Bike computers

[Peter Thornton]

when I "rode" an exercise bike I was always interested in the calorie count and most cycle computers have this. Are there any that work with an electric bike? I guess they would have to be integrated with the bikes systems, maybe something that will appear in the future?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Those that do have them work on a very unrealistic algorithm. Excercise bikes are different because they know exactly how much load you're pedalling against.

Rather than buy a cycle computer, download Sportstracker or any of the similar cycling apps for your smartphone. It's free, and as well as calories, you get every other information about your ride logged and analysed.

If you don't have a smartphone, buy a used Samsung Galaxy Ace or similar from Ebay. It'll cost about £10, and you can use it for all your navigation and everything else, as well as making phone calls. You can get a universal handlebar phone mount on Ebay too for a few quid too:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-MTB-Bicycle-Handlebar-Mount-Holder-for-Smart-Phone-GPS-Universal-BG-/122523622352?var=&hash=item1c86fa1bd0:m:mNcM_PQlfo0kqlirL4TUSYA

 

[Gubbins]

To get anywhere near you would need a device that knows your age, weight, HR zones and can measure your HR during excersize. I use a Garmin device with Strava Premium to do this and get graphs that are on actual time spent in each HR zone so are not dependant on which bike, or even activity you are doing..

 

[Peter Thornton]

Yes, but I think you are both missing the point (although perhaps Gubbins answer gets somewhere near as it seems to work independently of the bike) None of these devices can know how much assistance you are getting from the motor. My question was whether any of the electric bike computers do the above sums then subtract the watts the motor has provided?

 

[Gubbins]

Yes, but I think you are both missing the point (although perhaps Gubbins answer gets somewhere near as it seems to work independently of the bike) None of these devices can know how much assistance you are getting from the motor. My question was whether any of the electric bike computers do the above sums then subtract the watts the motor has provided?

You asked about calorie counting... not watts at the pedal.

 

[Peter Thornton]

You asked about calorie counting... not watts at the pedal.

But the calorie counters usually work by logging distance and speed and calculating from there with appropriate adjustments for age, weight etc. I'm sure if I used a Strava App on my motorbike I would get a very impressive readout ref calories burned.

 

[Gubbins]

But the calorie counters usually work by logging distance and speed and calculating from there with appropriate adjustments for age, weight etc. I'm sure if I used a Strava App on my motorbike I would get a very impressive readout ref calories burned.

But on your motorcycle your hr graph would show yoy were at rest. I suppose you could add a power meter to the bike which measures effort at the pedal.
In my case on a std bike over the same distance it shows a massive increase in hr stats and more calories burned. I look at it as an activity in time rather than in miles with calories burned over time based on the work my body is measured to be doing irrespective of how fast or how far I have travelled. If I use turbo mode my ave hr and calorie count drops accordingly as it's measured not estimated.

 

[Peter Thornton]

Basically, it looks as if there are two ways of doing this. One looks at the work done - that's how my exercise bike did it, and the other measures the heart rate and works it out from there. A simple bike computer with no HR monitor works on "work done" and I was wondering if any system subtracts the motors contribution. It appears that they don't.
I am aware of a computer that adjusts the assistance levels according to heart rate (Kalkhoff?) and that adds a further complication.
Maybe I just need to enjoy riding my bike and watch the scales each morning.......?

 

[Gubbins]

Basically, it looks as if there are two ways of doing this. One looks at the work done - that's how my exercise bike did it, and the other measures the heart rate and works it out from there. A simple bike computer with no HR monitor works on "work done" and I was wondering if any system subtracts the motors contribution. It appears that they don't.
I am aware of a computer that adjusts the assistance levels according to heart rate (Kalkhoff?) and that adds a further complication.
Maybe I just need to enjoy riding my bike and watch the scales each morning.......?

I think that's the best idea... life's too short for worrying about the minor details.
Strangely enough .. of all the stats I get from Strava premium, the calorie count is one I never look at!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I don't know whether you've changed the question. I understood that you wanted to fit something to your bike. There are electric bikes that do calculate the calories that you burned and show it on the LCD, though I'd be surprised if the algorithms are accurate.

https://gocycle.com/app/

 

[Gubbins]

My legs count calories... it's not very accurate but they know when it's a big number..

 

[VictoryV]

My legs count calories... it's not very accurate but they know when it's a big number..

If you provide a 100 watt input yourself, then you are burning 90 Kcals per hour, no matter what else the bike motor is providing. 100 watts is a reasonable effort to provide without serious straining