Biking VS. Running -- Which is best?

N

NeoBix

0
Hey folks,

I don't know too many of you as I am still new to this forum but I have a question for you all if you would indulge me.

Which exercise is better... biking or running?

I recently stopped running and I switched to riding a bike because my knees started to hurt a bit and I hear a lot about peoples' knees going bad because they ran too much and I really want to protect my knees so I will be biking from now on.

Is it true that running can really screw up your legs and your knees or is this just a crazy rumor floating around out there?

I love biking because my knees don't hurt when I go biking but I can still feel my leg muscles being worked and it feels so much better than when I go running.

What are the pros and cons of biking and the pros and cons of running?

Is there anything bad about biking that I don't know about? And what is good about biking?

And same with running... what is bad about running and what is better about it compared to biking? Do the knees really go bad from running or can it happen with biking too?

Or perhaps it is better to do both biking and running and not just do one exclusively (but like I said if running hurts the knees then I don't wanna do running at all anymore)? I don't know...

Thanks a lot for any information and help you folks can give me.

:beerchug:

Oh and one more thing... does anyone else use a specialized seat for their bike besides me? The first one I used was simply too painful for me in the groin area and it hurt me in my prostate area and the area around my testicles and my buttocks area in general. The new seat I am using works GREAT and it doesn't hurt my man-parts or my tushy at all. Just curious if anyone else had to switch out their seat for a special one because of this problem.
 
Last edited:
NeoBix said:
Hey folks,

I don't know too many of you as I am still new to this forum but I have a question for you all if you would indulge me.

Which exercise is better... biking or running?

I recently stopped running and I switched to riding a bike because my knees started to hurt a bit and I hear a lot about peoples' knees going bad because they ran too much and I really want to protect my knees so I will be biking from now on.

Is it true that running can really screw up your legs and your knees or is this just a crazy rumor floating around out there?

I love biking because my knees don't hurt when I go biking but I can still feel my leg muscles being worked and it feels so much better than when I go running.

What are the pros and cons of biking and the pros and cons of running?

Is there anything bad about biking that I don't know about? And what is good about biking?

And same with running... what is bad about running and what is better about it compared to biking? Do the knees really go bad from running or can it happen with biking too?

Or perhaps it is better to do both biking and running and not just do one exclusively (but like I said if running hurts the knees then I don't wanna do running at all anymore)? I don't know...

Thanks a lot for any information and help you folks can give me.

:beerchug:

Oh and one more thing... does anyone else use a specialized seat for their bike besides me? The first one I used was simply too painful for me in the groin area and it hurt me in my prostate area and the area around my testicles and my buttocks area in general. The new seat I am using works GREAT and it doesn't hurt my man-parts or my tushy at all. Just curious if anyone else had to switch out their seat for a special one because of this problem.
Click to expand...

Cycling and running work different muscle groups but both can work your cardio engine. If you are predisposed to knee problems and are worried about running, then cycle and don't run. If you don't have knee problems, I am not aware of any documentation that running will destroy your knees. Personally, my right ACL was blown out 24 years ago, but I run and cycle (and swim) on them without problems. One advantage of running versus cycling is that running with its high impact helps to improve bone density which helps prevent bone issues down the road.

If you have a cheap, crappy bike and/or a poorly fit bike, that can definitely hurt your knees.

All the nerves in my butt were destroyed long ago from cycling. I could sit on a pine cone seat and it would not bother me, but I have a Fizik seat which works great for me.
 
Ive heard the same thing about running. The impact that your knees get can eventually give you problems but i guess it all depends on how much running you actually do. I personally prefer it to the bike because I find it helps define my abs and gives me a leaner look. As a woman it also allows me to do cardio without working my quads too much.

Good luck!
 
me personally i do both now. I mean i dont like running, find me somebody who truly does lol. I sprint to train my body for explosiveness and bike for the thrill of riding trails.

But if ur looking for one that is "better" than the other there really is no answer. Its ur preference. Yeah running is hard or the joints of ur body but its not "bad" for ur lower appendages, i mean for gosh sake....what r u legs there for???
 
g8r80 said:
One advantage of running versus cycling is that running with its high impact helps to improve bone density which helps prevent bone issues down the road.
Click to expand...

Wait I thought that running was BAD for bone density because of the high impact.

How is the high impact good for improving bone density? I don't understand it.

fit chickett said:
As a woman it also allows me to do cardio without working my quads too much.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you.

Just out of curiousity why don't you want to work on your quads? You say that you don't want to work your quad muscles as if it is a bad thing!

Excder said:
me personally i do both now. I mean i dont like running, find me somebody who truly does lol. I sprint to train my body for explosiveness and bike for the thrill of riding trails.

But if ur looking for one that is "better" than the other there really is no answer. Its ur preference. Yeah running is hard or the joints of ur body but its not "bad" for ur lower appendages, i mean for gosh sake....what r u legs there for???
Click to expand...

Hahaha... yeah that is a good point indeed.

I always wondered about that too. We have legs to walk and run on so how can it hurt our knees so much if it is what they are made for??? I never understood it to be honest.
 
Running is weight-bearing. Cycling is not.

Basically this means that when you run a lot, the body decides that it's going to make it easier on itself to get rid of all its excess fat. So that's what it does. As long as fat loss is your goal and you don't have any kind of joint issues that would stop you from running.
 
Acein91 said:
Running is weight-bearing. Cycling is not.

Basically this means that when you run a lot, the body decides that it's going to make it easier on itself to get rid of all its excess fat. So that's what it does. As long as fat loss is your goal and you don't have any kind of joint issues that would stop you from running.
Click to expand...

True.

Let me ask you... do you think that running is the best way to lose fat or do you think there is another exercise that is better for fat loss than running?
 
NeoBix said:
Wait I thought that running was BAD for bone density because of the high impact.

How is the high impact good for improving bone density? I don't understand it.



Thank you.

Just out of curiousity why don't you want to work on your quads? You say that you don't want to work your quad muscles as if it is a bad thing!



Hahaha... yeah that is a good point indeed.

I always wondered about that too. We have legs to walk and run on so how can it hurt our knees so much if it is what they are made for??? I never understood it to be honest.
Click to expand...
 
NeoBix said:
True.

Let me ask you... do you think that running is the best way to lose fat or do you think there is another exercise that is better for fat loss than running?
Click to expand...


this is a "depends" question. how much are you looking to lose? How much do you weight now?

Also in regards to muscle groups, running dissolves the butt! Biking builds butt. BUTT, it all depends on the BUTT we are working on.

for the abs on bike, I have found the aeroposition working my abs very well too. ABS are worked with proper form in eother exercise.

that's my .02

FF
 
Runner's World magazine asked Lance Armstrong the biggest difference between biking and running and he said when you crest a hill on a bike it's a relief, when you're running, now you just have the pain of running downhill
 
I just started doing both, actually. MWF I ride to work (about 25 minutes each way), TR I run in the AM. Best of both worlds. ;)
I definitely feel the riding in my abs, quads, and glutes the most... I feel running on the lower leg extremities, as well as a little bit all throughout my upper leg, hip flexors, glutes, and back/abs. It's not quite the upper-leg/ab burn that I get with a bike ride.

*EDIT* This is only in reference to steady state biking and running. If you are talking about HIIT, that's a whole new ballgame. :)
 
Last edited:
I love both. Running is great, so call me crazy. Nothing more satisfying then running 3 miles and speeding up as you go along, all up to the end when you are full on sprinting, and about to keel over and die as you finish.

Biking is also a lot of work, I love to hit the city streets here and tackle big hills, but one nice plus of biking is catching a warm breeze as you coast down a looooong, slight downhill for a half mile...
 
great post MMW!

I prefer biking over running, unless it's sprint work or agility, then I like running. I can go a lot of different places while biking than I can while running, so I'm constantly aware of my environment. For me personally, that's huge motivation for me, because I'm not thinking about the pain in my legs or my heavy breathing. However, once I hit the hills or heavy winds, I need to hear my breathing and that helps me concentrate to hit the top.

ever try passing cars driving along the streets?
 
FunctionalTrain said:
great post MMW!

I prefer biking over running, unless it's sprint work or agility, then I like running. I can go a lot of different places while biking than I can while running, so I'm constantly aware of my environment. For me personally, that's huge motivation for me, because I'm not thinking about the pain in my legs or my heavy breathing. However, once I hit the hills or heavy winds, I need to hear my breathing and that helps me concentrate to hit the top.

ever try passing cars driving along the streets?
Click to expand...

Thanks man, just speakin my mind!

I know exactly what you mean, which is why both running and biking have their advantages, and I would never ditch either one. You can cover so much ground in a couple hours of biking, and it always keeps me interested. And heck yeah, I find myself trying to accelerate on my bike ahead of cars, just to see if I can do it. :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top