better to run or cycle ?

2»

Replies

  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    Um, do what you like, and you will enjoy, and what you will do consistently.

    I like running more, but bike as cross training and when my body decides to act up because I have been neglecting my stretching/strengthening/cross training.

    For me, I can burn more calories running in the same time frame. I would have to bike for much longer for the same calorie burn. I suppose if I was a more vigorous cycler I could burn more riding, but oh well.
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    Running for me but i have a damaged tailbone and riding a cycle is agony ( i do like to use the recumberant bike at the gym though).
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    gobonas99 wrote: »
    glevinso wrote: »
    Do both... and start swimming...

    And then throw them all together in one session! :smiley: Swim/Bike/Run FTW!! :smiley:

    That's where I was going with that :)
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I think it is easier to burn calories running and it is a more natural movement for your legs. You work the calves more, you swing your arms, etc. But, biking is much easier on you. As others have said.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    MeanderingMammal wrote: »
    Saab_2015 wrote: »
    Rather than running is it better to cycle as long as you do the same amount of calories ?

    Depends what you want to achieve.

    Cycling burns about half the volume of calories by time, it's harder to get into the lactate threshold and anaerobic ranges. Subject to how you ride it can be either quad or hamstring dominant. It's lower impact.

    Running is a very efficient way to burn energy, but it can be higher impact and is much more susceptible to poor form. The point upthread about harder on the joints is nonsense, but if your running form is poor then injury risk can be slightly higher.

    Cycling involves a big investment in cash, and it's less adaptable to personal lifestyle like work travel and the like. Running is easy to do if you travel a lot.

    Personally I predominantly run and use cycling as cross training. It's complementary and the quad/ hamstring work really helps my running a lot. Equally the running helps my cycling performance through increased aerobic capacity.

    Would add that running will take longer to adjust to if you're starting from not running at all. In that case, you will likely be able to burn more cals cycling than running for a while, simply because you will be able to cycle much longer than you will be able to run without risking an overuse injury.
  • Roxiegirl2008
    Roxiegirl2008 Posts: 756 Member
    I say do what ever you like to do. I personally run 3 times per week and have spin classes along with cross training built in to help with my running. I enjoy running a lot so I will default to that however when training for this marathon I went on a long bike ride because my head was just into my run that day. It felt good and I was still adding endurance into my training plan.
  • Saab_2015
    Saab_2015 Posts: 277 Member
    Thanks guys for the advice.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories