How do I calculate towing my kids on my bike?

How do I calculate a bike ride while towing my kids in a 'rider' that weighs like 30lbs with two kids inside making it around 90lbs total? I use the Running (jogging), training, pushing a wheelchair choice. I have no idea how to start with this kind of calculation. Any help is very much appreciated!!! Thank you in advance!

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unknown

One thing you can do manually is to use a different calculator to add the extra weight to your body weight and then enter in that number rather than letting MFP calculate for you. You'll get into the ball park with it.

unknown

Thank you! I will give that a try. I appreciate the suggestion.

unknown

Maybe add 10 or 20%? Pulling kids isn't always more difficult - once you are at speed, on the flats it isn't like the weight is 90 pounds more difficult. I tend to be conservative about exercise calories burned myself.

On the hills however... been there, done that. We became a one car family for many years and tried to never drive the one we had; bought a tandem when the oldest outgrew the trailer and Burley Piccolo and then I pulled either the trailer and then later the burley Piccolo (like a "trail a bike"). Was fun for the kids, but all uphill from their school to home!

unknown

Thank you for the info. It's not all flat...and I'm out of shape...so I'm panting pretty hard the first 15 minutes. LOL.

unknown

Keep in mind, it's never as much effort as it seems. It's just a little tiny bit more than you biking alone. Biking is extremely efficient, so it doesn't burn much at all.

unknown

I'd just log the biking, and extra burn is a bonus.

unknown

Dang it, y'all! ha ha. I thought it was going to be burning much more. I mean, I'm struggling out there! I come back in totally red faced, sweating with my thighs on FIRE!

unknown

I would use MapMyRide or Strava for cycling and use the total weight in the profile on there. You can link it to automatically transfer the workout to MFP. Just make sure you don't leave it at the higher weight when you don't have the trailer or you will be inaccurate.

unknown

PopeyeCT wrote: »

I would use MapMyRide or Strava for cycling and use the total weight in the profile on there. You can link it to automatically transfer the workout to MFP. Just make sure you don't leave it at the higher weight when you don't have the trailer or you will be inaccurate.

That's a great idea!!!! Thank you so much!