Yes, bike riding has been considered a moderate-intensity exercise for losing weight. Therefore, you might want to consider bike riding as your new exercise routine if you are looking for a fun and effective way to lose weight. With bike riding, you can enjoy the outdoors, burn calories, and tone your muscles.
This article explores how efficient bike riding is at helping you lose weight. We also explore a ebike riding calculator to calculate your energy expenditure for a specific cycling session. You will also learn some tips and tricks on how to make the most of your bike riding sessions and achieve your weight loss goals.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned cyclist, you will find something useful and interesting in this article. So, grab your helmet, hop on your bike, and let's get started!
Why Bike Riding Can Help You Lose Weight
Cycling is a fantastic exercise. It’s good for your heart, lungs, and blood pressure. It’s also good for your mood and mental health. Cycling has helped me lose weight and stay in shape.” - Barack Obama, former US President
Bike riding is an aerobic exercise. This means that this exercise makes your heart beat faster and increases your metabolism to help you burn fat and calories. Also, because of its low-impact nature, you don’t have to worry about hurting your joints and muscles. This makes bike riding an appropriate exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Another reason why bike riding can help you lose weight is that it is a fun exercise. When you ride your electric bike, your body releases hormones like serotonin and endorphins. These hormones make you feel good and relaxed and regulate your appetite to promote weight loss.
However, it is important to note that losing weight through bike riding is not a sprint. It is a marathon. You have to be committed to your goals and follow through to see significant changes in your weight.
Does Riding A Bike Burn More Calories Than Walking?
Yes, bike riding helps you burn more calories because it requires more effort and uses more muscles than walking. However, this is not always the case, depending on certain factors. These factors include your weight, age, and gender. The intensity, duration, and terrain of your cycling also matter.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, a 155-pound person can burn about 288 calories in 30 minutes of bike riding at a moderate pace of 12 to 13.9 miles per hour or 360 calories in 30 minutes of bike riding at a vigorous pace of 14 to 15.9 miles per hour.
In contrast, the same person can burn about 133 calories in 30 minutes of walking at a moderate pace of 3.5 miles per hour or 175 calories in 30 minutes of walking at a brisk pace of 4.5 miles per hour. This means that bike riding can burn about twice as many calories as walking at the same time and intensity.
But this does not mean that walking is not a good exercise for weight loss. Walking is still a beneficial and easy exercise that can help you burn calories, improve your health, and reduce your stress.
How to Calculate How Many Calories You Burn with 1 Hour of Cycling
- Number of Calories (Kcal) = Weight (Kg) × Activity (METs) × Duration (Minutes) × 3.5/200
- A 1hour cycling calories calculator will give:
- Number of Calories (Kcal) = Weight (Kg) × Activity (METs) × 60 × 3.5/200
- Where:
- The number of Calories is your energy expenditure in a specific time of cycling
- Weight is your weight in kilograms (kg)
- Activity is calculated in METs. It stands for the Metabolic equivalent of task
- Duration is how long you carried out the physical activity (in minutes)
- 3.5 is a constant. Your body uses 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute at rest
- 200 is a constant
Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)
Activity | METs |
Bicycling: 12 - 13.9 mph | 8.0 |
Bicycling: mountain biking, uphill | 14.0 |
Stationary cycling | 6.8 |
Can You Lose Weight By Riding A Bike Every Day?
It takes burning approximately 3500 calories of energy to lose one pound of fat. Let’s use the example from the previous section.
At 70kg and cycling at 12mph for one hour, you will burn 588 calories of energy. Therefore, to lose one pound of fat, you will have to exercise in this same proportion for approximately 6 hours.
Generally, if you want to lose weight from riding a bike every day, the intensity and duration of your exercise matter. Also, give yourself time and rest days to avoid overexerting yourself
You can also check out this video from Cycling Weekly for tips on losing weight through riding.
How to Track Your Progress and Measure Your Results
Tracking your progress and measuring your results can help you see how far you have come and how close you are to your goals. You will also see the areas where you need to improve while motivating and rewarding you for your efforts.
Here are some ways to track your progress and measure your results:
Use a tracking device or an app
You can record details about your rides, such as distance, speed, and calories. Devices like heart rate monitors, fitness trackers, and smartwatches can come in handy here. With a tracking device or app, you can monitor your progress and see a condensed and detailed view of your progress. You can also get tips and prompts on when you should work out.
Keep a journal
You can document your routes, terrain, and weather in your journal. Just put in any information you think is necessary. Your goals, plans, challenges, mood, and achievements are excellent journal entries.
A journal helps you articulate your thoughts, and going through it can help you see what you need to improve on and how close you are to your goal.
Take photos and videos of yourself
Documenting yourself before, during, and after your bike riding journey can be helpful in your weight loss journey. You can take pictures or videos of your bike, gear, and scenery as you progress.
Your pictures and videos serve as evidence of your progress in your weight loss journey. You will be able to see how you have changed over time, which can motivate you to continue.
Visualize your progress
You should compare your data and notes with your goals to see how far you have come. Visualizing your progress is a great way to stay on track and see your results progressively.
How to Make Your Bike Riding More Effective and Enjoyable
The following tips can make your bike riding workout more fun and effective;
Choose a bike that fits your size and style: A good bike should be comfortable, safe, and durable. Before getting a bike, you can ask a bike expert or a friend for advice. We also offer a range of bicycles at affordable prices. You can always seek our advice on the best bicycle for you.
Wear appropriate clothing and gear: A helmet, gloves, and sunglasses are necessary when biking. This way, you don’t have to cut your ride short due to the weather, injuries, or sun.
Warm up before and cool down after your ride: You can do a couple of stretches and breathing exercises before and after your ride. Warming up before your ride can prepare your mind and body for the exercise, while cooling down after the ride can prevent or reduce muscle soreness.
Hydrate and fuel yourself: It is best to stay hydrated before, during, and after your ride. You can drink water or sports drinks and eat healthy snacks or meals before your exercise. Doing this can keep your energy and performance levels high and prevent or reduce dehydration, hunger, and fatigue.
Start slowly: Starting slowly and gradually increasing your speed and intensity can help you build endurance and strength. You will also be able to avoid overexertion and injury.
Vary your routes and terrains: varying your routes can help you avoid boredom. It will also improve your skills and adaptability. You can try out flat, hilly, smooth, urban, or rough terrain.
Follow the traffic rules and safety precautions: Obeying traffic signals and staying on the right side of the road can help prevent accidents and fines. You should also wear reflective clothing and use lights.
Listen to your body and rest when needed: Paying attention to your body's signals can reduce pain, fatigue, and thirst. It is best to take breaks and rest days. If you notice any medical concerns, you should consult your doctor.
Track your progress and celebrate your achievements: Measuring your results and rewarding yourself can help you stay on track. You should keep a record of your rides, such as your distance, speed, time, and calories, and compare them with your goals and previous rides.
Remind yourself of your reasons and benefits for bike riding and weight loss, such as your health, fitness, appearance, confidence, happiness, etc. You can also use affirmations, quotes, or testimonials to inspire and encourage yourself. You can use sticky notes, posters, or wallpapers to display your reminders.
Join a cycling club or group, or ride with your friends or family. You can also use social media, forums, or blogs to connect with other cyclists and share your stories, tips, and support. You can use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, or Medium to join or create your cycling community.
Conclusion
Bike riding is a good way to lose weight, as it can help you burn calories, improve your health, and have fun. This exercise can also strengthen your bones and joints to manage health conditions.
In addition, the release of endorphins and serotonin can help boost your mood and promote relaxation.
To make the most of your bike riding sessions, you should follow some tips and tricks, such as choosing an appropriate fat tire ebike, wearing the right clothing and gear, and warming up before and cooling down after your ride.
Tracking your progress through pictures, videos, and journals can also help you stay motivated on your weight loss journey. You can browse through our online store for various bikes to see what suits your style. We offer these bikes and other accessories in a reasonable price range.
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