A bicyclist can burn hundreds -- even thousands -- of calories in a single outing. The most calories typically will be by burned by athletes dedicated to road racing or mountain biking or by committed athletes cross-training from other sports. However, even the most casual cyclist can burn a lot of calories, which can help the cyclist lose weight.
Moderate Biking
Cycling at 12 to 13.9 mph will burn around 300 calories in 30 minutes for a person weighing 155 lbs., Harvard Health Publications reports. Mountain bicycling burns around 316 calories. Cycling between 14 and 15.9 mph burns 372 calories.
Faster Biking
Cycling at 16 to 19 mph burns 446 calories in half an hour and cycling above 20 mph burns 614 calories. Stationary bicycling at a moderate intensity burns 260 calories, and more vigorous riding burns 391 calories. People weighing below 155 lbs. burn proportionately fewer calories, and people weighing more burn proportionately more.
Bike Racing
A staged race such as the Tour de France demands that a cyclist such as Lance Armstrong burn 5,200 calories a day on each of 21 days of riding. Some cyclists report burning 8,000 calories a day on the grueling mountain stages.
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