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How to Calculate Calories Burned Cycling

What is Calories Burned Cycling?

Calories burned cycling depend on rider weight, speed, terrain, and wind resistance. Cycling is generally more efficient than running — you cover more distance per calorie — making it excellent for low-impact cardiovascular fitness.

Formula

kcal = MET × weight (kg) × time (hours)
MET
6 — 6

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1MET values: leisure cycling (16 km/h) = 6.8, moderate (19–22 km/h) = 8.0, vigorous (22–26 km/h) = 10.0
  2. 2kcal = MET × weight (kg) × time (hours)
  3. 3Wind resistance increases exponentially with speed — cycling faster than 25 km/h burns significantly more

Worked Examples

Input
75kg rider, 1 hour at moderate pace (20 km/h)
Result
~600 kcal
MET 8.0 × 75 × 1.0 = 600 kcal
Input
80kg rider, 30 min at leisure pace
Result
~272 kcal
MET 6.8 × 80 × 0.5 = 272 kcal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Calories Burned Cycling?

Calories burned cycling depend on rider weight, speed, terrain, and wind resistance. Cycling is generally more efficient than running — you cover more distance per calorie — making it excellent for low-impact cardiovascular fitness

How accurate is the Calories Burned Cycling calculator?

The calculator uses the standard published formula for calories burned cycling. Results are accurate to the precision of the inputs you provide. For financial, medical, or legal decisions, always verify with a qualified professional.

What units does the Calories Burned Cycling calculator use?

This calculator works with kilograms, inches, kilometres, kilometres per hour. You can enter values in the units shown — the calculator handles all conversions internally.

What formula does the Calories Burned Cycling calculator use?

The core formula is: MET values: leisure cycling (16 km/h) = 6.8, moderate (19–22 km/h) = 8.0, vigorous (22–26 km/h) = 10.0. Each step in the calculation is shown so you can verify the result manually.

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