running vs biking

linck said:

I have to take a physical fitness test soon and was wondering the negative effects cycling will have on my run time. it's only a two mile run that usually take me about 12:45 min to complete. scored on a scale of 100 points, 13:00 min is worth 100 points so I can not drop below this. will cycling make me less efficient on the track.

Anything that improves your cardiovascular fitness should be helpful, yes? Plus, cycling regularly ~ 15-30 miles 4 or more times a week will almost certainly result in significant weight loss which will in turn help you run faster/longer (and feel a whole lot better too!)

Running does not use all the same musscles as cycling.

Running calls on lower leg musscles alot more than cycling wich uses upper most.
You can change your riding style but it just aint the same.

I quit running.

OldGoat said:

Anything that improves your cardiovascular fitness should be helpful, yes? Plus, cycling regularly ~ 15-30 miles 4 or more times a week will almost certainly result in significant weight loss which will in turn help you run faster/longer (and feel a whole lot better too!)

if I lose any more weight I'll be a twig i'm 5'8" @ 160lbs so I hope not to lose any weight but I eat alot so I should be safe

linck said:

if I lose any more weight I'll be a twig i'm 5'8" @ 160lbs so I hope not to lose any weight but I eat alot so I should be safe

Are you kidding? Your BMI is up there at 24. A pro cyclist typically has a BMI around 20-22. This is about your self image. 160lb for 5'8" is hardly a twig.

linck said:

I have to take a physical fitness test soon and was wondering the negative effects cycling will have on my run time. it's only a two mile run that usually take me about 12:45 min to complete. scored on a scale of 100 points, 13:00 min is worth 100 points so I can not drop below this. will cycling make me less efficient on the track.

I'm an ex competitive runner, I had to convert yor figures to metric so I could understand them and it works out at 4 minute K's, which is a "walk in the park" if you are a runner, just training pace if that. The real negative effect of cycling on running is that you are cycling instead of running. If you do the cycling in addition to your existing running, then your running will not be affected, especially as you have, from a runners viewpoint a fairly easy target.

Cycling uses a subset of the muscles that running uses and uses them differently, so when a fit cyclists trys to run, they die a horrible death, as their bodies aren't use to it. Hence why many cyclists see running as evil.

As per sogood, nothing wrong with your weight, if your worried about body image "the skinny dude" sindrome, then do a bit of resistance exercise to balance out the cycling and running.

I got caught in the rain the other day and ran back to the barn. I felt like I was made of stone and moving at 5mph. I think I'll throw in some more running in addition to the cycling.

I'm 5'8" and at 157lbs. could stand to lose another 10lbs. Those hills aren't getting any smaller.

There is no comparison, biking wins hands down!🙂

mikesbytes said:

I'm an ex competitive runner, I had to convert yor figures to metric so I could understand them and it works out at 4 minute K's, which is a "walk in the park" if you are a runner, just training pace if that. The real negative effect of cycling on running is that you are cycling instead of running. If you do the cycling in addition to your existing running, then your running will not be affected, especially as you have, from a runners viewpoint a fairly easy target.

Cycling uses a subset of the muscles that running uses and uses them differently, so when a fit cyclists trys to run, they die a horrible death, as their bodies aren't use to it. Hence why many cyclists see running as evil.

As per sogood, nothing wrong with your weight, if your worried about body image "the skinny dude" sindrome, then do a bit of resistance exercise to balance out the cycling and running.

Well I'm not trying to lose any more weight as a soldier I have to be able to manhandle people if nessesary, so @160 I'm happy. I'm just worried that cycling will destroy my running legs. I think I'll try an alternate training plan, run 1 day ride the next. that should balance me out. still I want to get into racing so I have to train to be competive on the bike too. My goal at the end of the next six months is to be able to maintain a 18-20 MPH ride for 30 miles. Is that to agressive??

linck said:

Well I'm not trying to lose any more weight as a soldier I have to be able to manhandle people if nessesary, so @160 I'm happy. I'm just worried that cycling will destroy my running legs. I think I'll try an alternate training plan, run 1 day ride the next. that should balance me out. still I want to get into racing so I have to train to be competive on the bike too. My goal at the end of the next six months is to be able to maintain a 18-20 MPH ride for 30 miles. Is that to agressive??

That figure is entirely acheivable on a racer, if you already have a reasonable running or riding base.

Sounds like doing some weights will help with the soldier duties, but must be done in conjunction with the appropriate diet. check out one of the weights sites such as wannabebigforums.comwannabebigforums.comOpen ↗

linck said:

I have to take a physical fitness test soon and was wondering the negative effects cycling will have on my run time. it's only a two mile run that usually take me about 12:45 min to complete. scored on a scale of 100 points, 13:00 min is worth 100 points so I can not drop below this. will cycling make me less efficient on the track.

Linck, if you need to train for this run...... Then run.

As Mikesbytes says, this is an easy run but if you want to nail it then throw on your running shoes. You might get a sidestitch, heavy legs or shin pain if you just go cold turkey, you need to be good on your feet.....

Banish the bike and brandish the running shoes for awhile.... You do have running shoes don't you ?

lw

do both - it seems to work for triathletes...
just make sure you keep your stretches up after riding as cycling can lead to tightness in certain areas of your legs that need to stay loose for running.

you may find more info in the "Cycling Training" forum too...

bbattle said:

I got caught in the rain the other day and ran back to the barn. I felt like I was made of stone and moving at 5mph. I think I'll throw in some more running in addition to the cycling.

I'm 5'8" and at 157lbs. could stand to lose another 10lbs. Those hills aren't getting any smaller.

Don't sound good, I have not ran for years, but did bike part of my but off last summer, last fall I ran 3 blocks to buy a thing for the wife(anniversry), I have never ran so good in my life.

All I have learned, running will kill your bones, keep your feet off the cement, those pedals will be a lot kinder to you, years from now you will be glad you rode the bike.

lwedge said:

Linck, if you need to train for this run...... Then run.

As Mikesbytes says, this is an easy run but if you want to nail it then throw on your running shoes. You might get a sidestitch, heavy legs or shin pain if you just go cold turkey, you need to be good on your feet.....

lw

On a related note, don't forget to warm up properly, especially if you've not been running much lately. Cycling's pretty friendly in that way as there's no impact, but a lot of running injuries come from starting too hard with cold muscles.

I agree with Archibald.
Triathlons would be primo for a more rounded military style workout. Generally, triathletes seem to have more upper body.
Back in the day while on the swim teams.. many of the swimmers were pretty well bulked up compared to the average cyclists.

If you just run, bike and swim your upper body won't get too big actualy.

If you run and then bike inplace of easy recovery runs. I find that to work very well.

Smilf said:

If you just run, bike and swim your upper body won't get too big actualy.

If you run and then bike inplace of easy recovery runs. I find that to work very well.

😉agree! does wonder of wonders!!!

linck said:

I have to take a physical fitness test soon and was wondering the negative effects cycling will have on my run time. it's only a two mile run that usually take me about 12:45 min to complete. scored on a scale of 100 points, 13:00 min is worth 100 points so I can not drop below this. will cycling make me less efficient on the track.

Maybe the answer you seek is buried in this medical/physiological article entitled
"Specificity effects of run versus cycle training on ventilatory threshold"

http://www.springerlink.com/content/v05p42v11h0u8318/

JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology PublisherSpringer Berlin / Heidelberg ISSN1439-6319 (Print) 1439-6327 (Online) SubjectBiomedical and Life Sciences and Medicine IssueVolume 67, Number 1 / July, 1993 DOI10.1007/BF00377703 Pages43-47 SpringerLink DateFriday, December 10, 2004

zorly said:

I agree with Archibald.
Triathlons would be primo for a more rounded military style workout. Generally, triathletes seem to have more upper body.
Back in the day while on the swim teams.. many of the swimmers were pretty well bulked up compared to the average cyclists.

I've found that running helps my cycling but cycling doesn't help my running...
Cycling has shrunk my calves... and they get very painful after running..even with lots of stretching however after I've been running a lot my cycling average speeds imrpove...

Ride to/from work.
Run at lunch time.
Lift weights at night.
Eat large amounts of food include 1/2.2 gram(s) of protien per lb/kg of body weight.