Runner 1

Ok, as my username suggests, I enjoy running as well as cycling. One thing that I've wondered and finally decided to ask though is what motivates so many of you to ride so much?

It seems like most people on here routinely average 20-30 miles a day, which I figure is anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours a day. I suppose this sort of riding will put you middle-of-the-pack competitively. Now consider the amount of time this takes per week! Let's assume 2 hours a day of riding and this yields 14 hours a week. This is the same amount of time that American and world-class runners train!

So why the big discrepancy? Personally, I find that an hour spent running at moderate effort feels the same as if I spent an hour cycling (granted, running develops more muscles and burns more calories), but it seems like you would have a ton of people running for 2 hours a day for recreation, particularly since running in general is more popular than cycling. But you don't see this, and the average person rarely crests 50 mpw.

As it comes across to me, this seems sort of strange. So what's your explanation?

bobones

Cycling is fun. Running is a chore.

Bioluminescence

Cycling is more fun, you go farther, you go faster, you pass more people, encounter more rabid geese, etc.

Velo Gator

Lower impact.

Sourpuss Magee

Impress friends with super cool, overpriced bike.

RoboCheme

To get to the same workout level, I have to cycle for a longer time. I just can't seem to get to the same level of effort in cycling as I can do running. Plus, I can't run very long until my body starts hurting.

ballistic

This.

rpeterson

Running beats the Hell out of you, cycling doesn't.

calamarichris

Cyclist is frequently a synonym for "ex-runner."
Knees are the achilles heel of our species and many of us can no longer run. (But I enjoy cycling more now that I can really focus on it.)

Velo Vol 

Running is more taxing--it's more of a full-body exercise.

Elvo

To reduce the cost per mile of that $4000 bike

taos07

This.

tFUnK

Because it's a not only just about getting a workout. I would ride for fun, but I would never run for fun. Plus, running also impacts my already fragile knees.

volosong

+1000
You can also get hurt running a lot easier than when cycling.

RunningPirate

Knees are the Achilles heel? So when my Achilles heel hurts, it's actually my knee?

In my case, it's semi-ex runner I got in to cycling because I figure that I have about 10 to 11 good running years left. Also, I'm a clyde (even without the 20 extra lbs, I'd still be 200), so I'm not really built for running. I figure if I mix up running and riding, I can run later in my life without tearing anything out.

Well..that, and I got to buy a bunch of cool new stuff

djski

I'm a runner and I can tell you; running sucks! Biking is so much easier to deaL with mentally. I know biking takes more time physically to equal a good run but, I'd rather ride a bike. The extra hour on the bike equals the one hour war inside my head to convince myself to go out and run. I still run though, but now i ride 10 miles to the park then run a 5 mile loop and ride 10 miles back home again. As much as I can't stand running, I can't seem to stop.

bobones

Low impact is a good point. I have osteoarthritis in my hips and even an hour walking around a mall can be agony. 100km cycling is no problem though and I'm sure it helps keeping my joints supple.

mihlbach

To maintain a running pace requires a minimal amount of exertion. Any less and you are walking. Biking doesn't work that way..there is no minimal effort. At times, you can even coast and recover. This and the lack of impact allows you to go longer at less overall intensity than is possible with running. If you wanted to exhaust yourself in 30-60 minutes on a bike, its totally possible, but you have to force yourself to sustain a high exertion level or do structured and painful intervals. Its easier and more enjoyable to just spend more time on the bike at an average exertion level that is lower than possible when running, so thats what most people do. That doesn't mean cycling is easy however...its apples and oranges. The low impact allows you to keep going and going.....I have exhausted myself on a bike to a far greater degree that I ever have while running.

rmr1923

cycling is just more fun. i hate running. i'd say the feeling of being on my bike is comparable to riding a motorcycle, just sort of a sense of freedom, the open road, etc etc. with the added benefit of helping me get in shape.

plus my knees are crap and running destroys them

Runner 1

Good points! I was expecting a lot of sarcasm honestly.

It seems most of you think cycling is just plain more enjoyable than running which I suppose is the best explanation for spending a lot of time doing something (I'm the same way with piano).

Bioluminescence

Ask yourself why you like playing the piano more than listening to it.

deacon mark

I am runner first but cannot go 35 mph running and get way out of nowhere. Running always comes first but frankly cycling probably when the the weather is nice and I have the time is much more fun. Cycling is just a problem because of weather and time and it in my opinion is much more dangerous because of cars and the speed. If I fall over running I might be going between 7-11 mph but cycling at 20 plus mph is much more of an issue.

mtalinm

I cant run due to patellar tendonitis in my left knee, but. have biked nearly 5000 miles in the past year.

sakonnetclip

I mix the two but usually run when cycling isn't an option because of time or if it's getting dark.

If I only have 30min between conference calls a run will get me a decent workout, can't say the same for the bike.

MNBikeCommuter

I'm lazy; I can sit down while biking. :-)

Lots of good reasons listed by others. I like keeping up on what's going on in the neighborhood. Biking gives me a considerably larger "neighborhood" in which to go snooping. :-) A majority of my miles comes from commuting, which is currently a half century round trip. That'd take too much time running.