How many calories you burn during a workout depends on your age, level of fitness and, most of all, on your rate of exertion. The harder you work, the more calories you'll burn. Since recumbent bikes and stationary bikes are virtually identical in terms of effort, you likely won't notice much of a difference in terms of calorie-burn numbers between the two exercises. Still, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Calories Burned

When you're researching calorie-burn numbers in cycling exercises, the only real difference you're going to see depends on exercise intensity, not the type of cycling you're doing. Stationary cycling is an aerobic exercise that primarily utilizes your lower body, producing similar calorie-burn numbers no matter which type of stationary bike you use. A 155-pound person cycling on a stationary bike at a moderate pace can expect to burn about 493 calories per hour.

Heart Rate and Oxygen Uptake

You're in a more horizontal position on a recumbent bike than you are on a stationary bike. Your legs are positioned almost parallel to the floor and you drive your hips forward rather than down. Because of the horizontal leg position, recumbent bikes may require slightly less oxygen uptake than stationary bikes. Less oxygen uptake produces a lower heart rate, which could reduce the number of calories you burn relative to a stationary bike. But the numbers aren't likely to be significant.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Although the number of calories you burn may not be much different between stationary and recumbent bikes, there are several distinct differences you may want to take into consideration. Recumbent bikes tend to put less pressure on your back and heart than stationary bikes. Recumbent bikes are typically recommended for those who are less fit or who have cardiovascular issues. If you fall into one of these categories, you may burn more calories on a recumbent bike, since you'll be able to maintain the exercise for a longer period of time.

Other Considerations

Although the recumbent bike can be less stressful on your heart than stationary bikes, results have been inconclusive. A 2005 study published in the "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" found no difference in cardiovascular stimulus between the two forms of exercise. Interestingly, researchers also concluded that recumbent bikes required more effort at low intensity and less effort at higher intensities compared to stationary bikes. Overall, which bike you choose depends on your personal level of fitness and your comfort with each.

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