Mountain biking is an intense activity that can burn a lot of calories. Whether you are racing or simply touring, your body needs to work hard to stay upright and propel you forward.
It’s no wonder then, that mountain biking is a great way to get in shape and stay active. But how many calories does mountain biking actually burn?
Calorie Burn
Mountain biking requires a lot of energy, and the calorie burn rate can vary depending on the terrain and intensity level of your ride. According to research conducted by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), mountain biking can burn anywhere from 400 to 1,000 calories per hour depending on your weight and intensity level. If you are riding at a moderate intensity level, ACE estimates that you can expect to burn around 600 calories per hour.
Aside from burning calories, mountain biking also provides other health benefits like improving heart health, increasing muscle strength and endurance, reducing stress levels and improving balance and coordination.
Intensity
The intensity of your ride will have an impact on how many calories you burn. If you push yourself harder during your ride with more intense climbs or steeper hills, you will be able to increase the number of calories burned in an hour significantly. The more intense the ride is, the higher the calorie burn rate will be.
Also, if you add in some interval training during your ride it can help increase your calorie burn as well. Interval training involves alternating between short bursts of high-intensity exercise with periods of recovery at lower intensities for a certain period of time before repeating again. This type of training has been shown to help increase endurance and improve performance while also burning more calories than steady-state exercise alone.
Equipment
The type of bike you use will also have an effect on how many calories you will be able to burn while mountain biking. A lighter bike with good suspension will make it easier for you to handle difficult terrain while still maintaining speed which in turn will help increase calorie expenditure during your ride. Also make sure that your tires are properly inflated as this will help reduce energy expenditure while still allowing for good traction on the trails.
Conclusion: Do You Burn More Calories Mountain Biking? The answer is yes!
Mountain biking is an intense activity that can help you get in shape by burning hundreds of calories per hour when done at a moderate intensity level – even more when pushing yourself harder with intervals or steeper hills! By choosing the right equipment for your ride and pushing yourself when necessary, you can maximize the number of calories burned during each outing on two wheels!
