How Many Calories Do You Burn When Cycling

The exact number of calories burned during a bike ride can be difficult to gauge. On average, a 180 lb. cyclist riding at a moderate effort level will burn approximately 650 calories per hour. This number is a rough estimate; however, the precise number depends on a number of factors, not all of which are easy to quantify. The table represents rough estimates of how many calories you burn when cycling, running and swimming for an hour at different intensities.

Body Specifics

The amount of calories burned during any activity will depend on a number of individual factors. Men, for instance, will generally burn more calories than women because they tend to have more muscle tissue. The more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn doing any activity, which is why you tend to burn more calories when you’re young than you do as you get older and begin to lose muscle mass.

The rate at which a body burns calories is ultimately dependent on that person’s metabolic rate, and this rate is different for everyone. You can keep your metabolic rate high by maintaining your muscle mass through constant exercise.

Level of Effort

The more work that is required, the greater the level of physical exertion, the more calories your body will burn. This is why a 180 lb. man will burn more calories doing the same activity as a 155 lb. man. It takes more work to move 180 lbs. than it does to move 155 lbs.

The key to burning more calories during a ride is to incorporate some vigorous riding or challenging hills. This will force your body to crank up the effort and use up those calories. If you’re looking to monitor your precise level of effort, you might want to consider investing in a heart monitor or a power meter.

How the Numbers Stack Up

In order to lose weight, the Mayo clinic suggests burning 500 calories more per day than you consume. That’s the equivalent of a 45 minute bike ride at moderate effort for a 180 lb. cyclist, or a 45 minute ride at sustained vigorous effort for a 155 lb. cyclist.

So how do you know what the right level of activity is for you? The best way is to invest in a power meter, which can tell you the amount of work you’re doing at any given time. If, on the other hand, all you’re looking for is a rough estimate, the table above will tell you how many calories you burn per hour cycling.

How many calories do you burn per hour?

Calories Burned Biking

As you can see the the calories burned bike riding is dependant on many factors and can truly only be determined accurately using a power meter. This article serves as an estimate only.

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