Forums >Running 101>Biking Instead of Running
I raced bicycles for 15 years. I was a really good bike racer ( I am still a Cat III on the road)
I am a pretty average runner.
They are very different sports / activities.
Biking will give you some aerobic benefit, which will help you as a runner but it does not improve your running.
To get better as a runner you need to run as much as possible.
That being said, sometimes bicycling can be part a running training plan. If you are prone to injury say. So you can get some aerobic benefit with less wear on the body.
So cycling can augment but not substitute for running training.
As a rule of thumb, you need 2 to 3 times the distance on a bike to simulate the same kind of aerobic benefit you get from the running.
Riding a bike indoors is the most mind numbing experience in the world. I lived in Minnesota for a while so I have done it but it completely sucks. I would rather be riding/running outside in a blizzard.
Linda
So how much running do you miss out on? Well, in one sense, 100% since running doesn't do the same thing as biking muscle and impact wise. Or 50%, calorie burn wise(roughly).
+1 Tejas Runner
If a person ran for 15 minutes, they might cover 1.5-2 miles. If a person bike for 15 minutes, wouldn't they cover 3-4 miles? The calorie burn is probably very similiar given the same amount of time doing the activity.
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I raced bicycles for 15 years. I was a really good bike racer ( I am still a Cat III on the road) I am a pretty average runner. They are very different sports / activities. Biking will give you some aerobic benefit, which will help you as a runner but it does not improve your running. To get better as a runner you need to run as much as possible. That being said, sometimes bicycling can be part a running training plan. If you are prone to injury say. So you can get some aerobic benefit with less wear on the body. So cycling can augment but not substitute for running training. As a rule of thumb, you need 2 to 3 times the distance on a bike to simulate the same kind of aerobic benefit you get from the running. Riding a bike indoors is the most mind numbing experience in the world. I lived in Minnesota for a while so I have done it but it completely sucks. I would rather be riding/running outside in a blizzard.
It's not too bad if you have one of those compu trainers and are competing against someone both being simulated on an actual course.
rectumdamnnearkilledem
Or TheSufferfest.com workouts...they are, um, "fun." I always work a LOT harder while watching one of those than I do left to my own devices while watching TV or a movie. A group of us get together every Thurs. night to do one of these.
Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to
remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.
~ Sarah Kay
I think one problem runners have with biking is they are only familiar with biking at an effort level somewhere between walking and a recovery jog, unless they encounter a hill. Of course, that kind of biking would be a poor substitute for running. If you want to work biking into your program as a sometimes substitute you are going to have to work. Otherwise why not just go for a walk?
I have no idea. I run because I'm a runner.
+1 --- im not a very good runner but I'm still a runner.....
Champions are made when no one is watching
A walk won't cost me over 5Gs in equipment :-)
I run because I'm a runner.
I Tri. (And I run)
Life Goals:
#1: Do what I can do
#2: Enjoy life
Don't you have a Landice? You can walk on it.
You just made my investment even more worthwhile, albeit less than 5G.
And you can share the Landice - one size fits all!
Who rides a 5G bike anyway? Not me.
+1 that's like buying $225 shoes.
And you can share the Landice - one size fits all! Who rides a 5G bike anyway? Not me.
That kind of dough can buy 2-3 awesome bikes!
And some bikes are shared...DS and I can pretty much share everything for maybe another year or two. This is good and bad. I predict many fights for the fat bike!
To get better as a runner you need to run as much as possible. Riding a bike indoors is the most mind numbing experience in the world.
Riding a bike indoors is the most mind numbing experience in the world.
this.
what happened to the troll, er OP.
Get off my porch
what happened to the troll,
I'm pretty sure we bored it to death.