Cycling Calorie Calculator

Cycling Calorie Calculation Explained

This calculator estimates the number of calories burned during cycling based on various physiological and activity-related factors. The calculation uses the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values, which are now interpolated to increase smoothly with speed.

Key Factors:

• Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET): A unit that estimates the energy expenditure of activities, now calculated using linear interpolation.
• Body Weight: The weight of the individual affects the total calories burned.
• Duration of Activity: The total time spent cycling impacts calorie expenditure.

Calculation Steps:

1. Determine MET Value Based on Speed Using Linear Interpolation:

   The MET value increases smoothly with speed between the known MET data points.

   Speed Range (km/h)	MET Value Range
   < 16 km/h	4.0
   16 - 19 km/h	4.0 - 6.0
   19 - 22 km/h	6.0 - 8.0
   22 - 26 km/h	8.0 - 10.0
   26 - 30 km/h	10.0 - 12.0
   30 - 35 km/h	12.0 - 16.0
   > 35 km/h	16.0

   For example, at 29.9 km/h, the MET value is calculated using linear interpolation between 10.0 and 12.0.

2. Convert Weight to Kilograms if Necessary:

   If the weight is provided in pounds (lbs), convert it to kilograms (kg):

   Weight (kg) = Weight (lbs) × 0.45359237

3. Calculate Duration in Hours:

   If the duration is provided in hours, minutes, and seconds, convert it to total hours:

   Time (hours) = Hours + (Minutes ÷ 60) + (Seconds ÷ 3600)

   If only speed and distance are provided, calculate the time:

   Time (hours) = Distance ÷ Speed

4. Compute Calories Burned:

   Use the standard formula to calculate calories burned:

   Calories Burned = MET × Weight (kg) × Time (hours)

Example Calculation:

For a person weighing 70 kg cycling 20 km at a speed of 29.9 km/h:

1. Calculate Time:
Time = Distance ÷ Speed = 20 km ÷ 29.9 km/h ≈ 0.6689 hours

2. Determine MET Value:
MET = 10.0 + ((29.9 - 26) ÷ (30 - 26)) × (12.0 - 10.0) ≈ 11.98

3. Calculate Calories Burned:
Calories = MET × Weight × Time ≈ 11.98 × 70 kg × 0.6689 hours ≈ 561 kcal

Note:

The calculated calories are estimates and can vary based on individual factors such as metabolic rate, fitness level, and environmental conditions.