Running vs Cycling

Scoffin said:

I was just wondering which one is a better cardio workout, Cycling or Running? While I'm going to try my best to continue to ride through the rough Iowa winter, I'm thinking about getting on the treadmill this winter instead of the stationary bike. Neither one excite me too much - mostly because the scenery is the same all the time - and I'm not much of a runner.

But then again, I wasn't much of a cyclist until a couple months ago.

If you want to improve your cycling performance then you are better off cycling. If you want a good cardio workout then that is a different question.

If you have just started cycling in the last few months then you can prob. work at a higher % of your VO2max while running rather than cycling.
Improvements in running VO2max transfer better to cycling than they do the other way around.
Specificity is the key, so if you run you will improve your running more than cycling and vice versa.
plus
it is alot easier to read a good book while on a stationary bike than on a treadmill! 😄

Personally I can't stand running, i mean I hate it. But I can ride my bike for hours on end.

the brother said:

If you want to improve your cycling performance then you are better off cycling. If you want a good cardio workout then that is a different question.

If you have just started cycling in the last few months then you can prob. work at a higher % of your VO2max while running rather than cycling.
Improvements in running VO2max transfer better to cycling than they do the other way around.
Specificity is the key, so if you run you will improve your running more than cycling and vice versa.
plus
it is alot easier to read a good book while on a stationary bike than on a treadmill! 😄

Also, it's worth noting that if you'd like to keep your knees when you are older, it would be better to bike.

For me, being in the "clydsdales" division of runners, I usually max out my hip's and knee's ability to absorb shock long before I max out my heart.

The Brother, Thanks for the response, but I have no idea what VO2max is.

My winter goal is to not gain back the weight I've lost over the last 2 months (Lost 11 pounds so far) or lose the muscle that is taking shape in my legs. I bike 1 1/2 hours on my commute home every night and 1/2 hour on the way into work. I really don't want to spend 2 hours on a stationary bike to replicate this workout. I was thinking I might be able to simulate the cardio workout (which is how I'm losing the weight) on the treadmill in a shorter amount of time, since I'm such a sucky runner. Then work on the machines to keep my new leg shape. I'd spend some time on the stationary bike as necessary.

So back to my original question, will running produce the same (or better) cardio workout as cycling does? Not sure I got that from your response. I'm only 13 lbs away from my ideal weight of 175. If I could only talk myself into eating better, it wouldn't be a problem, but hey, I dropped the first 11 without a change in diet, just the bike.

Mucho Thankos...

I doubt that there is a pat answer to this question because any type of cardio can be used for very intense workouts or easy workouts, just as with running -- you can really run or you can just jog.

So the answer is two-fold:

1. Choose the one you are most likely to stick with through the whole winter.

2. If cycling is important to you, a cycling specific program/equipment will reap much greater rewards come spring.

What about ice skating? If you're not cycling over the winter due to the weather, ice skating is a good alternative exercise, low impact (unless you fall) and has much closer muscle movements to cycling than running.

aTmSpectre said:

Personally I can't stand running, i mean I hate it. But I can ride my bike for hours on end.

Running sucks.

It's like sticking a knife in the toaster.

🙂

KakenBetaal said:

What about ice skating? If you're not cycling over the winter due to the weather, ice skating is a good alternative exercise, low impact (unless you fall) and has much closer muscle movements to cycling than running.

Agree skating is a lot closer to cycling than running, and a great winter workout that's fun too. I used to coach speedskaters, and those that cross-trained on the bike in summer found they had pretty good cycling power.

For me, in addition to skating, running outside or on the treadmill works too when it's just too cold to ride the bike. Using the indoor trainer in the garage gets too boring day after day all winter, and I think a bit of cross-training off the bike is a good thing.

Running and cycling, they are different not one being better than the other. I am lucky? enough to live in a mountain area, I run when the weathers poor for cycling, and get the bike out when there is sunshine. But sometimes I ride in the rain and run in the sun.

The thing that has worked for me is to use a HRM to run with and build a really good base at below 70%, I've been doing this and can now run uphill without struggling, couldn't do this at the start of the year so I know I'm getting fitter. I know that doing this I've burnt of a bit of fat which must be good on the bike.

Interestingly I have a buddy who is a very serious athlete, he has been telling me that his Lactate threshold is ten beats different between the bike and a run, Lab tested. He is good on both. But I can't remember which way round, I'll check.

Dave

Scoffin said:

I was just wondering which one is a better cardio workout, Cycling or Running?
I'm thinking about getting on the treadmill this winter instead of the stationary bike.

have you considered a rowing machine ? no impact like cycling, but broader effect.

Scoffin said:

I was just wondering which one is a better cardio workout, Cycling or Running? While I'm going to try my best to continue to ride through the rough Iowa winter, I'm thinking about getting on the treadmill this winter instead of the stationary bike. Neither one excite me too much - mostly because the scenery is the same all the time - and I'm not much of a runner.

But then again, I wasn't much of a cyclist until a couple months ago.

Why not combine the two. For your cardiovascular system any exercise that gets your heart rate above 55% of max is great.

Running will get it up (your heart rate) more easily than cycling. You lose weight much quicker when you run (because you are not only propelling yourself you are supporting your body weight). The combination of running and cycling will give you more even strength in the leg muscles. You won't lose your cycling fitness when it starts to get warm, because you will still be doing a few wind trainer sessions each week.

Don't listen to the anti runners about knees. I've (I cycle and do tri's) had more friends with knee problems from cycling than from running.

And don't run inside. It only takes a few k's to warm up and the air and scenery makes it more interesting.

Now, the indoor trainer. Get a fan and a TV. Tape you favourite show and watch it while you sweat. Watch sport, movies etc - just make sure you plan your training session before you start.

I want to add something to what The Brother has posted.
I can see the logic of his/her post, HOWEVER.

When I was a competitive cyclist in my late teens in the early 1980's,
our winter training consisted of running - as well as cycling.

In fact we used to have cycling training on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mondays and Wednesdays were devoted to indoor running, reps (press ups, squats, curls, situps etc) - followed by a half hour of indoor soccer.
The older cyclists called this "conditioning" or "weight control" : they felt that
if you were moving at all, you'd get a greater workout and keeping your weight in control.

While I agree with the thrust of what The Brother has suggested, I found the
regime that I followed in the early 80's to be really beneficial.

I used to love running,but my knee hated it! I preffered cross country, I found pounding tarmac for an hour or so real boring!

Dawnrider said:

I used to love running,but my knee hated it! I preffered cross country, I found pounding tarmac for an hour or so real boring!

In off season, bike specific training is not the goal but fitness. At least half (or more) of the battle is getting fitness. It doesn't really matter how you get it, just as long as you do. Later on the strength of the cycling muscles will start to count.

Scoffin said:

The Brother, Thanks for the response, but I have no idea what VO2max is.

My winter goal is to not gain back the weight I've lost over the last 2 months (Lost 11 pounds so far) or lose the muscle that is taking shape in my legs. I bike 1 1/2 hours on my commute home every night and 1/2 hour on the way into work. I really don't want to spend 2 hours on a stationary bike to replicate this workout. I was thinking I might be able to simulate the cardio workout (which is how I'm losing the weight) on the treadmill in a shorter amount of time, since I'm such a sucky runner. Then work on the machines to keep my new leg shape. I'd spend some time on the stationary bike as necessary.

So back to my original question, will running produce the same (or better) cardio workout as cycling does? Not sure I got that from your response. I'm only 13 lbs away from my ideal weight of 175. If I could only talk myself into eating better, it wouldn't be a problem, but hey, I dropped the first 11 without a change in diet, just the bike.

Mucho Thankos...

I'm a former runner only (7 marathons) who switched to cyclilng, and now flip-flops between the two. Running is a more demanding cardio workout than cycling, which is good and bad. You will burn more calories in an hour of running than you will in an hour of cycling...up to 30% more depending on your size. The problem is that running takes a toll on your joints, and does NOT improve your leg strength. Best workout to improve both cardio & strength would be to run about 3 times a week, do weights 1-2 times a week, and spin on the bike easy 1-2 times a week. Spinning on the bike will work out the soreness from the running/weights workouts and keep your cadence and cycling form from going to pot before spring rolls back around.

Good luck.

I could never figure out why running was more cardio than cycling. Finally it dawned on me that when you are running the swinging of the arms places more aerobic load on your heart. Likewise, in CC sking the arms are working even harder than when one is running.

tarczan said:

I could never figure out why running was more cardio than cycling. Finally it dawned on me that when you are running the swinging of the arms places more aerobic load on your heart. Likewise, in CC sking the arms are working even harder than when one is running.

Swinging arms might add a little effort but having to support your body weight adds much more.

Don't think if I agree, my heart rate doesn't go up much when I walk.

Scoffin said:

I was just wondering which one is a better cardio workout, Cycling or Running? While I'm going to try my best to continue to ride through the rough Iowa winter, I'm thinking about getting on the treadmill this winter instead of the stationary bike. Neither one excite me too much - mostly because the scenery is the same all the time - and I'm not much of a runner.

But then again, I wasn't much of a cyclist until a couple months ago.

As an ex long time competitive runner, I believe that running is a much better conditioner. The downside of course is the beating that your body takes. I now have chronic problems as the result of the thousands and thousands of miles pounding the pavement. Having said that, I hated every minute of my years of training, but I did it because I was very successful in competition and felt that the means justified the end. In contrast, I love every minute of riding whether it is hammering down the road with a fast group or a spin to rid my legs of lactic acid.