How Many Calories Does Cycling Burn?

A 155-pound person burns about 281 calories in 30 minutes and about 562 calories in one hour of cycling at a moderate pace of 12 to 14 mph, which has an approximate MET value of 8.0. Calories burned increase with body weight, duration, and intensity.

The number of calories burned during cycling is influenced by several factors, including METs, body weight, duration, and intensity of the activity. Understanding these elements can help estimate calorie expenditure more accurately.

Calories Burned From Cycling by Weight and Time

The following table provides an overview of calories burned during cycling based on different body weights and durations.

Body weight	15 min	30 min	45 min	60 min
125 lb (57 kg)	113	227	340	454
155 lb (70 kg)	141	281	422	562
185 lb (84 kg)	168	336	503	671
215 lb (98 kg)	195	390	585	780

A heavier body and a longer session both burn more. Intensity matters too: the values above use 8.0 METs (moderate, 12 to 14 mph).

Calories by Intensity

How hard you go changes the burn. The table below shows the MET value for each intensity and the calories a 155-pound person burns in 30 minutes.

Intensity	METs	Calories (30 min, 155 lb)
Leisure (under 10 mph)	4.0	141
Light (10 to 12 mph)	6.8	239
Moderate (12 to 14 mph)	8.0	281
Vigorous (14 to 16 mph)	10.0	352

Tracking Exercise and Food in Nutrola

Calories burned only change your results if you record them. Nutrola lets you log a session like cycling in a few ways: describe it in your own words by voice or text, pick an exercise type and intensity, or enter the calories directly, and on iOS and Android it can sync workouts automatically from Apple Health or Health Connect. Logged workouts sit next to the food you track from a photo, barcode, or voice entry, so calories in and calories out stay in one place. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

Sources and Method

MET (metabolic equivalent) values are from the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al.), the standard reference for the energy cost of physical activity. Calories are estimated with the equation calories = METs x body weight in kilograms x duration in hours, where one MET is the energy used sitting quietly. Cycling at moderate, 12 to 14 mph is rated at 8.0 METs. Real burn varies with fitness, technique, terrain, and effort, so treat these as close estimates, not exact counts. This is educational and not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many calories does cycling burn in 30 minutes?

Cycling at a moderate pace for 30 minutes burns approximately 281 calories for a 155-pound person. This estimate is based on the MET value of 8.0 for this intensity level.

How many calories does cycling burn in an hour?

In one hour of cycling, a 155-pound person burns about 562 calories. This figure is derived from the MET value and the person's body weight.

Is cycling good for weight loss?

Cycling can be effective for weight loss, as it burns a significant number of calories depending on the intensity and duration. Higher body weight and longer sessions contribute to greater calorie expenditure.

How accurate are these cycling calorie estimates?

These cycling calorie estimates are based on the METs formula, which considers body weight and duration. While they provide a good approximation, individual variations may affect actual calorie burn.

Key Takeaways

• A 155-pound person burns approximately 281 calories in 30 minutes of cycling.
• In one hour, the same person burns about 562 calories.
• Calories burned increase with higher body weight and longer cycling duration.
• Cycling intensity also plays a crucial role in determining calorie expenditure.