1. What is a Bicycling Calories Burned Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the energy expenditure (calories burned) during bicycling based on your weight, exercise intensity (MET), and duration.

Purpose: It helps athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and health-conscious individuals track their energy expenditure during cycling activities.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Calories} \) — Energy expended (kilocalories, kcal)
• \( \text{MET} \) — Metabolic equivalent (~6 for moderate bicycling)
• \( \text{Weight} \) — Body weight (kilograms, kg)
• \( \text{Time} \) — Duration (hours, h)

Explanation: The MET value represents exercise intensity, which when multiplied by weight and time gives total calories burned.

3. Importance of Calorie Calculation

Details: Understanding calorie expenditure helps with weight management, training planning, and nutritional requirements for cyclists.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your weight in kg, MET value (default 6 for moderate bicycling), and duration in hours. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is MET and how is it determined?
A: MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) measures exercise intensity. 1 MET = resting energy expenditure. Moderate cycling is typically 6 METs.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a reasonable estimate (±10-20%) but individual factors like fitness level and terrain affect actual calories burned.

Q3: When would I change the MET value?
A: Adjust for intensity: 4-6 for leisure, 6-8 for moderate, 8-12 for vigorous cycling, or 12+ for racing.

Q4: Can I use pounds instead of kilograms?
A: First convert pounds to kg (divide by 2.205) for accurate results with standard MET values.

Q5: Does this include basal metabolic rate?
A: No, this calculates only the additional calories burned during cycling above your resting metabolism.