Even a slow, scenic ride helps you burn calories.

Image Credit: aaron_belford/iStock/Getty Images An 8-mile-per-hour pace on a road bike over relatively flat ground is a leisurely pace. At this rate, you’ll burn 236 to 372 calories per hour, depending on your size. If you covered eight miles of mountainous terrain on a mountain bike, you’ll burn more like 502 to 791 calories in the hour.

  Advertisement
 
Burning More
   
Cyclist gaining speed during workout

Image Credit: ElChoclo/iStock/Getty Images A 130-pound person burns on the low end of the range of calories, while a 205-pound person burns in the higher range. If you increase your speed just slightly and go 10 to 12 mph, you can burn 354 to 558 calories in the same hour.

  Advertisement
 
  Video of the Day
  
Road Matters
   
Mountain bike rider on terrain trail

Image Credit: Warren Goldswain/iStock/Getty Images The nature of mountain biking terrain means you have to expend more energy climbing hills, jumping stumps and keeping your bike on course. Eight miles of climbing up hills or navigating a single track takes a lot more work than riding leisurely down a paved road.

  Advertisement
 
  Advertisement
 
  Advertisement
  
  references
  
      NutriStrategy: Calories Burned Bike Riding or Cycling
       




  references
  
      NutriStrategy: Calories Burned Bike Riding or Cycling
    




Even a slow, scenic ride helps you burn calories.

Image Credit: aaron_belford/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: aaron_belford/iStock/Getty Images

Cyclist gaining speed during workout

Image Credit: ElChoclo/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: ElChoclo/iStock/Getty Images

Mountain bike rider on terrain trail

Image Credit: Warren Goldswain/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Warren Goldswain/iStock/Getty Images

      NutriStrategy: Calories Burned Bike Riding or Cycling