Exercising on a recumbent bike can help improve cardiovascular conditioning, burn body fat and strengthen leg muscles. A recumbent bike offers more back support compared with an upright, stationary bike.
Formula
To estimate how many calories you burn while riding a recumbent bike, calculate the duration of your workout, your weight and the amount of energy you expend. This is the formula: (METs x 3.5 x weight in kg) ÷ 200) x duration in minutes. Your weight in kilograms is calculated by dividing your weight in pounds by 2.2. A 150 lb. person weighs 68 kg.
Activity Level
METs is a number that represents your energy output. William Haskell, a professor from Stanford University, compiled a list of METs values. According to the Compendium of Physical Activities Tracking Guide, riding a recumbent bike uses the same amount of energy as a stationary bike. The METs value for a light recumbent bike workout is 5.5. A vigorous workout has a METs value of 10.5.
Calories Burned
If you weigh 150 lbs. and ride a recumbent bike for 30 minutes at a leisurely pace, you will burn 196 calories. If you apply a moderate amount of effort, and ride for 45 minutes, at 150 lbs. you can burn 375 calories.
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