Cycling Is A Poor Form of Exercise :-(
09-22-20, 06:49 PM
#26
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I've gone to two local meetups with road cycling clubs. One was a social meet up, and the members seemed far more fit than the average person of their ages (most were older). At the second meet, everyone was ready for a ride in their gear. I was shocked by their appearance. In full lycra kit, they had comically oversized pot bellies, but with skinny noodly arms and legs.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
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09-22-20, 06:50 PM
#27
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I've gone to two local meetups with road cycling clubs. One was a social meet up, and the members seemed far more fit than the average person of their ages (most were older). At the second meet, everyone was ready for a ride in their gear. I was shocked by their appearance. In full lycra kit, they had comically oversized pot bellies, but with skinny noodly arms and legs.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
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09-22-20, 06:55 PM
#28
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I've gone to two local meetups with road cycling clubs. One was a social meet up, and the members seemed far more fit than the average person of their ages (most were older). At the second meet, everyone was ready for a ride in their gear. I was shocked by their appearance. In full lycra kit, they had comically oversized pot bellies, but with skinny noodly arms and legs.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
you are free to make your own choices of course
09-22-20, 07:00 PM
#29
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09-22-20, 07:15 PM
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If you're not getting enough exercise from cycling the only person to blame is you.
Watch the TDF? (It just finished), did you see any corpulent riders in the peloton?
Watch the TDF? (It just finished), did you see any corpulent riders in the peloton?
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09-22-20, 07:24 PM
#33
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Since April I've been riding three residential rides a week (totaling 45-60 miles), and I've changed my eating habits. I'm down from 264 lbs to 213 lbs. Cycling is far from a poor form of exercise for me.
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09-22-20, 07:25 PM
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It's all good.
I find the bike gives me a decent cardio workout. Living in western PA I find myself constantly climbing. Extremely long grades to one mile hills at eight, to twelve percent plus grades. If you want to make it a workout it's not hard, just push a little more. You can always go a little faster it just takes a little sadistic effort. I also do a little strength training. Pushing sixty I still play with some heavier weights. An example is I use eighty pound dumbells for reps for benching. Yes I will never win a tour with my physique but I can live with that. I would like to believe that I am a well rounded individual. As far as just getting out, anytime off your keister and moving I feel is a plus. Just remember you can never outrun a bad diet no matter how much you push. I enjoy cycling so I tend to get out to enjoy it. Any activity done with regularity I feel is a plus you just need to pick and choose for yourself.
09-22-20, 07:37 PM
#35
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I lost 10lbs the first year I bike commuted. And the distance was only 4.5km each way.
I use my squat and deadlift form to climb hills differently from when I was much younger.
Btw, when you climb, you are lifting your body weight plus bike and load upward for many many feet. So think of it as doing 20 barbell lunges.
I use my squat and deadlift form to climb hills differently from when I was much younger.
Btw, when you climb, you are lifting your body weight plus bike and load upward for many many feet. So think of it as doing 20 barbell lunges.
09-22-20, 07:50 PM
#36
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I've gone to two local meetups with road cycling clubs. One was a social meet up, and the members seemed far more fit than the average person of their ages. At the second meet, everyone was ready for a ride in their gear. I was shocked by their appearance. In full lycra kit, they had comically oversized pot bellies.
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09-23-20, 01:46 AM
#38
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I'll watch the UCI championship in Italy this weekend, and keep and eye out for pot bellies.
Those guys must be hiking like mofos when they're off the bikes. You know, to get some real exercise.
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09-23-20, 02:22 AM
#39
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At just shy of 50 years old, in January 2019, I weighed 86kg (189lbs) which is heavy for someone only 5ft 6. I had put on the weight because I didn't adjust my diet when I went from serious Cat 1 competitive cyclist to virtually zero exercise when I relocated to London for work and found the commutes, long hours and dark, wet days a struggle.
In March 2019 I weighed 66kg. How? Limited my calories to 1200 per day and did 4-5 hours exercise 5 days a week. 1 hr gym, 3x a week, the rest cycling, 5x a week. Guess what? The bike was an e-bike. Yep, even an e-bike can give you a good workout. I rode it exclusively for 4 months before switching back to my non-assisted bikes.
I'm 51 yrs old and 65kg (143lbs) now with more muscle than I had lost and feel stronger and fitter than I was in my 30's, V02Max of 60 which gives me a fitness age of 20 and rediscovered my passion for competitive cycling - both road and MTB. I'm beating top 10 local racers in their 20's.
I typically burn between 1000 and 3000 calories on my rides, 5-6x a week. I now eat more than I did in my 'fat' years! Cycling not a good form of exercise?
Rubbish! 
In March 2019 I weighed 66kg. How? Limited my calories to 1200 per day and did 4-5 hours exercise 5 days a week. 1 hr gym, 3x a week, the rest cycling, 5x a week. Guess what? The bike was an e-bike. Yep, even an e-bike can give you a good workout. I rode it exclusively for 4 months before switching back to my non-assisted bikes.
I'm 51 yrs old and 65kg (143lbs) now with more muscle than I had lost and feel stronger and fitter than I was in my 30's, V02Max of 60 which gives me a fitness age of 20 and rediscovered my passion for competitive cycling - both road and MTB. I'm beating top 10 local racers in their 20's.
I typically burn between 1000 and 3000 calories on my rides, 5-6x a week. I now eat more than I did in my 'fat' years! Cycling not a good form of exercise?
Rubbish!
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09-23-20, 03:34 AM
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Dr. Paul Dudley White thought bicycling was a great form of exercise.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853490/
https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/...ey-white-about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dudley_White
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853490/
https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/...ey-white-about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dudley_White
09-23-20, 04:15 AM
#41
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Y'all realize OP pretty much swiped this from Just Ride, right?
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09-23-20, 06:47 AM
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So let's spin the topic a bit--is typing angry responses to plagiarized rants an effective form of cardio?
I do have to say that Grant Petersen wrote it better than OP.
09-23-20, 06:59 AM
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For me, that is the main point. There are definitely more "efficient" forms of cardio in that involving the upper body more does, all things being equal, burn more calories per hour. I'm sure I burn more calories per hour on an intense elliptical session than I do on even the most intense bike ride. The difference to me is that I can tolerate about 2-3 times longer sessions on the bike because I'm actually having fun doing it. Even with watching movies and the like, I max out my time on the elliptical at about 3 hours per day on weekends and about an hour during the work week. Anything over that is too mind-numbingly dull.
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09-23-20, 07:13 AM
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Quoted for emphasis. Hitting up the food truck for 2000 calories plus 500 in micro brew after the group ride doesn't help. You could have a net gain there instead of net loss in KJ's. One pastry on a cafe' stop could cost you 1000. Downing two gels an hour could cost you up to 200 per hour.
09-23-20, 08:45 AM
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Over the years I have lowered my calories while touring without sacrificing performance. This past Sunday I finished a 9 day trip. 64 miles with some pretty good hills in the first 40 miles. For breakfast I had a bottled juice drink and a muffin from a c-store. On the road I had 3 Cliff bars and a package of Truvita crackers.
09-23-20, 09:11 AM
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Swimming of course has significantly more cooling potential and is pretty much the maximum cardio option in terms of how hard you can sustainably work your cardio system.
Both cycling and swimming also have the advantage of being low impact.
Lastly, ride SS for a while and you will definitely get upper body and core workout.
Otto
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09-23-20, 09:27 AM
#49
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64 years young here. Just dug a drainage trench 50' long, 18" deep with pickaxe and trenching shovel. Did it with no back strain, and my heart didn't explode. I credit almost 2,000 miles on the bikes so far this season with making me fit enough for jobs like that. I take your point about weight bearing, and notice it as I transition to more walking when it gets too cold to bike.
Climbing hills engages arms, shoulders, back, legs and butt, and all riding strengthens core muscles. As for aerobic fitness, cycling is as good as any activity, and more fun than most.
Climbing hills engages arms, shoulders, back, legs and butt, and all riding strengthens core muscles. As for aerobic fitness, cycling is as good as any activity, and more fun than most.
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09-23-20, 09:40 AM
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I've gone to two local meetups with road cycling clubs. One was a social meet up, and the members seemed far more fit than the average person of their ages (most were older). At the second meet, everyone was ready for a ride in their gear. I was shocked by their appearance. In full lycra kit, they had comically oversized pot bellies, but with skinny noodly arms and legs.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.
Basically, cycling is just sitting. It is not weight bearing. Your bones become weaker as you sweat away minerals over long miles. Your muscles and bones don't become any stronger because they don't have to bear any weight. As a matter of fact, any additional weight is a liability, so additional muscle mass only penalizes you on climbs.
Even when I was riding many miles a week, I never lost any significant weight. In the past couple of weeks, I've been walking and hiking instead. I've lost more weight in these past couple of weeks than I did when I was riding upwards of 200 miles a week cycling!
Cycling for me is more about fun and recreation rather than "physical fitness." You become fit when you become stronger, and cycling may actually lead to the opposite.