Does 7 miles on a bike = 7 miles of walking?

[KellyMarie65]

In step terms or the amount of exercise, is it equal? For example, I just did 7.2 miles on our recumbent bike at varying resistances. Would this be equal to me walking 7 miles of say a Leslie tape?

[alisoncooks]

Originally Posted by KellyMarie65

In step terms or the amount of exercise, is it equal? For example, I just did 7.2 miles on our recumbent bike at varying resistances. Would this be equal to me walking 7 miles of say a Leslie tape?

Well, biking for 40 min. might be roughly the same as walking 40 minutes (give or take).

But riding 7 miles is definitely different (in calorie expenditure, etc) than walking 7 miles! One revolution of a wheel will, obviously, take one further than 1 step. The two are not equal.

ETA: I am not able to back this up with anything scientific.... but I can tell you I used to bike 11 miles, easily, in the a.m. on my recumbent. There's no way in heck I could easily walk 11 miles!!!

[JezthePuff2]

Originally Posted by alisoncooks

Well, biking for 40 min. might be roughly the same as walking 40 minutes (give or take).

But riding 7 miles is definitely different (in calorie expenditure, etc) than walking 7 miles! One revolution of a wheel will, obviously, take one further than 1 step. The two are not equal.

ETA: I am not able to back this up with anything scientific.... but I can tell you I used to bike 11 miles, easily, in the a.m. on my recumbent. There's no way in heck I could easily walk 11 miles!!!

This.

An average bike ride for DH and me is usually 20 miles or so. No way I could walk that! But I would guess that the energy expenditure by hours would be similar. Totally a guess.

[suegy3]

Originally Posted by JezthePuff2

This.

An average bike ride for DH and me is usually 20 miles or so. No way I could walk that! But I would guess that the energy expenditure by hours would be similar. Totally a guess.

I agree. I would say that walking is harder. But if you're riding your bike 7 miles, that's still very good exercise.

[KellyMarie65]

Originally Posted by JezthePuff2

This.

An average bike ride for DH and me is usually 20 miles or so. No way I could walk that! But I would guess that the energy expenditure by hours would be similar. Totally a guess.

This is what I am wondering as the resistance levels go up and down throughout the half hour. So, I am exerting more at times and less at times. Didn't know if walking was considered "harder' or more? if that makes sense.

[andtckrtoo]

I can a bike make 20 minutes of riding equal to 20 minutes of running, but while the effort during given time frames can be equal, the miles are not. I've heard that a marathon is roughly equal to a century ride - or 26.2 miles running - roughly equals 100 miles riding in exertion.

[shirleyj62]

According to this article

Calories Burned per Hour

According to the MayoClinic.com, a 160-lb. person walking at a rate of 2 mph burns 183 calories per hour of exercise. The same person burns 277 calories per hour if she increases the pace to 3 1/2 mph. Bicycling for one hour at an easy pace, or less than 10 mph, burns about 292 calories in one hour. Swift walking and leisurely bike riding have similar caloric requirements. Riding a bicycle faster or riding it uphill increases the calories burned above those used for walking.

There appears to be many variables in the comparison both for walking and cycling.

[Helen]

I have all the MET values that might help - a lot depends on how much effort goes into each. These are all based on the same DURATION, rather than distance. METs per hour, watts per hour.

Walking:
2.0 = <2 mph, very slow
2.5 = 2 mph, slow, firm surface
2.8 = 2.5 mph, downhill
3.0 = 2.5 mph, moderately slowly, firm surface
3.3 = 3 mph, moderate, firm surface
3.5 = for pleasure, OR 15lb load, level ground
3.8 = 3.5 mph, brisk, firm surface
4.0 = 3 mph carrying < 25lb
4.5 = 3.5 mph, carrying < 25lb
5.0 = grass track OR 4 mph, firm surface, OR downstairs with 25-49lb
5.3 = fast, 4.5 mph, firm surface
6.0 = cross country OR uphill 3.5 mph
6.5 = Race OR downstairs or standing with 50-74lb load
7.0 = uphill with up to alb load
7.5 = downstairs or standing with 75-99lb load
7.8 = uphill with 10-20lb load
8.0 = uphill with 21-42lb load OR 5 mph, firm surface OR downstairs with 100lb+ load
9.0 = uphill with 42lb+ load

Bicycling:
4.0 = <10 mph MET, leisure, to work or for pleasure
6.0 = 10-11.9 mph, leisure, slow, light effort
8.0 = 12-13.9 mph, leisure, moderate effort
8.0 = general
8.5 = BMX or mountain
10.0 = 14-15.9 mph, racing or leisure, fast, vigorous effort
12.0 = 16-19 mph, racing, not drafting
16.0 = >20 mph, racing, not drafting, or > 19 mph drafting, very fast, racing general

Stationary Bicycling:
3.0 = 50 watts, very light effort
5.5 = 100 watts, light effort
7.0 = 150 watts, moderate effort
7.0 = general
12.5 = 200 watts, vigorous effort

Hope that helps.

[KellyMarie65]

Wow, thanks guys. But, what is MET? or watts?

[Jacqi A]

Riding the bike the same distance through molasses would be harder than walking, through air, much easier .