Cycling Is A Poor Form of Exercise :-(
#251
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Thats great Otto ! I alternate cycling and weight training with a stretching routine after the workouts. I used to run also but my knees started giving me problems.
#252
Otto
#254
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I pretty much agree with all points you made and I've been a dedicated cyclist for over 25 years. Cycling certainly isn't a weight-bearing exercise which means you can potentially do it into your old age, but that also means you had better be doing some other exercises that are weight-bearing to keep your bones strong.
I also agree about the flabby / skinny upper body... however, running, hiking, skiing and probably a whole host of other sports don't help that either. I tried swimming for a while and that helped even-out my physique, but the chlorine killed my skin. I now do regular stretching and body-weight exercises which have actually helped my cycling quite a bit.
If you're not losing weight cycling, I'm going to venture to guess it's not the cycling... it's your diet or you're not riding any where near as hard as I do (You can coast on a bike and consume zero calories if you allow yourself to). Your body has inputs (calories) and outputs (burned calories)... if your inputs exceed your outputs, it doesn't matter what exercise you do, you won't lose weight.
I also agree about the flabby / skinny upper body... however, running, hiking, skiing and probably a whole host of other sports don't help that either. I tried swimming for a while and that helped even-out my physique, but the chlorine killed my skin. I now do regular stretching and body-weight exercises which have actually helped my cycling quite a bit.
If you're not losing weight cycling, I'm going to venture to guess it's not the cycling... it's your diet or you're not riding any where near as hard as I do (You can coast on a bike and consume zero calories if you allow yourself to). Your body has inputs (calories) and outputs (burned calories)... if your inputs exceed your outputs, it doesn't matter what exercise you do, you won't lose weight.
Cycling is a great gateway drug to exercising*, I'll say that much. But it's absolutely not all-encompassing, either. And you have to ride pretty hard to stress your body enough to make it a good exercise session, but not many recreational riders actually push that hard, judging by how often my slow ass passes them on the MUP.
*(well, if they're willing to put up with probable mechanical issues, a sore butt, and likely an ill-fitting bike, all of which happens if they just buy a random bike off the shelf to "try it out" before deciding if they'll be "serious".. whatever "serious bicycling" means)
#255
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#257
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I too cycle for cardio and understand the importance of weight training especially into later years, I just really dislike weights and unfortunately have a desk job that ties up a lot of time. Until I retire I expect that most of my exercise will be on the bike.
#258
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I'd be interested to see a long term study of fix gear riding vs with a freewheel. (Freewheel in the sense of a mechanism that can "coast", not freewheel vs cassette. So, in this sense, fix gear vs "freewheels", freehubs, IGHs, etc,)
I'd offer myself as a subject, I've ridden each roughly equally over 45 years. Yes, I certainly have suffered the bone loss typical of cyclists (get told every X-ray) but I also have always felt that riding fix gear did far more for me physically than riding freewheeling bikes as a person in the everyday world. I see that whenever I do yard work, handle power tools or do a myriad other physical tasks. When I return to weightlifting, I start with more weight if I've been riding fixed. I look better in the mirror. Shirts fit better. No, none of these perks come close to what I achieve doing actual weight lifting. But I can have these small perks simply doing the same rides I'd do with gears.
I'd offer myself as a subject, I've ridden each roughly equally over 45 years. Yes, I certainly have suffered the bone loss typical of cyclists (get told every X-ray) but I also have always felt that riding fix gear did far more for me physically than riding freewheeling bikes as a person in the everyday world. I see that whenever I do yard work, handle power tools or do a myriad other physical tasks. When I return to weightlifting, I start with more weight if I've been riding fixed. I look better in the mirror. Shirts fit better. No, none of these perks come close to what I achieve doing actual weight lifting. But I can have these small perks simply doing the same rides I'd do with gears.
#259
So here is my take on the OP.
fitness has many aspects to it.
cycling for me is far superior to walking for cardiovascular fitness and health.
typically I can ever get my heart rate 70-90 percent maximum just by walking .
similarly I can run a couple miles but I cannot burn as much calories as biking Bc biking I can go far longer in time and have a higher calories burn without the impact, so biking is more enjoyable
On the flip side, cycling is just one exercise , doesn’t mean you will be fit enough to do boxing , play soccer, basketball etc since those require different athletic movements.
with that said for general populations strength training and cardio is all you really need, just pick exercises you enjoy for cardio and strength training .
fitness has many aspects to it.
cycling for me is far superior to walking for cardiovascular fitness and health.
typically I can ever get my heart rate 70-90 percent maximum just by walking .
similarly I can run a couple miles but I cannot burn as much calories as biking Bc biking I can go far longer in time and have a higher calories burn without the impact, so biking is more enjoyable
On the flip side, cycling is just one exercise , doesn’t mean you will be fit enough to do boxing , play soccer, basketball etc since those require different athletic movements.
with that said for general populations strength training and cardio is all you really need, just pick exercises you enjoy for cardio and strength training .
#260
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So here is my take on the OP.
fitness has many aspects to it.
cycling for me is far superior to walking for cardiovascular fitness and health.
typically I can ever get my heart rate 70-90 percent maximum just by walking .
similarly I can run a couple miles but I cannot burn as much calories as biking Bc biking I can go far longer in time and have a higher calories burn without the impact, so biking is more enjoyable
On the flip side, cycling is just one exercise , doesn’t mean you will be fit enough to do boxing , play soccer, basketball etc since those require different athletic movements.
with that said for general populations strength training and cardio is all you really need, just pick exercises you enjoy for cardio and strength training .
fitness has many aspects to it.
cycling for me is far superior to walking for cardiovascular fitness and health.
typically I can ever get my heart rate 70-90 percent maximum just by walking .
similarly I can run a couple miles but I cannot burn as much calories as biking Bc biking I can go far longer in time and have a higher calories burn without the impact, so biking is more enjoyable
On the flip side, cycling is just one exercise , doesn’t mean you will be fit enough to do boxing , play soccer, basketball etc since those require different athletic movements.
with that said for general populations strength training and cardio is all you really need, just pick exercises you enjoy for cardio and strength training .
Best regards
#261
I'd be interested to see a long term study of fix gear riding vs with a freewheel. (Freewheel in the sense of a mechanism that can "coast", not freewheel vs cassette. So, in this sense, fix gear vs "freewheels", freehubs, IGHs, etc,)
I'd offer myself as a subject, I've ridden each roughly equally over 45 years. Yes, I certainly have suffered the bone loss typical of cyclists (get told every X-ray) but I also have always felt that riding fix gear did far more for me physically than riding freewheeling bikes as a person in the everyday world. I see that whenever I do yard work, handle power tools or do a myriad other physical tasks. When I return to weightlifting, I start with more weight if I've been riding fixed. I look better in the mirror. Shirts fit better. No, none of these perks come close to what I achieve doing actual weight lifting. But I can have these small perks simply doing the same rides I'd do with gears.
I'd offer myself as a subject, I've ridden each roughly equally over 45 years. Yes, I certainly have suffered the bone loss typical of cyclists (get told every X-ray) but I also have always felt that riding fix gear did far more for me physically than riding freewheeling bikes as a person in the everyday world. I see that whenever I do yard work, handle power tools or do a myriad other physical tasks. When I return to weightlifting, I start with more weight if I've been riding fixed. I look better in the mirror. Shirts fit better. No, none of these perks come close to what I achieve doing actual weight lifting. But I can have these small perks simply doing the same rides I'd do with gears.
I’d suggest the main thing is that single gear of either type means that hill climbs and headwinds will be high wattage episodes that also strengthen and tone upper body and core a bit.
Otto
Last edited by ofajen; 11-18-20 at 08:32 AM.
#262
Senior Member
And that works for you, which is fantastic. Its absurd to say counting calories is unnecessary though. While you don't need it, others do.
Everyone has different ways to find and maintain healthy bodies and weight.
I religiously count calories, to the point that it is exhausting. But it is also what has worked to allow me to maintain a healthy weight as well as healthy body.
Religiously track calories in and religiously track calories burned. I'd love to not track and eat 'by feel', but that hasn't been a recipe for success so far.
In case you haven't heard, there are also multiple ways people learn best. Crazy, right?! I'm sure you figure your learning style is the only necessary way.
Everyone has different ways to find and maintain healthy bodies and weight.
I religiously count calories, to the point that it is exhausting. But it is also what has worked to allow me to maintain a healthy weight as well as healthy body.
Religiously track calories in and religiously track calories burned. I'd love to not track and eat 'by feel', but that hasn't been a recipe for success so far.
In case you haven't heard, there are also multiple ways people learn best. Crazy, right?! I'm sure you figure your learning style is the only necessary way.
#264
Senior Member
I'd have to agree that cycling is good cardio, in the last 4 yrs that I have been cycling only, I have noticed my arms and shoulders getting
weaker by the year, and within the last 6 months have had some issues with my elbows and shoulders as a result of not lifting heavy things
any more. tendons seems to getting weaker in my upper body.
legs are good, lower back is good, things are starting to tear in my arms and I am noticeably weaker,
I need to start lifting to even things out.
weaker by the year, and within the last 6 months have had some issues with my elbows and shoulders as a result of not lifting heavy things
any more. tendons seems to getting weaker in my upper body.
legs are good, lower back is good, things are starting to tear in my arms and I am noticeably weaker,
I need to start lifting to even things out.
#265
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Maybe cycling is a poor form of exercise. I don't care because I don't cycle for fitness, that's just a side effect. I ride because I like it.
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#266
Junior Member
What a strange thread. Any exercise is better than nothing and one that you enjoy and stick with is the best of all.
What is your goal? It's probably different for every person so why measure your success on someone else's scale?
I enjoy hiking my 5-10 local flat miles when I am at home. I do have to augment with running and strength work to be able to do my adventure hikes that I love (pre-COVID)- the latest was the Tour du Mont Blanc (10 days, 29,000 feet ascents and descents).
I enjoy biking my 20-40 miles on our low hills here in the Mid-Atlantic. I've gotten a bike trainer and more recently an indoor cycle with incline/decline and one day I would love to bike the Tour du Mont Blanc.
The strength work helps both of the above.
What is your goal? It's probably different for every person so why measure your success on someone else's scale?
I enjoy hiking my 5-10 local flat miles when I am at home. I do have to augment with running and strength work to be able to do my adventure hikes that I love (pre-COVID)- the latest was the Tour du Mont Blanc (10 days, 29,000 feet ascents and descents).
I enjoy biking my 20-40 miles on our low hills here in the Mid-Atlantic. I've gotten a bike trainer and more recently an indoor cycle with incline/decline and one day I would love to bike the Tour du Mont Blanc.
The strength work helps both of the above.
#267
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Cycling is a poor form of exercise compared to:
Running (not jogging) competitively
sculling
Nordic skiing
Swimming laps
mountain climbing or free climbing
Free diving?
Downhill ski racing?
Pro or Cat 1-2 excepted since they are elite.
Cycling is not a poor form of exercise compared to
Hiking
Walking
Scuba diving?
Wind surfing??
kayaking
roller blading/skating
Rowing
Darts
sitting
sleeping
THE ABOVE WAS WRITTEN TONGUE IN CHEEK since we all know cycling is supreme, at least here.
Running (not jogging) competitively
sculling
Nordic skiing
Swimming laps
mountain climbing or free climbing
Free diving?
Downhill ski racing?
Pro or Cat 1-2 excepted since they are elite.
Cycling is not a poor form of exercise compared to
Hiking
Walking
Scuba diving?
Wind surfing??
kayaking
roller blading/skating
Rowing
Darts
sitting
sleeping
THE ABOVE WAS WRITTEN TONGUE IN CHEEK since we all know cycling is supreme, at least here.
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Last edited by rsbob; 11-28-20 at 12:31 AM.