Stationary bikes are a great, low impact way to boost your cardiovascular and muscular health. They are also the preferred piece of equipment for people with knee and foot injuries because they are easier on your lower body while still giving a good workout at the same time. However, the one question I get asked a lot is how many calories you burn riding on one for an hour. The answer? It depends.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question because how many calories you expend doing any activity depends on a number of factors. This includes your gender, age, weight, and even your height. In the end, each one of these plays a role in determining the rate at which your body burns calories while engaged in physical activity.
Another consideration is how hard you are working while on the stationary bike. For example, if you are pedaling at 5 kilometers per hour, you’re going to burn fewer calories than if you pedal at 15 kilometers per hour. Likewise, if you pedal while setting the tension at a 6 or a 7, you’ll burn a lot more calories than if you pedal with the tension set at a 2 or a 3.
Fortunately, there are many online calculators that you can use to help you determine how many calories you specifically will burn on a stationary bike for a set period of time. One to consider is provided by HealthStatus.com. Simply input your gender, age, height, and weight before scrolling down and entering the time next to the appropriate intensity stationary bike listing. Hit calculate and you will have your numbers.
Another option is to get tested professionally. It is a bit more costly, but if you want exact numbers, it may be the way to go.
