.biking-calc-container {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 25px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 12px;
background-color: #ffffff;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.biking-calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.biking-calc-header h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.biking-calc-form {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.biking-calc-form { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}
.biking-input-group {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.biking-input-group label {
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #34495e;
}
.biking-input-group input, .biking-input-group select {
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccd1d9;
border-radius: 6px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.biking-calc-button {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
padding: 15px;
border: none;
border-radius: 6px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.biking-calc-button:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
#biking-result-area {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border-radius: 8px;
text-align: center;
display: none;
}
.result-value {
font-size: 32px;
font-weight: 800;
color: #27ae60;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.biking-article {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #444;
}
.biking-article h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #27ae60;
padding-bottom: 8px;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.biking-table {
width: 100%;
border-collapse: collapse;
margin: 20px 0;
}
.biking-table th, .biking-table td {
border: 1px solid #ddd;
padding: 12px;
text-align: left;
}
.biking-table th {
background-color: #f2f2f2;
}
How Biking Calories are Calculated
The calculation for calories burned during cycling is based on the MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) value. One MET is defined as the energy cost of resting quietly. When you bike, your body uses significantly more energy than it does at rest.
The formula used is:
Calories Burned = MET × Body Weight (kg) × Time (hours)
MET Values for Different Biking Speeds
| Activity Level |
Speed Range |
MET Value |
| Leisurely |
< 10 mph |
3.5 |
| Moderate |
12 – 14 mph |
8.0 |
| Vigorous |
14 – 16 mph |
10.0 |
| Racing / Sprinting |
> 20 mph |
15.8 |
| Mountain Biking |
Off-road / Technical |
8.5 |
Factors Influencing Calorie Burn
While the calculator provides a high-quality estimate, several real-world factors can influence your actual energy expenditure:
- Terrain: Climbing steep hills requires significantly more power than riding on flat pavement.
- Wind Resistance: Drafting behind another rider or facing a headwind can change effort levels by up to 30%.
- Tire Pressure and Type: Knobby mountain bike tires on pavement create more rolling resistance than smooth road tires.
- Body Composition: Riders with higher muscle mass may burn calories at a slightly different rate than those with higher body fat percentages.
Real-World Example
If a person weighing 180 lbs (approx. 81.6 kg) goes for a 1-hour moderate bike ride (12-14 mph), the calculation would look like this:
- Weight in kg: 81.6
- MET for Moderate: 8.0
- Calculation: 8.0 × 81.6 × 1 = 652.8 Calories
function calculateBikingCalories() {
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bikingWeight').value);
var unit = document.getElementById('weightUnit').value;
var duration = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bikingDuration').value);
var met = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bikingIntensity').value);
var resultArea = document.getElementById('biking-result-area');
var output = document.getElementById('totalCalories');
var metInfo = document.getElementById('metInfo');
if (isNaN(weight) || isNaN(duration) || weight <= 0 || duration <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for weight and duration.");
return;
}
// Convert weight to kg if necessary
var weightInKg = weight;
if (unit === 'lbs') {
weightInKg = weight * 0.453592;
}
// Convert duration to hours
var durationInHours = duration / 60;
// Formula: MET * kg * hours
var caloriesBurned = met * weightInKg * durationInHours;
output.innerHTML = Math.round(caloriesBurned).toLocaleString() + " kcal";
metInfo.innerHTML = "Based on a MET value of " + met + " for your selected intensity.";
resultArea.style.display = 'block';
resultArea.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}