Cycling vs. Running: Which is Better?
We all know that exercising is good for you. But, how do you choose a particular type of exercise that suits your needs best? If you’re considering taking up either running or cycling, but are not sure which would be the best for you then read on to weigh up the various pros and cons for each form of exercise.
Weight loss
Lots of people take up exercise in an effort to lose weight. If you’re looking to lose weight fast, then you’ll burn more calories by taking up running than cycling. This stands to reason really, as running is more strenuous and you use all of your body. However, you can still lose weight by cycling, especially if you go on rigorous rides.
General health benefits
Both cycling and running are forms of aerobic exercise, which are good for your health. They will help tone muscle, protect against heart disease and keep you fit. However, if you are new to exercise or are particularly unhealthy, then you may want to start with cycling rather than running, as this is a gentler form of exercise.
Appeal
Because cycling is a gentler form of exercise than running, it probably has wider appeal than running. Most people can cycle, so it doesn’t take much to get yourself up and going. There is an element of skill involved in running, including understanding the importance of warm ups, breathing techniques, etc so it may lack less appeal to more people. Running is also harder than cycling and lots of people tend to give it up easily.
Injuries
Cycling is a non-weight bearing exercise and is gentler on your joints and knees than running, so if you are more likely to get muscle soreness or joint problems when running compared to cycling. However, if you cycle on the road, you do run the risk of having an accident or collision, or falling of your bike. Running is therefore safer when it comes to risk of road accidents.
Cost
You can make a hobby of running or cycling as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Both are generally cost-effective forms of exercise, however. For cycling, obviously you’ll need a bike and helmet, and will need to maintain it. If you live in a city, you may find that bikes are already provided for you – they may not be the sporty, stylish bike you had in your mind, but they are perfect for getting your heart-rate up once in a while, and covering a lot of ground should you want to go shopping or just get out and about for the day.
For running, you need a decent pair of running shoes. You may decide on running clothes, but really this is optional. For days when the weather is bad, you may want to buy an indoor treadmill or an exercise bike, or visit your local gym to use their equipment.
Commuting
If you want to take up exercise in order to commute to work and back, then cycling will get you there much quicker than running. You’re also less likely to get in a big sweat when cycling, which may be important if you don’t have any showers to use once you get to your work.
As a competitive sport
There are both running and cycling clubs you could join if you wanted to take the sport at a competitive level. There are certainly lots of running events these days, in most towns and cities that you could take part in.
Enjoyment
This is a very personal choice, because both cycling and running can be enjoyable and satisfying, but a lot depends on the individual. The important thing is to try both forms of exercise and see which suits you better. If you start to dread doing one, or keep finding excuses to not do it, then you’re not getting any enjoyment out of it, which defeats the purpose.
