riding bike or running/walking? - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

ijackiex3i · 12-09-2004, 02:44 PM

Well.. i've been thinking of which to do? ride bike or walk/run? in running i'm afraid of hurting my knees or something of the sort, but when you ride bike it's still cardio workout. but which is more effective in losing weight? and which benefits your health more? i really i get a response.. i'd really appreciate it. and also for whichever you say is best, can you tell which is the best way to do it? THANK YOU VERYYYY MUCH

- Jackie

ratboy83 · 12-09-2004, 03:40 PM

riding a bike will be much better for your joints. the thing is that human's joints aren't deseigned to withstand the jarring of running on concrete. they were meant for running on vegetation and earth etc. over time it screws your joints up a bit. also, can anyone really say jogging is really as fun as cycling? you can go much quicker, you can use it as transport rather than just jogging for jogging sake. this means that you just think about the transport bit and the exercise is a bonus. it alwys makes me laugh at how many people take up jogging in the summer and then drop it when there's the first sniff of rain in the autumn. most people don't keep jogging up because its so boring. oh yeah, if you cycle, you get to dress up in that sexy lycra and get comments off members of the other sex for having a nice bum from doing all that cycling. and you obviously look really cool in it too!

ChappyBoy · 12-10-2004, 06:35 AM

Running is a higher rated activity for burning calories per hour. Consider a crushed rubber track or a treadmill with a good deck if your joints bother you.

becksA · 12-10-2004, 10:21 AM

My favorite is the Cybex hill eliptical machine...it kind of combines a few different types of machines into one. First of all it puts all four limbs in motion, which I find important. It can incline up to the point where its almost like a step machine, or if you don't want that, it's basically an eliptical, and of course has great resistance options as well. I went to it when I began to have injuries from running, and have been VERY pleased. Sometimes I do manual, changing up the incline and resistance throughout, but usually I set it at intervals for about 45 minutes or more if I'm up to it. You can set your "level" at 1-10, and I've gone up from level 6 to level 9 already, making the same distance in the same amount of time...showing my progress. I love it. Anybody else use this machine? I'm not sure of the exact model name.

phillydude · 12-10-2004, 10:37 AM

Having been a competitive distance cyclist for many years, and recently adding running to my activities, I'd say there are a few distinct differences.

1) TIME. It takes roughly an hour to burn as many calories as you burn by running for twenty minutes. If you are pressed for time, running is the better choice on a daily basis. But if you have the time, cycling is more "fun."

2) DISTANCE. One of my favorite parts of cycling is the ability to cover some ground IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THAT IS POSSIBLE. If you live in an urban area, running is the better option. If you live in a less congested area, cycling would be my choice.

3) EQUIPMENT. You really don't need anything to run except a pair of suitable shoes. You need a bike and a helmet to cycle, which costs money. At one point, my bicycle was worth more than my car (but I also put more miles per week on the bike than I did the car).

4) ENVIRONMENT. I hate to run on a treadmill. I enjoy riding a stationary bike. If you are in a climate where the weather is less than ideal for year-round outdoor activities, take this into consideration.

5) CAMARADERIE. Running is more of a "solitary" sport, and the running clubs I've looked at seem to be more about "competitive" training (running to get faster or go further), but there are a lot more competitive running events than there are cycling events. The bike clubs I've been involved with are more "social" (cycling to visit interesting places or to cover specific distances), but the focus is usually not so much on "racing" as it is on spending time together and going on "adventures."

Someday, if there is any interest, I'll post up about some of the really great cycling trips I've taken over the years...