This estimates loss from cycling calories only, not diet. It is not medical advice; aim for about one to two pounds per week and combine riding with sensible eating.
The maths
How the calculator works
Weight loss from cycling comes down to the calories you burn adding up over the weeks, then converting that energy into pounds of fat.
1
Per session = MET x 3.5 x weight in kg divided by 200, times your session minutes. Heavier riders and harder efforts burn more.
2
Per week = calories per session x your sessions per week. This is the engine of your weekly deficit.
3
Pounds per week = weekly calories divided by 3,500, the rough energy stored in a pound of body fat.
4
Weeks to goal = your goal in pounds divided by the weekly loss. Ride more or harder to shorten it.
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Add diet = trimming a few hundred food calories a day stacks on top of this and reaches the goal faster.
The 3,500-calories-per-pound rule is a useful planning estimate rather than a law of physics; real loss slows a little as you get lighter. Treat the timeline as a guide and keep the deficit moderate.
Want a printable weight-loss ride tracker?
A one-page log for sessions, calories and progress is coming soon to our shop.
FAQ