Anyone here have opinions on the value of cycling for general fitness - i.e. vs other forms of excercies ?
In my experience: although it's brought me many benefits & is a good new hobby I actually miss my old routine now.
I used to walk to work & do a few pressups/pullups etc - until an office move that increased the distance from 3.5 to 9 miles.
This morning walking my bike along after getting a flat tire I reached a peak speed of 5.7mph. This perhaps explains why I dont think I'm getting the same overall benefit as when I walked to work; it also left me with much more energy for pressups in the evening.
Recently I've added other mixed aerobic gym activities, ( and discovered the injury potential of running the hard way, so I have to do this in moderation ). In trying to maintain my previous composition I give the impression of having suddenly become fanatically addicted to excercise.
An option I am considering is to simply jump off the bike and wheel it up hills, then i'd get the best of both worlds. It does sound a bit eccentric though doesn't it !
I have to admit in terms of general fitness it might actually be better to just drive like any 'normal' person and save my time & energy for the gym.. although I suppose as on the plus side as a cyclist (i) I have the satisfaction of doing my bit to combat pollution, and (ii) save money vs running a car (iii) one is more likely to stick to routine commuting long term (iv) it can give me some of the raised H.R. benefits of running without the injury risk.
In my experience: although it's brought me many benefits & is a good new hobby I actually miss my old routine now.
I used to walk to work & do a few pressups/pullups etc - until an office move that increased the distance from 3.5 to 9 miles.
This morning walking my bike along after getting a flat tire I reached a peak speed of 5.7mph. This perhaps explains why I dont think I'm getting the same overall benefit as when I walked to work; it also left me with much more energy for pressups in the evening.
Recently I've added other mixed aerobic gym activities, ( and discovered the injury potential of running the hard way, so I have to do this in moderation ). In trying to maintain my previous composition I give the impression of having suddenly become fanatically addicted to excercise.
An option I am considering is to simply jump off the bike and wheel it up hills, then i'd get the best of both worlds. It does sound a bit eccentric though doesn't it !
I have to admit in terms of general fitness it might actually be better to just drive like any 'normal' person and save my time & energy for the gym.. although I suppose as on the plus side as a cyclist (i) I have the satisfaction of doing my bit to combat pollution, and (ii) save money vs running a car (iii) one is more likely to stick to routine commuting long term (iv) it can give me some of the raised H.R. benefits of running without the injury risk.