An energy study of cycling

The MS Word document available for download at the end of this topic studies the energy aspects of cycling.
The aim of the exercise is to determine the cyclist’s instantaneous power, along with an approximation of the work produced.

The study

Setting up the equations of motion of the bike, at force equilibrium and while naturally slowing down
Assessing the friction torque
Solving numerically the differential equation of natural slowing down
The famous empirical formula giving the friction coefficient from the slowing-down parameters
Assessing the cyclist’s power and energy expenditure
The consequences for the cyclist’s diet

Downloads

Study

Energy considerations in cycling, Fabien HADDADI, 2005 (in French).
Spreadsheet for Office 2010+

Energy considerations in cycling, Fabien HADDADI, 2005.
Excel 97-2003 version of the spreadsheet above

Energy considerations in cycling, Fabien HADDADI, 2005.

Sample table

The table below was produced with the spreadsheet available for download above; customise it, print it, laminate it, and take it training with you!

dt	P (W)	work (kcal.h^-1)	g_gluc.h^-1
35	172	148	37
34	177	152	38
33	183	157	39
32	188	162	40
31	194	167	42
30	201	173	43
29	208	179	45
28	215	185	46
27	223	192	48
26	232	199	50
25	241	207	52
24	251	216	54
23	262	225	56
22	274	236	59
21	287	247	62
20	301	259	65
19	317	273	68
18	335	288	72
17	355	305	76
16	377	324	81
15	402	345	86

(1045 views)

created Sunday 04 September 2011

revised Wednesday 11 November 2026 by Fabien Haddadi

dt	P (W)	work (kcal.h^-1)	g_gluc.h^-1
35	172	148	37
34	177	152	38
33	183	157	39
32	188	162	40
31	194	167	42
30	201	173	43
29	208	179	45
28	215	185	46
27	223	192	48
26	232	199	50
25	241	207	52
24	251	216	54
23	262	225	56
22	274	236	59
21	287	247	62
20	301	259	65
19	317	273	68
18	335	288	72
17	355	305	76
16	377	324	81
15	402	345	86

dt	P (W)	work (kcal.h^-1)	g_gluc.h^-1
35	172	148	37
34	177	152	38
33	183	157	39
32	188	162	40
31	194	167	42
30	201	173	43
29	208	179	45
28	215	185	46
27	223	192	48
26	232	199	50
25	241	207	52
24	251	216	54
23	262	225	56
22	274	236	59
21	287	247	62
20	301	259	65
19	317	273	68
18	335	288	72
17	355	305	76
16	377	324	81
15	402	345	86

dt	P (W)	work (kcal.h^-1)	g_gluc.h^-1
35	172	148	37
34	177	152	38
33	183	157	39
32	188	162	40
31	194	167	42
30	201	173	43
29	208	179	45
28	215	185	46
27	223	192	48
26	232	199	50
25	241	207	52
24	251	216	54
23	262	225	56
22	274	236	59
21	287	247	62
20	301	259	65
19	317	273	68
18	335	288	72
17	355	305	76
16	377	324	81
15	402	345	86