HAhahahaha, sorry bro, i get carried away some times. lol jk
Biking VS. Running -- Which is best?
- Thread starter NeoBix
- Start date
HAhahahaha, sorry bro, i get carried away some times. lol jk
For me, cycling is much more enjoyable. However, the prior post is correct. It doesn't build bone density; however, if you run also, it will. I usually try to do both along with weight training and stretching (best of all worlds).
I've found that while running, I don't need to work out as long to get the cardio benefit (unless I'm doing hills); but, cycling burns my legs much more and I can last much longer.
If you want to lose weight, I'd recommend weight training also. You continue to burn calories even after the workout.
I've found that while running, I don't need to work out as long to get the cardio benefit (unless I'm doing hills); but, cycling burns my legs much more and I can last much longer.
If you want to lose weight, I'd recommend weight training also. You continue to burn calories even after the workout.
Wow you guys ROCK!!!
Thank you all so so so very much for all of your input and please definitely feel free to add any more information or recommendations to this thread that you would like to.
I am just absorbing up all of this information every time you guys post something so this is great!!
By the way I just went running tonight and I think I got pretty close to getting the fabled "runner's high". But I didn't get it yet lol. I think perhaps next time I can push myself the extra distance to achieve it. We shall wait and see.
As for the biking I think I will alternate the biking and running.
I will do running one night and then the next night biking and then running and then biking again etc. etc. etc.
It seems to me that most of you do combinations of biking and running to keep the variety going which is really nice so I think I am going to go with that.
Thanks again all you have been a great great help!
Thank you all so so so very much for all of your input and please definitely feel free to add any more information or recommendations to this thread that you would like to.
I am just absorbing up all of this information every time you guys post something so this is great!!
By the way I just went running tonight and I think I got pretty close to getting the fabled "runner's high". But I didn't get it yet lol. I think perhaps next time I can push myself the extra distance to achieve it. We shall wait and see.
As for the biking I think I will alternate the biking and running.
I will do running one night and then the next night biking and then running and then biking again etc. etc. etc.
It seems to me that most of you do combinations of biking and running to keep the variety going which is really nice so I think I am going to go with that.
Thanks again all you have been a great great help!
Sorry for the double post, but this part I found curious and I wanted to ask you...
What exactly is the perfect form to run with? Just in case I have been doing it wrong... never too late to fix a bad habit, right? lol
Also, how do marathon runners put themselves at high risk and what exactly is the ACL and how does it get torn? And how can I prevent my knees/ACL/etc. from getting injured when I go running? Will I prevent any injury if I simply maintain the "perfect form"?
Thanks in advance... lol. :jump1:
Coz Im only 5'1 the thicker and bigger my quads the shorter I look ;-)
I actually contest this. True, biking burns less calories, but maybe 20-30% less given similar effort and comparable terrain.
You have to figure that the body is smart. During intense cardio activity (running at a fast pace but not sprinting) you're body burns just as much muscle as fat. Look at distant runners compared to sprinters. Anyway, that's not to say that running is bad for fitness in any way.
When I bike, my heart rate averages in the 130-140 region compared to the 160's of running. While the running is more beneficial for my cardio-respiratory system, the cycling is more effective for the fat burn.
Guess you have to ask yourself what are to trying to get out of it. If it's cardio conditioning they are both great. If it's losing fat running uses 30% more muscle mass therefore you burn more calories over the same time, however you could ride significantly longer and burn more calories in total.
Better yet, alternate between the 2 you will get in shape much faster. Also consider adding a sprint routine once a week then up it to twice a week and cut back on your overall weekly mileage. Sprinting will build more muscle and give you significant afterburn as your body heals and rebuilds.
If your shoes are over a year old, toss them, run on dirt tracks and trails, make sure you have the right form. BTW cycling does build bone density in the lower body, but extensive cycling causes bone loss in the upper body. Lifting weights will remedy that. Also biomedical bikes seats are great and the reason for them is to protect the nerves and blood vessels in your groin so you don't lose sensation and so you can still get it up.
Cheers!
Better yet, alternate between the 2 you will get in shape much faster. Also consider adding a sprint routine once a week then up it to twice a week and cut back on your overall weekly mileage. Sprinting will build more muscle and give you significant afterburn as your body heals and rebuilds.
If your shoes are over a year old, toss them, run on dirt tracks and trails, make sure you have the right form. BTW cycling does build bone density in the lower body, but extensive cycling causes bone loss in the upper body. Lifting weights will remedy that. Also biomedical bikes seats are great and the reason for them is to protect the nerves and blood vessels in your groin so you don't lose sensation and so you can still get it up.
Cheers!
you may have heard "cheek to cheek" when being told how to run by a track coach? it means you take your arms and go up and down so that the fist meets your face by the cheek, and down to your butt cheek. Alot of people do these side to side motions with thier arms, and dont lift thier legs high enough(kind of stomping running), its like they are taking twice as many strides as they should. You dont wan't to take godly huge strides either cuz you can strain your hip flexor muscle so you wanna have strides that are in the middle. Lastly you dont wanna land with really straight legs, ive seen alot of chicks do that. Torn acl is most common in chicks cuz they dont "bend the knee" enough when they land but for most people its not a problem because they dont run often enough. The ACL is one of 4 major ligaments in the knee, and the one every ends up destroying :/ You mess that up and people are gonna be calling you peg leg pete, for a long time. Forget about trying to have sex with a peg legged person, it's too awkward and too much work.
2 other leg exercises for you to think about, sprint training:run at top speed for 40yards (3house lengths) 5-10 times with a minute or 2 rest after each run. Sprint training is quite strange, you dont feel anything till 2 days later and then you REALLY feel it. I don't do it for that reason, its so delayed but it takes only 15minutes and you can only do it two maybe... 3 times a week.
bodyweight squats you do a few hundred of these and your legs will tighten up fast
what you guys think about that bonjovi concert in central park? they decided to let only 50k people in instead of 60k that they gave tickets out too. those 10k people wont have a view of bon jovi or the stage even if they hang around in "overflow spots" my friend and I waited in line for 4 hours to get our tickets and then people started camping at central park 2 days before the concert. now my friend has to wait for his date to get ready and so we might not even get in. i just threw my tickets out the car window, i like how bon jovi is trying to be nice but non-fans just camp the site because its an event, or because he is a big artist, and people are scalping the free tickets... man you cant do anything nice without someone messing it all up.
Great advice about the running form. That is basically the form I have been using, except my hands never really quite got high enough to reach my face like you described but I am going to work on that.
One thing I have always been aware of is bending my knees. For some reason it just always felt right to keep my knees always bent, lol.
By the way that sucks about the concert bro sorry about that.
I love Bon Jovi they have done some really great songs over the years I gotta admit. In fact I got a few of their songs on my iPod to listen to for when I go running haha
Hhahahahaaha!!!
That is crazy man. Pretty cool how things turn out sometimes when you least expect it.
Congrats man now I feel better for you!
I mix my cardio up all the time. I'll run about 3x a week, but never the same. I will run on a treadmill, maybe 4 miles and start at 7mph. I will increase by .1 about every minute until I reach 8.5, then stay there for about a mile, then gradually go down.
Another workout is just a moderate street run.
The third would be interval where I will do a warmup mile, then 1 lap at a fast pace (6:30 pace, then the next lap at 9:00 pace) for 3 miles.
I try to cycle a couple times a week. Maybe a 30-mile ride at moderat pace, then the other ride for about 15 miles, doing either an interval or just as hard as possible.
I also weight train about 4-5 days a week (just started doing P90X).
I've found variety makes it easier to keep motivated.
Another workout is just a moderate street run.
The third would be interval where I will do a warmup mile, then 1 lap at a fast pace (6:30 pace, then the next lap at 9:00 pace) for 3 miles.
I try to cycle a couple times a week. Maybe a 30-mile ride at moderat pace, then the other ride for about 15 miles, doing either an interval or just as hard as possible.
I also weight train about 4-5 days a week (just started doing P90X).
I've found variety makes it easier to keep motivated.
Neo: I also noticed that in your original post you mentioned a seat. Several months ago I was about to give up cycling because of the pain on one side of my "sit bones." I finally found a seat that is incredible - Selle-Anatomica. It's heavier than most, but it is incredible.
If anyone is suffering from their seat, this thing is awesome. I've heard from many others at the bike shop I go to who also swear by this seat...
If anyone is suffering from their seat, this thing is awesome. I've heard from many others at the bike shop I go to who also swear by this seat...
I have to agree completely with you man.
Selle-Anatomica? Okay thanks man I will definitely check that one out.
Check out and tell me what u think of that one too please, okay??
Tell me which one you think is better.
Is it really that good? I saw one in the store a few days ago when i was getting my bike and i looked like it would just rape you.
The Selle is awesome. It does look pretty rough - leather with a cutout in the center.
I'm telling you, if you are suffering at all, it is a godsend.
I was riding a lot of miles and the pain, especially at the beginning, was unbearable.
It is so comfortable, it's worth whatever it costs...
I'm telling you, if you are suffering at all, it is a godsend.
I was riding a lot of miles and the pain, especially at the beginning, was unbearable.
It is so comfortable, it's worth whatever it costs...
Excder, I think you may have seen a different bike seat.
I think there is more than one type of that bike seat and the one rickster is talking about isn't the same one you saw I think. It's a different kind that's really cushy and comfy but I think for some weird reason it has the same name as the other uncomfortable kind, don't ask me why. lol.
I think there is more than one type of that bike seat and the one rickster is talking about isn't the same one you saw I think. It's a different kind that's really cushy and comfy but I think for some weird reason it has the same name as the other uncomfortable kind, don't ask me why. lol.