn LESS CALORIES ?? About 100 less ?

Is there too much recovery time in CTS videos ?
So which workout is benefitting me ?

Can some one help me explain which is more beneficial for me ?
I don't understand the huge difference in calorie burning.

 

[Tapeworm]

Unfortunately the calorie estimates on Garmins/Polar/whatever are just that, estimates. Comparing them to slighty more quantifiable measure of energy expenditure and they can be way, way off. I say go for the one that makes you feel like death warmed up

 

[Boeing]

Comical actually sells that stuff. I'll me damned

 

[brianf7]

Forget the callories on Garmin Polar etc. it dont work everyone is different so just try to get the power or hr rates that you want to get out of it and enjoy if that is possible..

30 mins on wind trainer is enough for me I hate the thing but I can ride in day time so no need for more.
Sounds like its extra hard workout try something a bit easier to start with.

 

[masking_agent]

thanks to all for the info. I didn't know calories were an estimation, so all of Van summeran's Paris roubaix winning ride where he supposedly burned 9,000 calories is a falsehood as well..

 

[Tapeworm]

Yep. He probably burnt more.

 

[Stingray34]

The Garmin's calorie algorithm tends to underestimate actual expenditure. In my experience, the Polar is closer to the mark. Are you using the same device to measure calories during both workouts? The greater stress of the Carmichael program should result in a much higher calorie expenditure. Your HRM has to be working for it to estimate the calories burnt; are you sure it was giving a HR reading all the time? If not, it wouldn't have been calculating calories during that time.

As for the two different workouts, they have a different focus. The intervals will increase your lactate threshold (the most power you can maintain without blowing up) and strength/speed endurance (recovering from and repeating sub-maximal efforts, like jumping to follow attacks at the end of races) whilst the steady workout is good for keeping your muscles supple and for recovery. Do both kinds to get fitter.

 

[rc63413]

Variability index

Not all calories have equivalent physiological cost. More intense intervals require more rest. If you are training to burn calories, then endurance pace steady rides are great. To ride fast, you need to ride variable paces. When I do CTS workout, or any structured workout, my average pace is always less than a steady state ride (unless I am doing long intervals at FTP). If I want to burn calories, I run. If I want to ride fast, I ride fast.

 

[STODRR]

My experience with Garmin is it way over estimates by about 50%. However I have noticed it getting better in comparison as my average wattage goes up on longer rides.

One example of it being way off: 2 hr ride up hill 900 calories burned according to the Garmin, 25 minutes down 1500 calories burned.

 

[nightfend]

Calories will be very off on the Garmin 500 if you don't use a HR monitor. If you use a HR monitor, then the calories will be much closer to reality. For me, the difference is almost in half.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Comical actually sells that stuff. I'll me damned

A child doper's money spends just like any other advertiser's money. They'd take Tyler Hamilton and Joe Papp's money for coaching adverts too. Sad, but true.